Holiday Raw Chocolate Treat!

Want a healthier version of a super amazingly delicious dessert for the holidays? Try out this kickass raw chocolate recipe. It's super easy and quick to make! As always, this recipe can be adapted any way you like. Allergic to nuts? Ditch em. I love dried blueberries so sometimes I substitute these for the goji berries. Explore with your favorite dried fruit. 

3/4 cup cacao butter
1 cup cacao powder
1 Tbsp Maple Syrup 
1/2 cup goji berries
1/3 cup almonds
1/3 cup cashews
1/4 cup hazelnuts
1/3 cup Sunflower Seeds
1 Tbsp coconut oil
2 Tbsp almond butter (Optional)
1/3 cup coconut shavings
1 Tbsp maca powder (optional)
1 Tsp Cinnamin
1/2 Tsp salt


First, measure out the cacao powder and put it in medium size mixing bowl. Next, gently melt the cacao butter and almond butter together in a pan. Low heat is necessary to avoid burning this aromatic butter. Take mindful moments to smell this beautiful delicious cacao aroma! When the butter has just completed melting, pour into the bowl over the cacao powder. Add in the coconut oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, maca powder, cinnamon and salt to taste. Mix with love! This is your base chocolate.

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Next, place in the dried fruit, seeds, nuts and coconut shavings. Be sure to SAVE a bit of the nut, seeds, fruit and coconut shavings to add over the top. 


If you are using a mold, place a couple of pieces of dried fruit in the bottom of the mold then fill up almost to the top. You can place more coconut shaving, dried fruit and/or nuts on the top of the chocolate once you've filled the mold most of the way. If you do not have a mold, you can spread the chocolate over a plate and add the extra dried fruit, etc on the top. Place in the freezer for up to an hour. Remove from the molds or plate and enjoy! For long lasting raw chocolate, keep it in the fridge for freshness and to avoid melting :-). 

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Why Raw chocolate?

A few amazing benefits from Yates article in Rejuvenated for Life:

•  Cacao is a powerhouse full of antioxidants! 

•   Cacao has been studied for its ability to reduce blood pressure and has been shown to produce “a small but statistically significant effect in lowering blood pressure by 2-3mm Hg in the short term” (Schardt, 2013)

•   Eating cacao makes you happy!  It contains phenylethylamine, which is responsible for our state of mood and pleasure and the same feelings you get when you are in love.  

•   Acts as a stimulant and can improve mental alertness.

•   Cacao also contains serotonin and dopamine – which also stimulate good mood and ‘pleasure’ feelings :-).






Just a tip that this chocolate can be quite stimulating so watch out for those late night chocolate snacks :-). Thanks for stopping in for a healthier holiday treat! Please share your recipes, variations and feedback too. 

~ by Liz Myers, Rooted Living Wellness


Resources:

Yates, Claire. Rejuvenated for Life. Retrieved http://rejuvenatedforlife.com/your-ultimate-guide-to-raw-cacao-powder-butter-nibs/

Schardt, D, How Bittersweet It is, 2013, Nutrition Action Healthletter, Dec

 

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