Chocolate is probably one of the most universally loved comfort foods, especially by women. Surprisingly, raw dark chocolate has been found to have numerous health benefits, ranging from heart health to mood and yes even PMS!
Skip the commercial chocolates this year and instead make your own super simple, whole food chocolates at home, quickly and easily. Throw in 1/3 of a cup of your favorite mix-ins (like chopped raw nuts or seeds, cacao nibs, dried berries, shredded unsweetened coconut) or 2-3 drops of your favorite food grade essential oil like orange or peppermint for added variety. Enjoy!
Raw Dark Chocolate
1/4 C coconut oil, melted
1/4 C Cacao Butter
2-4Tb Cacao Powder
1/4 C Coconut Nectar
1 tsp finely Ground Vanilla Bean Powder
Dash of fine Himalayan salt
Melt all ingredients in a dehydrator set to 115°F or over a bain Marie until melted and uniformly smooth. Once melted, mix well until completely smooth and combined. Stir in your additional mix-ins if desired. Pour into chocolate molds, into mini silicone muffin tins or over your favorite candy recipes such as Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles, Cookie Dough Protein Bites, Macaroons, or Raw Peanut Butter Cups and refrigerate or freeze for 15-25 minutes or until set. Enjoy!
Makes 3/4 C of melted chocolate.
*Honey version is not vegan and maple syrup is not raw.
How did this recipe turn out for you? Let us know in the comments below and on Facebook and Twitter. We love hearing from you!
—
Love what you are reading? Stay in the loop and never miss a recipe; subscribe to our FREE Nutritionista ezine for free expert tips, success strategies, and delicious healthy recipes and receive Erin’s exclusive guide of the Top Ten Foods to Banish From Your Kitchen ($24.99 value) absolutely free! Get ready to nourish yourself sexy!
You might also like…
© 2014 Nutritionista. Erin Luyendyk, RHN. All rights reserved.
All material found on www.thenutritionista.ca is intended as general educational material only and should not be considered medical or nutritional advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any medical condition and has not been evaluated by the FDA. Please consult with your personal physician before implementing any health, nutrition, supplement or exercise program to ensure its safety and suitability for your specific individual situation
