Homemade Chocolate

Chocolate is an absolute non-negotiable in my life. It’s f*cking delicious, and should be celebrated.

As a result I eat it almost daily, so it’s important I am making the right choco choices for my health and my tastebuds. Over time I have turned into one of those weirdo’s who love’s rich, dark, slightly bitter, slightly sweet, slightly salty chocolate. I have even grown to love carob; Remember the day’s when your mum gave you a carob chocolate frog, and you got all excited, mouth watering, ready for that delicious sweet creamy taste… Until you realised that it’s carob. Carob. WTF mum!

Oh how our taste buds mature.

Don’t worry, this recipe does not include carob (“thank god” I hear you saying). The hero of this recipe is; organic raw cacao powder.

Being a chocolate lover, and a health conscious food enthusiast. I’v been around the chocolate exploration block a few times searching for the ultimate recipe that ticks all the boxes;

• #1 Delicious

• No fuss, easy & quick to make.

• Low to-no added sugar or artificial sweeteners. ‘no sugar crashes here thanks!'

• Nutritious. Yes, chocolate can be good for you

With lots of practice, boyfriend ‘tried and tested’. I’ve come up with a recipe that’s sure to curb your cravings, and excite your taste buds, without the added sugar crash.

You can jazz it up or down however you wish. Nuts, seeds, dried fruit and coconut are all fun additions to change up flavours, textures, and nutritional needs.

What makes this recipe so nutritious?

Raw cacao: High in antioxidants, flavones, magnesium, iron & zinc. Promoting free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory actions and a real good mood :-)

Coconut: Coconut fat/oil contains medium chain fatty acids that help stabilise hormones, boost good cholesterol, support fat metabolism, and energy production.

Flaxseeds: Flaxseeds are very high in omega 3 fatty acids, that promote estrogen metabolism & clearance, brain health, weight management, and anti-inflammatory actions (Read more in the Omega 3 blog post).

hot tips*

1. Coconut & LSA also help bind everything together, and add a little chewiness to the texture.

2. Buckwheat kernels add a fun crunchiness

3. Dried goji berries add extra antioxidants

Nuts & Seeds: Nuts and seeds are diverse in their nutritional make-up, and vitamin & mineral content. However, in general; their packed full of goodness and should be consumed regularly in small amounts (15 -20g serves, 1-2x serves p/d). Change them up and be adventurous. Combinations are good for nutritional diversity.

10 min chocolate, let’s go!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup raw cacao powder

• 1/3 cup coconut oil

• 1/4 cup coconut milk or cream (full fat)

• 1/4 LSA

• 2-3 tsp flaxseeds

• 1/3 cup coconut flakes

• 1 tbsp nut butter of choice

• 1 tbsp organic ‘real’ maple syrup

• Pinch of sea salt

• Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamon (*optional) spices

  *option to add any other whole-food additions, like buckwheat kernels, pepitas, dried berries, walnuts.

Method

1. On a low heat combine coconut oil, milk, cocoa, nut butter, maple syrup, salt & spices with a whisk until combined. Be very quick or it will split.

2. Remove from heat, and add all other ingredients.

3. Pour into a flat casserole dish lined with baking paper.

4. Freeze

   Enjoy! serves 16

Holiday Chocolate

Get festive and jazz up your chocolate to enjoy with family and friends over the holiday season.

Keep cool and eat quick. It’ll melt like ice in an oven.

Recipe

• Use chocolate recipe above.

  Remove:

  • Coconut flakes

  • Flaxseeds.

  Add:

  • Dried red berries like goji, cranberries, or boysenberries

  • Pistachios

  • Chopped almonds

  • Pumpkin seeds ‘Pepitas’

  • White chocolate chips / or sugar free chocolate chips https://noshu.com.au/choc-baking-chips/