5 raw chocolate recipes for when you need dessert RIGHTNOW
I’ve been experimenting with raw vegan chocolate recipes for a while now, because chocolate can be really, really good for you (and it’s, you know, mega delicious). Seriously, raw cacao packs a big punch of health for your body. It’s full of nutrients like magnesium, antioxidants, vitamins, protein, and fiber. The chocolate you buy at the grocery store checkout, though, has so many extra ingredients in it that you’re missing out on all these incredible benefits.
No need to worry about that crap anymore, though. The recipes below include nothing but natural ingredients. In as little as 10 minutes (yep, 10 minutes!), you can have raw, vegan, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free chocolate at your fingertips. Most importantly, this chocolate tastes divine. These concepts come from an Australian model and chocolate connoisseur Abigail O’Neill, who used to practice yoga at the studio where I currently teach. She claims chocolate is the secret to her beauty and well-being!
Here are five raw chocolate recipes that are as easy as they are outrageously delicious. Plus, they’re healthy as can be. Remember that you can experiment as much as you’d like. Use different toppings, nut butters, or natural sweeteners. Make it your own!
1. Cashew Mango Chunk
This combination is unassumingly yummy. You’ll scarf them down in no time, with no weird tummy ache afterwards. These are the only ingredients you need:
2 oz raw cacao butter, chopped
2 tablespoons maple syrup (Grade B is better)
2 tablespoons unsweetened almond butter
1/2 cup chopped raw cashews
1/2 cup chopped dried mango
1/4 cup raw cacao powder
Directions:
Melt the cacao butter in a glass bowl over boiling water. When it’s in liquid form, remove it from the heat and add all the other ingredients, one by one. Pour it into a dish that’s been lined with parchment paper and put it in the freezer to set, which takes about 15 minutes. How easy does that sound?! Experiment with whatever toppings you want.
2. Orange Almond Pralines
This one is super easy too, but it takes a couple more steps, as well as a little something called essential oil of orange, which you should be able to find at any health food shop. These are your ingredients:
2 oz raw cacao butter
1 tablespoon raw coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/3 cup raw cacao powder
3 tablespoons almond butter
1 cup almond meal
2 tablespoons raw honey
5 drops of essential oil of orange
10 raw macadamias
Directions:
Melt the cacao butter in a dish over boiling water, then add the next four ingredients one by one. Set that aside to cool off a bit. Mix together everything else except the macadamias until a dough forms that just sticks together. Roll together 10 balls, placing a macadamia in the middle of each, and roll it generously in the dark chocolate you made before. Set them on a parchment paper lined plate, and toss them in the freezer to set. I would suggest sharing, but I doubt you’ll want to after you taste one of them.
3. Minty Chocolatey Mousse
This is a one-stop shop for chocolatey heaven. All you need is a blender and the following ingredients:
2 large ripe avocados
1 cup coconut cream
3-4 tablespoons maple syrup
2 teaspoons tahini
7 drops of essential oil of peppermint
3/4 cup organic cocoa powder (you can use cacao, but it will be very, very dark so you’ll probably need to add some more natural sweetener).
Directions:
Toss it all in a blender and puree until you reach the creamy texture you’ve been dreaming out. Put them in little glass bowls (or just one big one) and put in the fridge to set.
4. Salted Caramel Macadamia Bars
These may be the best little chocolate desserts I’ve ever had in my life. They might bring you to tears. Whatever you do, don’t skip out on the salt. Grab these ingredients:
2 oz chopped raw cacao butter
1 tablespoon raw coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/3 raw cacao powder
3 tablespoons almond butter
6 pitted medjool dates
2 tablespoons raw honey
2 tablespoons raw coconut oil
2 tablespoons lucuma powder
1/2 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
8 whole raw macadamias
Directions:
Melt the cacao butter, then mix in the next four ingredients until velvety. Put it in the fridge to cool. Put the next six ingredients in a food processor and whiz until it become a big sticky ball. Roll the mixture out into a cylinder shape. Press the macadamia nuts into the middle. Take out the semi-cool chocolate and spread a generous amount on the top of your heavenly bar. Chuck it in the freezer until it sets, and then cut it into however many pieces you want. Or, you know, eat the whole bar by yourself.
5. Frosty Nutty Berry Bar
This one is ridiculously easy it will make your head spin. My recommendation? Make it for a weekend breakfast. Collect the following ingredients:
2 oz chopped cacao butter
1 tablespoon raw coconut oil
2 tablespoons unsweetened almond butter
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/4 raw cacao powder
1 cup frozen berries
Directions:
Melt the cacao butter and coconut oil in a glass bowl over boiling water. Take off from the heat and mix in everything carefully, save for the berries. Pour the chocolate mixture in a lined dish and add the frozen berries on top, in whatever way you wish. Set in the freezer, take it out, and dig in!
