Nut Butter Chocolate Cups

Inspired partially by the old school peanut butter cups, and partially by the usual nut & chocolate combo... I thought I'd experiment with something similar to treat my taste buds. These little guys literally melt in your mouth... (can you see the condensation... can you see it?)

Chocolatey on the outside...

Nutty on the inside...

Bite size, raw but yummy, they are sure to curb your cravings! You can make them in patty cases, or in a metal chocolate mould. I used my trusty silicone heart shaped mould... (too cute, right?)

Anyway, enough rambling. I'm sure you want to get on to the "how to" part ;-) Enjoy the simplicity of it all, but more importantly enjoy eating them!

Makes approx 12 small cups

Ingredients:
2 tbsps raw cacao powder
4 tbsps coconut oil
1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
1-2 tbsps nut butter/spread
drop vanilla essence (optional)

Method:
Mix raw cacao powder (cocoa), coconut oil and honey (or sweetener) in a small bowl.

Using a teaspoon, evenly pour a little chocolate into small chocolate moulds, just enough to cover the base. Refridgerate until hardened.

Using a teaspoon, put a little dollop of nut butter on top of the hardened chocolate (this will be the middle layer).

Top off with remaining chocolate mixture, and refridgerate again until set. (Keep refrigerated)

* Use nut butter/spread of choice (almond, peanut, cashew, or a combination)
* Adjust sweetening to desired level.

Chocolate Milkshake

I have so many avocados I don't know what to do with them all! If you were to have asked me just one year ago how many different uses there are for avocados, I would have said one (in salad of course).  Well, clearly all that has changed. Fast forward to now, and I present to you yet another delicious avocado invention!



Who says you can't indulge in a chocolate milkshake and be healthy? Thick, chocolatey and creamy... what more could you want? :)

Serves 1

Ingredients:
1 cup almond milk
3/4 cup filtered water
1/2 avocado
4 medjool dates
2 tsps raw cacao powder
1 tsp coconut oil
1 tsp raw honey

Method:
Put all ingredients in a high speed blender, and blend until smooth. And more or less water depending on the consistency you want.

Raw Cacao Ice Cream

Since discovering the raw vegan coconut ice cream at our local health food store, I must admit, I've been going a little ice-cream crazy! When they were continuously sold out of these delicious tubs, I thought it was about time I tried making my own.  (Not to mention, Santa was also very good to me this year and gave me an ice cream maker for Christmas)

So here I present to you, raw cacao, chocolate ice cream! I poured the mixture into small heart shaped silicone moulds for something a little cuter in regards to presentation, but obviously this isn't necessary.

Makes approx 1L

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cup raw cashew nuts
15 medjool dates
6 tbsps cacao powder
3 1/2 cups filtered water
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract

Method:
Soak cashew nuts in a bowl of water for around 5 hours or overnight.

Once soaked, transfer the cashews to a high speed blender. Add the water and blend on high for around 45 seconds.
Add dates and blend for a further 30 seconds on high speed.
Add cacao powder, cinnamon and vanilla extract and blend on high for at least 60 seconds.
Transfer the mixture to your ice cream maker, and make as per your ice cream makers instructions.
Transfer the ice cream to a large container and freeze until you're ready to eat :)
Thaw for about 20mins prior to eating.

❤ I love making a quick chocolate sauce using raw cacao powder, coconut oil & honey, to drizzle over the top.

❤ Coming up next will be my husband's creation - Raw Vanilla Ice Cream, which I must say, is probably even more delicious than this one  ;-)

Chocolate Dipped Truffles

I was busy in the kitchen the other night making a batch of the original & delicious raw chocolate balls, when I pondered to myself "hmm... now how can I make these taste even chocolatier?" (because clearly my sweet tooth is never sweet enough). It was then that I spotted an unopened tub of cacao butter, and decided I would make a dipping chocolate for the truffles! You can use this dipping chocolate for any kind of truffle (yep, I plan to put some more yummy truffle recipes up soon). And best of all it's very easy to work with & hardens up perfectly.

As well as being rich in Vitamin E, essential fatty acids, magnesium and sulfur, cacao butter also has more antioxidant flavanoids than blueberries, black and green tea, and red wine!

Makes enough for approx 30 chocolate balls.

Dipping Chocolate Ingredients:
1 cup cacao butter, finely chopped
1/2 cup raw cacao powder
1/4 cup agave syrup (or any other sweetener)
1/4 tsp vanilla
pinch celtic salt

Method:
Place cacao butter in double boiler pan (or metal bowl) over saucepan of boiling water to melt the butter. Remove from heat just before all the pieces have melted.
Stir in the rest of the ingredients, until smooth.

Take each individual truffle ball, and dip into melted dipping chocolate using a toothpick. Allow excess melted chocolate to drip off, before placing on a tray lined with wax or parchment paper (if you stick them straight onto a plate, when you try to take one off it will lose the bottom layer of the chocolate... not ideal).

Garnish with shredded coconut or finely chopped nuts before the chocolate hardens.

Voila! Your very own raw chocolate truffles.

I just had to take a bite.. ;)

❤  For those that prefer a slightly less rich, but sweeter chocolate, feel free to add in a little honey to taste.

❤  Also, if you don't have access to cacao butter or prefer not to spend money on it, you may use a raw, organic dark chocolate and melt it down instead.

Raw Chocolate Balls

Ok let's face it. I frequently experience chocolate cravings. I have a massive sweet tooth, and always need something sweet on hand to satisfy my taste buds. The good news? These little balls are hands down my (and my husband's) favourite chocolate treat, and best of all, you can indulge all you like because they're actually healthy! They can be whipped up in a matter of minutes.

Ingredients:
4 Tbsp raw organic cacao powder (or cocoa)
1/2 cup dates
1 Tsp honey
2 Tsp coconut oil

1/4 cup macadamia nuts
1/4 cup shredded coconut

Method:
Mix all ingredients together in food processor until clumped together. 

Roll mixture in your hand into small truffle sized balls :) nom nom nom. Instant hit!

Optional: Sprinkle goji berries in the mix for a potent hit of vitamin C, amino acids, trace minerals & Vit B & E!