Chocolate treats for Valentine's Day and beyond
I love making these fantastic chocolate treats for several reasons:
- They are an excellent opportunity to turn a dessert into an exceptionally nutrient-dense and delicious treat.
- It is super easy and fast to make.
- You can add all kinds of superfoods that will boost your health. I add raw cacao, maca root powder, honey, and organic orange zest.
Health Benefits Of Raw Cacao
Raw cacao is the most complex and nutrient-dense food ever studied. Many compounds that give chocolate its superpowers will be destroyed by heat, so cacao must stay raw. Therefore, all the commercially made chocolates, even the dark ones, do not have the same health benefits as the bars we make here. Raw cacao has unbelievably high antioxidant activity. It boosts mood, reduces stress response, decreases cardiovascular disease risk, and lowers blood pressure.
Health Benefits Of Maca Root
Maca root powder is another superfood ingredient. This ingredient, unlike cacao, should be cooked, or it can give us an upset stomach. We use Maca root power that has been gelatinized. Maca is an ancient Peruvian crop relative to radishes. Peruvians traditionally used it to boost energy and improve vitality and virility. Maca also helps balance hormones and stimulate sexual desire in men and women. It is also an adaptogen that helps the body to regulate stress response.
Health Benefits of Orange Peel
Use powdered orange peel and fresh orange zest interchangeably. When you buy organic oranges, save the skins, dry them out completely, and store them in an air-tight container. This way, you can use them all year round, even when oranges are not in season. You’ll need to grind dry peels in a coffee grinder for a recipe like this. Orange peel contains anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic properties. It also boosts immune system function. A slightly bitter taste stimulates the secretion of digestive juices, which helps with sluggish digestion.
Read about the benefits of raw honey in this recipe.
Chocolate Treats
Ingredients:
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup coconut flakes
1/4 cup coconut oil (melted in hot water)
2 tsp raw honey or Swerve (Keto friendly)
5 Tbsp raw cacao
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of sea salt
1 tbsp Maca powder (optional)
Zest from 1/2 orange (optional)
Directions:
- Place a jar of coconut oil in hot water to melt.
- In a blender, combine almonds and coconut flakes and process together until fine.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and blend them together.
- You can use silicon molds or a small container lined with parchment paper. Pour the mixture into molds or containers and transfer into the fridge for 20-30 minutes or until they harden.
- Take your chocolate treats out of molds and place them on a serving platter. Keep in the fridge until serving.
Freedom from hunger and cravings until lunch
Please tell me where I should send the recipe book.