(Raw Option, Vegan, Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free and Sugar Free Options)
Super easy 'healthy' homemade chocolate bark!
The base of this recipe is coconut oil, raw cacao powder or carob powder and a sweetener of your choice. That's it - just those three things. After that, it is all up to you how to customize it to your liking. So don't be intimidated by this long post - it is really just a three ingredient recipe with lots of great options!
No refined sugar required! You can use low GI coconut sugar or stevia** any sweetener of your choice like raw honey or maple syrup. My friend uses Cocobono Coconut Ginger Sugar and loves the results.
This isn't the best version of chocolate I make but it is certainly the easiest - takes no more than 5 minutes. Everyone deserves a treat :)
Usually I make it chock full of things: coconut flakes, chia seeds, hemp seeds, smashed nuts and more.
Last week I used carob which is naturally sweeter, so I could use much less sweetener.
Note: the only carob powder I can find is toasted, not raw, so if you use carob these are not raw.
Super easy 'healthy' homemade chocolate bark!
The base of this recipe is coconut oil, raw cacao powder or carob powder and a sweetener of your choice. That's it - just those three things. After that, it is all up to you how to customize it to your liking. So don't be intimidated by this long post - it is really just a three ingredient recipe with lots of great options!
No refined sugar required! You can use low GI coconut sugar or stevia** any sweetener of your choice like raw honey or maple syrup. My friend uses Cocobono Coconut Ginger Sugar and loves the results.
This isn't the best version of chocolate I make but it is certainly the easiest - takes no more than 5 minutes. Everyone deserves a treat :)
Usually I make it chock full of things: coconut flakes, chia seeds, hemp seeds, smashed nuts and more.
Last week I used carob which is naturally sweeter, so I could use much less sweetener.
Note: the only carob powder I can find is toasted, not raw, so if you use carob these are not raw.
Above, is a photo after I have stirred it up and before I freeze it. Then I put a piece of parchment/waxed/baking paper on a dinner plate, and pour it on.
If you don't have much space in your freezer, then put it in your fridge first, and move it to freezer once it is more solid.
You can also put it in little 'truffle' papers - you know those super small muffin papers? That will make make 'clusters' rather than 'bark', or in silicon molds and make pretty chocolates.
To the left, is a picture of chocolate bark after frozen. This batch was so thick I cut it with the cleaver! Chia, hemp seeds, coconut, chock full of goodness...
Do remember, you have to keep these in the freezer, they don't last in the heat so well. You can also melt them down and use the to dip strawberries or sliced bananas and then refreeze!
If you don't have much space in your freezer, then put it in your fridge first, and move it to freezer once it is more solid.
You can also put it in little 'truffle' papers - you know those super small muffin papers? That will make make 'clusters' rather than 'bark', or in silicon molds and make pretty chocolates.
To the left, is a picture of chocolate bark after frozen. This batch was so thick I cut it with the cleaver! Chia, hemp seeds, coconut, chock full of goodness...
Do remember, you have to keep these in the freezer, they don't last in the heat so well. You can also melt them down and use the to dip strawberries or sliced bananas and then refreeze!
| With Raw Cacao Powder These amounts make 1 plate
| With Lightly Toasted Carob Powder These amounts make 2 plates
|
Optional additions to either: Himalayan pink salt, vanilla extract, peppermint extract, coconut flakes, hemp seeds, chia seeds, chopped nuts, smashed freeze dried fruit, whatever you fancy
Directions
1. melt the coconut oil and coconut butter (and nut/seed butter) in your largest glass measuring cup (just because it is easy to pour later then)
2. add the cocoa or carob powder and stir with a fork until well mixed
3. add the sweetener of your choice - stirring and tasting after you add some to see if you have the desired level of sweetness
4. add the peppermint extract (or other flavor or nothing - up to your taste - again tasting along the way)
5. Mix all well
At this point you can stop and go to step 6, or you can add more - coconut flakes, chopped nuts, chia seeds, hemp seeds, himalayan pink salt, chili powder, ginger, whatever really
6. Take a dinner plate or two, put waxed/parchment paper on it, and pour the chocolate mixture on it, smoothing it out with a spatula, spoon or the fork.
7. Place in freezer overnight.
8. Next day break up the bark into whatever sizes you want, and put in a glass container or a zip lock bag to keep in the freezer, sneaking a guilt free sweet treat when you want one...
9. Great as gifts and to share!
Credits: I based it on these two great recipes:
http://wholenewmom.com/recipes/homemade-chocolate-or-carob-bar/
http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/01/15/three-ingredient-chocolate-bars-1/
**Before deciding to use stevia, please read:
http://empoweredsustenance.com/is-stevia-bad-for-you/
(personally for me, I only eat a square or two of the chocolate once a night, and not every night - so I am okay with this limited stevia intake - but that is me. If stevia effects you negatively, or if you are going to sit down and eat a huge plate of this super yummy chocolate, then do consider one of the more natural sweeteners like coconut sugar, raw honey or maple syrup)
Directions
1. melt the coconut oil and coconut butter (and nut/seed butter) in your largest glass measuring cup (just because it is easy to pour later then)
2. add the cocoa or carob powder and stir with a fork until well mixed
3. add the sweetener of your choice - stirring and tasting after you add some to see if you have the desired level of sweetness
4. add the peppermint extract (or other flavor or nothing - up to your taste - again tasting along the way)
5. Mix all well
At this point you can stop and go to step 6, or you can add more - coconut flakes, chopped nuts, chia seeds, hemp seeds, himalayan pink salt, chili powder, ginger, whatever really
6. Take a dinner plate or two, put waxed/parchment paper on it, and pour the chocolate mixture on it, smoothing it out with a spatula, spoon or the fork.
7. Place in freezer overnight.
8. Next day break up the bark into whatever sizes you want, and put in a glass container or a zip lock bag to keep in the freezer, sneaking a guilt free sweet treat when you want one...
9. Great as gifts and to share!
Credits: I based it on these two great recipes:
http://wholenewmom.com/recipes/homemade-chocolate-or-carob-bar/
http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/01/15/three-ingredient-chocolate-bars-1/
**Before deciding to use stevia, please read:
http://empoweredsustenance.com/is-stevia-bad-for-you/
(personally for me, I only eat a square or two of the chocolate once a night, and not every night - so I am okay with this limited stevia intake - but that is me. If stevia effects you negatively, or if you are going to sit down and eat a huge plate of this super yummy chocolate, then do consider one of the more natural sweeteners like coconut sugar, raw honey or maple syrup)
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