DIY Raw Chocolate Recipe- easy and amazing!

Raw Chocolate Fruit and Nut Bar

Chocolate chocolate chocolate chocolate! Who doesn't love chocolate?   As we know not all chocolate is made the same.  Most of us try to limit the amount of consumption because of the sugar and fat in chocolate, let alone whatever the chocolate might be covering up.  What if I told you that chocolate can be a healthy superfood, made without any sugar and very easy to make yourself.  Sound too good to be true?  Well, it's not!  I have been exploring raw foods for a little while now and while I have had some great meals the true blessings have been raw deserts. However the greatest find yet has been raw chocolate.  I eat it plain when I just need a nibble of sweet and I also make some really rawmazing treats with it as well.

Why raw chocolate instead of regular old chocolate? Raw cacao is a superfood with amazing health benefits.

Raw chocolate contains many important vitamins and minerals including: Magnesium, and other essential minerals including calcium, sulfur, zinc, iron, copper, potassium, and manganese. Polyphenols called flavonoids, with antioxidant properties. Vitamins: B1, B2, B3, B5, B9.  Essential heart-healthy fat: oleic acid a monounsaturated fat. Protein and fiber

  Raw Chocolate can also lower blood pressure & improve circulation, can promote cardiovascular function & health, can neutralize free radicals, can improve digestion, can enhance physical and mental well-being.

In today's post I am going to include three raw chocolate recipes that will change how you view the sweet stuff forever. 1) Basic Raw Chocolate 2) Raw Chocolate Fruit and Nut Bar (pictured) 3) Raw Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls. The first two recipes are from Judita Wignall's raw uncook book Going Raw.  I have found some really great recipes in this book and it's a good place to explore raw food for the adventuresome.  The third recipe is one I created after I saw how much my husband loved the not raw version made at our local co-op. Of course I knew I had to try making them myself and decided I would attempt to make them raw. Not only did they turn out amazing but I can feel good about eating and serving them!

Ingredients note:  I purchase all my ingredients at my local co-op.  Raw cacao is different than bakers cocoa.  Cacao is the purest form from the source.  The brand I use is "Ojio" and in comes in powder form. The cacao butter I find in bulk in the health and beauty section of the co-op.  Yep , it's the same stuff you rub on your body for beautiful skin.  Heck, if it works so good on the outside why not on the inside too!  There are food grade cacao butters ("Now" brand carries one such version).  The stuff I buy is not labeled food grade even though it is perfectly fine to use as food grade.  It is the highest quality purest cacao butter you can get.  Just don't use that yellow tube stuff you get from Walgreens.  If you can't find food grade cacao butter make sure it is 100%  cacao butter, no funny stuff, and you should be ok.

Basic Raw Chocolate- (as taken from Going Raw by Judita Wignall p.147)

1 cup cacao butter, shaved/cut into small pieces

1 cup cacao powder

2-4 Tbs honey, agave (less for bittersweet chocolate)

2 tsp vanilla extract

pinch of sea salt (optional)

1. Melt cacao butter in saucepan over very low heat (it should be warm not hot- you can still be able to touch the pan and cacao without pain)
2. stir in cacao, honey, vanilla extract, and salt. Combine well
3. from here you can make what you want with the chocolate. For just plain chocolate freeze to harden 30 minutes. If you want to make fruit nut bars or peanut butter balls keep chocolate in liquid form and continue on to next step.

Raw Chocolate Fruit and Nut Bars (As taken from Judita Wignall's Going Raw p.148)

-1 recipe Basic Raw Chocolate (melted)

-2 Tablespoons chopped almonds or nut of your choice

- 1 Tablespoon dried blueberries

-1 Tablespoon  dried Zante currants (I used raisins)

-1 Tablespoon finely chopped dried cherries ( I used dried strawberries and/or cranberries)

      1. Stir all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl and pour into candy bar molds (ice cube trays).                  Let set in freezer for at least 30 minutes before removing.

Raw Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls 

 -1 recipe Basic Raw Chocolate (melted)

-½ cup smooth peanut butter

-½ cup medjool dates, pits removed

-2 tsp vanilla extract

-1 Tbs almond flour (finely ground almonds) OR maca powder

-1/4-1/3 cup peanuts crushed

-pinch of sea salt

-Peanut Butter inside and assembly:

1. place the dates and peanut butter in and food processor and blend to a thick paste. Add, vanilla extract, almond flour or maca, and salt. Blend to mix all ingredients. Transfer mixture to separate bowl. Fold in most of crushed peanuts (save a little to sprinkle on top)
2. in small ice cube trays or chocolate molds put a dab of chocolate on the bottom.
3. Make a little ball of peanut butter filling and place in each cube
4. cover with chocolate and sprinkle with peanuts
5. Freeze for at least 30 minutes to harden. Keep refrigerated or frozen in airtight container.