Who doesn’t like chocolate? Especially on Valentine’s Day! With this healthy homemade recipe you literally have no excuse whatsoever not to indulge yourself in the brown, gooey, sweet, irresistible delight that usually grabs your eye in every food shop.
It has potential health benefits too when eaten in moderation (because homemade chocolate is a good source of magnesium, plus you’re avoiding all the artificial ingredients and high fructose corn syrup and soy lecithin often used as an emulsifier by major brands). Not to mention making chocolate at home is fun; you can treat yourself to a finger dip every now and then, and it’s a very romantic gesture, especially for Valentine’s Day.
So, let’s get straight to it – read the simple recipe below and add mint or orange extract, brewed espresso or even chopped almonds for a more unique taste!
Healthy Homemade Chocolate
PREP 5 Minutes
COOK 5 Minutes
TOTAL 10 Minutes
Ingredients
- 1 cup organic cocoa powder
- 1 cup cocoa butter
- 1 tsp real vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup raw honey – or less if you prefer a bittersweet taste!
- Chopped toasted almonds, mint extract, or orange zest (optional)
Method
In a glass bowl or double boiler, melt the cocoa butter on top of a small pan of simmering water (the water shouldn’t touch the bowl). When the cocoa butter has melted entirely, remove it from the heat and stir in the cocoa powder, vanilla, honey, and any other flavour extracts you wish to use.
Bring the ingredients together until you are left with a smooth combined mixture. Be extremely careful at this point to not get water or any liquid in the chocolate; this can completely ruin the texture! Even wet hands are risky – don’t let any moisture get in the mold either.
Pour the chocolate mixture into a mold or onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Leave it to harden at room temperature for several hours; if you want it to harden quicker you can pop it in the fridge. It will store for approximately one week at room temperature or longer if refrigerated.
Enjoy!
Notes
In places of the cocoa butter, you can use coconut oil to produce a very healthy chocolate. It won’t be as creamy or thick so we recommended hardening and storing it in your fridge.
