Cranberry, Orange and Pecan Raw Chocolate ( Paleo, Vegan, Gluten-Free)
SESAME FREE II PALEO II VEGAN II GLUTEN FREE II DAIRY FREE II SOY FREE II NIGHTSHADE FREE II FISH FREE II SHELLFISH FREE
This is a stunning and festive healthy raw chocolate recipe that you will love. It's bursting with tangy cranberries, orange zest pecans and mixed seeds. It's a powerhouse of goodness. And it tastes incredible. I remember a few years ago before veganism became fashionable. There was not a lot of choice for dairy-free chocolate.
The options were cheap and artificially tasting crap! I discovered raw chocolate, and my world changed. Chocolate that's healthy AND tastes good. Surely that can't be true? It is, yes, there is a god, lol! This is so quick and easy to make and perfect as a gift for your loved ones ( if you don't eat them all first.)
Vanilla extract
I live this brand of vanilla extract in the picture below. It's the best quality vanilla on the market, and while it's more expensive, you only need a little, so it's cost-effective and will make all the difference in taste.
Cacao powder
Not to be confused with its roasted to death cousin cocoa powder. Cacao allows you to get all the benefits of chocolate, but without the refined sugar or saturated fat. It is the purest form of chocolate and comes in many different forms: powder, paste, nibs (small chopped pieces) and butter. It’s made from cacao beans, which are found in cacao pods on Theobroma Cacao trees (also known as cacao fruit trees) which are native to South America.
Cocoa powder is made from the beans of the same trees but is heated to a high temperature when it’s processed, making it not as nutritious as cacao powder which is raw and contains more of the whole bean. Read more about cacao versus cocoa powder here, and learn about the many health benefits of eating raw cacao powder.
12 portions - 30 mins cooking/prep time - 4 hrs chilling time ( for you & the chocolate)
Ingredients
What is raw chocolate anyway?
When it comes to the ingredients used to make raw chocolate. The big thing here is that raw chocolate will contain no refined cane sugar, dairy, wheat or gluten, packers or bulking agents, and artificial additives, flavours, preservatives, or colours. Think of it as chocolate without the junk. Raw chocolate is high in minerals like magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron. More Vitamin B, protein and fibre. Other claims include a healthier heart, better digestion, improved mental health and lower blood pressure. All the more reason to eat it.
Storage tips
Keep raw chocolate in the fridge in any type of container, and it will last for 2 weeks.
Step by step
Recipe
200 g coconut oil
90 g honey or maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract ( see notes)
pinch salt
85 g cacao powder
3 tbsp smooth almond butter ( hazelnut butter would also be a stellar choice)
75 g cranberries
zest of 2 oranges
50 g roasted pecans
35 g pumpkin seeds
25 g sunflower seeds
Method
Slowly melt the coconut oil in a saucepan ( never the microwave) then take off the heat and whisk in the cacao powder, honey or maple, sea salt and vanilla extract.
Then add the remaining ingredients and stir together ( leave a small amount of cranberries, orange zest and pumpkin seeds for garnish).
Spoon the chocolate mixture into 12 paper cases and top with the garnish then chill for 4 hours or till set.
These bad boys will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Variations
You can swap the pecans for any nuts you prefer, you could choose pistachios or hazelnuts. You could also add some candied orange zest too.
If your find cooking for your allergies and intolerances challenging. I also teach cookery classes and can do this in person or via zoom. Contact me here for a tailor-made class to suit your requirements.
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