Sugar Free Kitchen

Tastes like dark chocolate but sweeter

I have been testing this out for awhile now and I am quite amazed at how well this works. I have used this in many of my recipes to replace the chocolate chips (sweetened with stevia and erythritol) that I have been using for the past 4 years and I am very pleased with the results. Can you imagine delicious chocolate that is dairy free, sugar free (sweetened only with dates) and contains healthy oil, cocoa and fiber. The following easy recipe will give you just that.

• 1/2 cup cocoa powder (the one I use is natural cocoa powder 10-12% fat)
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
• 5-6 Tbsp. Date Puree

Melt coconut oil (microwave for 30 sec. – 1 min.), add date puree and put back in microwave for 30 sec. With whisk or immersion blender, add cocoa powder and blend. Now you have chocolate that you can put in any kind of silicon mold to form or just spread in a glass pan and refrigerate to set. (these will need to be kept cool as they will easily melt if in a warm environment due to coconut oil).

If using this chocolate for a coating on candy or a glaze for cakes, cookies or any other sweets add approx. 3 Tbsp. – 1/4 cup of milk or cream ( I personally like to use coconut milk or cream) but dairy or any other alternative will work.

Some health benefits to the above ingredients are as follows: Cocoa powder can help improve your attention, working memory, and general cognition. Cocoa powder contains iron, zinc, and selenium. Coconut oil has many benefits including antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, improved skin and oral health, and weight loss potential. Dates, well the health benefits of this fruit is a long list, but just to name a few of my reasons for using them are as a natural sweetener with fiber and also contain potassium, magnesium, copper, manganese, iron, vitamin B6. They are high in disease fighting antioxidants such as flavonoids, carotenoids, and phenolic acid. This is just a few benefits of all 3 ingredients in this recipe.

Enjoy☺