Made another batch of peanut butter last week, so these Raw Chocolate PB Cups were inevitable of course! All you chocolate-lovers out there, if you haven’t tried making your own chocolate, you’re missing out BIG time!!! It might sound complicated, but it’s the easiest thing ever, I promise! You only need raw cacao powder, unrefined cold-pressed coconut oil and a high-quality sweetener such as pure maple syrup. 3 basic ingredients and you’ve got yourself some delicious high-quality chocolate that only needs minutes to firm up in the freezer. Or if you have a serious case of chocolate craving – like my friends and I did last weekend in the wee hours of the night- you can just dig into the liquid chocolate bowl with your spoon and enjoy it as is 😉 I love to add a dash of sea salt as well to further bring out the sweetness of the chocolate.
Health Benefits of Raw Cacao
Raw cacao contains many vital vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, sulfur, zinc, iron, calcium, copper, potassium, manganese, vitamins B and C. In fact often times chocolate cravings can be a sign of magnesium deficiency! Cacao is also high in polyphenols (antioxidant-rich flavonoids) and fiber, as well as chemicals that make you feel good, focused and alert. If you can’t find raw cacao, the next best thing is unsweetened 100% cocoa powder. However, the heating process could damage the vitamins and polyphenols and reduce its health benefits.
Is Coconut Oil Healthy?
Over 90% of the fat in coconut oil is saturated, which unfortunately was mistakenly believed to be harmful to our health. However, study after study has revealed that the naturally-occurring saturated fat in coconut oil improves cardiovascular health1 2, promotes weight loss3, supports digestive and immune function4 and much more. Moreover, coconut oil is high in lauric acid, which is excellent for the skin, strengthens the immune system and contributes to its strong antiviral, antibacterial, and antiprotozoa properties. Win-win all around, when consumed in moderation of course!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup raw cacao powder
- 1/2 cup unrefined cold-pressed coconut oil, melted
- 2-4 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- Pinch of unrefined sea salt
- 4 tablespoons peanut butter (or nut/seed butter of choice)
Directions
- If your coconut oil is solid, add it to a small pan and let it melt over low heat
- Once melted, remove from heat, add cacao powder to the oil and mix well with a spoon until completely dissolved (no clumps remaining). Start with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup and add more if needed. Add a pinch of sea salt, stir to combine, and let the liquid chocolate cool down
- Line a mini muffin tin with mini muffin cases. Pour the liquid chocolate into the cases and fill them up 1/4 way through. Transfer into the freezer for 5 minutes for the chocolate to set
- Take out the tin, add a spoonful of peanut butter in the middle and fill up the cups with the remaining liquid chocolate. Transfer back into the freezer for about an hour until the chocolate firms up. You can store them in the fridge afterward. Enjoy!
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