July 7, 2017
Ahhh chocolate. Some say it is better than….well, nevermind that. The truth is cacao is high in chemicals that make you happy: serotonin, dopamine, anandamide and phenylethylamine. Neurotransmitters associated with happiness, relaxation and desire, these brain simulators may even help to ease the symptoms of depression and lighten up dark days.
Indulge In the care of Chocolate…
Being a Yoga teacher, I am always looking for workshops and seminars that host Cacao inspired topics because it usually means they will be serving some sort of goody at the end….or better yet, during! The yogi community loves their cacao, and that, I am truly grateful!
I will admit, once upon a time I had a major weakness for chocolate bars….the urge still calls to me once in a while. The good news is I started mix and matching different ingredients together using raw cacao in order to fullfill my love for the tasty treat, and I am happy to share this secret with you. Here is a great recipe I pieced together based on what I learned from the various wonderful workshops I attended 🙂
Raw Chocolate Nutty Bars
What You Will Need
- 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
- 2/3 cup raw cacao powder
- 5 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (optional)
- Almond Butter, room temp (or your favorite nut butter)
- A dash of Himalayan Sea Salt
- Other optional add-ons: raisins, dried cranberries, goji berries, nuts, mint/peppermint oil. Be creative!
Here’s how to put it together
- Blend it all together. Get it nice a smooth.
- Pour just half of the chocolate mixture in a pan and put in the freezer for 10-12 minutes.
- Once it’s solid, take it out of the freezer and spread almond (or any nut) butter on top
- Pour the other half of the chocolate on top.
- Put it back in the freezer for 30 minutes or so
- YUM! Cut up to desirable size and eat right away.
**The chocolate will melt quickly so don’t leave it out for too long**
Enjoy!!
Monica 🙂
