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5 Healthy Chocolate Recipes You Should Make Right Now

February 13, 2014 by AbraPappa

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Chocolate Strawberry ShortcakeWith all my talk of kale you may imagine I never eat treats, you would be wrong. Although I am drenched in vehement support of leafy greens, as far as I’m concerned, there is only one true perfect food on the planet.

My friends, I am talking about chocolate.

How do you like me now?

All chocolate from milk to dark begins as a cacao bean, the journey from the cacao bean to the chocolate bar will ultimately determine it’s level of “Abra approval.”

Cacao (the purest form of chocolate) has been so revered throughout history that the Aztecs used it as currency.

I can tell you that raw cacao, raw chocolate is more valuable than money in my house.

So why oh why should you eat it? Well the list is long, but in light of Valentine’s day let’s just look at why it’s so dang good for your heart and soul.

Chocolate is LOVE

Cacao contains Phenylethylamine or PEA’s. PEA’s are a major class of chemicals that we produce in our bodies when we fall in love.

Butterflies in your stomach, flushed face, giggles, and joy sound good to you? Well you will get a little bit of that lovin’ feeling when you eat chocolate.

Chocolate is your one true companion.

Chocolate is BLISS

Cacao also contains a molecule called anandamide, which is know as the bliss molecule. Anandamide is released when we are feeling fantastic! Anandamide also acts as a chemical messenger between the embryo and uterus. As such, it is one of the first communications that occur between mother and child. Pure bliss!

To obtain maximum love and bliss consume raw chocolate, or cacao. You can find raw chocolate in “nib” or powder form at most health food stores. It is bitter, I cannot tell a lie. Over time, as you reduce your dependency on sweet, you will fall madly in love with raw chocolate, just as I have.

So toss that heart shaped box of toxic yuck and go buy your love, or yourself, a bag of cacao. If raw cacao nibs are too far off spectrum for you begin with dark chocolate, the darker the chocolate, the closer to it’s natural cacao state, the more benefit you will get (begin with at least 70% cacao content).

Ideally look  for organic, fair trade dark chocolate (to avoid pesticides, mold overgrowth, and potentially toxic ingredients).

So there my loves, as your Valentine’s gift I am telling you to go out and eat some chocolate.

Looking to bake a chocolate-y treat? Try some of my favorite healthy chocolate recipes below. (just click the titles for full recipes)

  • Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

  • Chocolate Maca Smoothie

chocolate smoothie

Chocolate Maca Smoothie

  • Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake (Gluten Free)

Nutritious Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake

Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake

  • Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies (Gluten Free, Dairy Free)

chocolate chip cookie

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie

  • Chocolate Cupcakes (Gluten Free)

Chocolate Cupcakes

Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes

  • Chocolate Chia Pudding

chocolate chia pudding 2

Chocolate Chia Pudding

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Filed Under: Blog, Wellness Tagged With: Chocolate, Food Spotlight, Healthy Baking, Heart Health, Super Foods, Valentine's Day, Weight Loss Foods

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Hi, I’m Abra: a functional nutritionist, professional eater, and serious travel junkie. Inspiring wellness in and out of the kitchen is my favorite jam.

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No, he said, I just want to be in here and talk to you.⠀
After 16 years we are each others person in every way. He is the man I want to start and end my day with. He is the one I want to wander the world with.⠀
He puts up with my trash tv and quinoa salads and I put up with his shoot-em-ups and pasta obsession. @jordanschehrdesign 💗⠀
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  • Remember that pound of hibiscus I accidentally bought? Did the same thing with chamomile. So... I’ll be putting chamomile in everything from now on. ⠀
Starting with gluten free chamomile cupcakes. Perfect for your love 💕 ⠀
Recipe 👇🏻👇🏻⠀
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INGREDIENTS⠀
DRY INGREDIENTS⠀
1/2 cup coconut flour⠀
2 tbsp chamomile flowers, chopped (optional)⠀
1 tsp baking powder⠀
1/2 tsp sea salt⠀
WET INGREDIENTS⠀
1/2 cup unsalted butter (Vegan butter or coconut oil will also work)⠀
4 tbsp coconut milk⠀
3 tbsp dried chamomile (or 3 chamomile tea bags)⠀
2 tsp vanilla extract⠀
2/3 cup coconut palm sugar⠀
6 large eggs⠀
FROSTING⠀
Whipped Coconut Cream⠀
Drizzle Honey (optional)⠀
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INSTRUCTIONS⠀
🌼Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with 10 paper cupcake liners.⠀
🌼In a medium bowl combine dry ingredients, whisk well to incorporate. (The chopped chamomile flowers are optional)⠀
🌼In a small saucepan over medium-low heat combine butter and coconut milk, when butter has melted add chamomile flowers or chamomile tea bags. Remove from heat and allow to steep for 10-15 minutes. If using loose chamomile flowers after 15 minutes strain mixture through a fine mesh strainer, into a large bowl (if using tea bags simply remove the tea bags and add mixture to a large bowl)⠀
🌼Whisk coconut palm sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract into butter chamomile mixture.⠀
🌼Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and whisk well to combine. Allow mixture to sit for 15 minutes so as to allow coconut flour to absorb some of the moisture.⠀
🌼Divide the batter among 10 liners filling to 3/4 full.⠀
🌼Bake the cupcakes in the center rack of the oven for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.⠀
🌼Allow cupcakes to cool in pan for 5-10 minutes. Turn them out of the pan and allow to cool completely on a rack before frosting.⠀
🌼Frost the cupcakes with your favorite frosting, I used homemade coconut cream frosting ⠀
🌼Optional: Top cupcakes with chamomile flowers and a drizzle of honey⠀
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I get it now and I have a lot of lost time to make up for. ⠀
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Healthy steak tacos with a creamy lime slaw, linked in profile.⠀
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Me: I’m just over here sipping on my hibiscus adaptogen latte⠀
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You. Do. You. ⠀
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I’m also eating brownies. It’s all good. ⠀
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