Healthy Homemade Dark Chocolate
After making Homemade White Chocolate, I realized how easy it was to make chocolate bars at home. After a complete flop at making dairy-free Milk Chocolate (oxymoron?), I decided it would be FAR easier to make Healthy Homemade Dark Chocolate. Plus, dark chocolate is more holiday-ish anyways.
This homemade dark chocolate makes for the perfect gift this holiday season (or any occasion, for that matter). It’s super simple to make and is absolutely delectable!
It tastes far better than storebought dark chocolate, probably because this homemade version is made without artificial flavorings, milk fat, soy, and PGPR. Really though, this chocolate is better because of all the love you put into it 😉 Just neatly wrap the chocolate bars in parchment paper, wax paper, or cellophane bags and close with a sticker or tie with a ribbon!
Even though it might be easier to grab some fun-sized Snickers from the store, it isn’t as loving as something homemade. I mean, I’m totally guilty of buying a bunch of junk food for presents (partly because I got to snack on a few dozen myself), but now that I know how unhealthy those artificial products are–whether it’s from the insane amount of sugar or hazardous level of hydrogenated oil–I certainly don’t want to hand those out to the people I love. To me, it’s like saying, “Happy Holidays! Now put on a few pounds and maybe raise your cholesterol too?”
I love you, I don’t want to slash days off your life. I don’t even want to slash MILLISECONDS off your life.
I know, I know, I may be taking this to the extreme, but after taking a few nutrition courses and completing a large number of research projects, I really don’t want to give people such dangerous substances. Oh, and I also don’t want to support the candy makers who live to shove sugar down our throats…
No, I’m not asking you to hand out carrot sticks (because quite frankly, everyone would hate that, even a rabbit), just give your friends and family (or even a complete stranger) some homemade guilt-free goodies this year 🙂
Healthy Homemade Dark Chocolate
Ingredients
- 56g (¼ cup) Raw Cacao Paste
- 42g (3 tbs) Organic Raw Cacao Butter
- ½ tsp Liquid Stevia Extract
- 30g (¼ cup) Powdered Erythritol (sifted)
- 3" of a Vanilla Bean (beans scraped)
Instructions
- In a double boiler, add the cacao paste and cacao butter. Stir occasionally until melted.
- Take off the heat and whisk in the stevia, then the erythritol, and finally the vanilla beans (chocolate should be smooth and silky).
- Place chocolate bar molds on a large, flat plate (make sure that it will fit inside your fridge!), then pour the chocolate into the molds. Refrigerate until firm (~2 hours). Store in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Recipe Notes
Mmmmm, antioxidants!
Enjoy!
.
– Jess
.
Indulge − no strings attached!
Oh thank you! Dark chocolate is on my “eat every day” list and I would love to make it cheaper! I wonder, where do to get cocoa butter? Could you use coconut oil instead? Also, I didn’t quite understand what you meant in place of cacao paste? Just cocoa powder and unsweetened chocolate squares? And how much? Sorry for all the questions. I just really want to get it right! 🙂
The cacao butter is linked in the recipe. Amazon is my favorite place to order from. I have seen other bloggers use cacao butter and coconut oil interchangeably, but I have not tried it. I’m sure it will work, the chocolate just won’t be as chocolatey.
Cacao paste is a mixture of cocoa powder and cocoa butter. You can actually probably just use unsweetened chocolate instead of a mix of cocoa and chocolate 🙂 I would use 2oz of unsweetened chocolate.
I haven’t tried these substitutions, so I’m not sure how it will turn out, but I’m crossing my fingers it will taste delicious!
This comment has been removed by the author.
You are amazing!!!!! I cannot believe you just made that chocolate.
Do I have to use cacao butter? by the way I have chocolate flavoured stevia, gonna use that! yum 🙂
I would recommend using the cocoa butter since it is a main ingredient in chocolate bars and adds a great texture and flavor. If you do not want to buy it however, you can probably use coconut oil instead, however I have not tried it! Good luck, hope you like the recipe 🙂
Great recipe. I love how much more healthy it is!! Where do you find most of these ingredients…. Whole foods, Walmart? Also, what cocoa powder do you recommend? What’s percent of chocolate is your recipe? Thanks!!!!
Thanks Laura! I don’t really know what the cacao percentage is but I would assume it’s around 60%? I get my ingredients online, usually from Amazon or iHerb because it is SOOO much cheaper. For example, a pound of cocoa butter in the store was $25.99 and a pound online is only $13.75!
Pingback: Desserts With Benefits
Pingback: Desserts With Benefits
Pingback: Healthy Junk Food! | JAP Cupcakes
Just what did you mean by saying, “No, I’m not asking you to hand out carrot sticks (because quite frankly, everyone would hate that, even a rabbit)”?
I just happen to be a rabbit, and I take great offense with your statement. Personally, I’m quite delighted to receive gifts of carrot sticks and other vegetables (it certainly beats having to steal them from people’s gardens while being chased by vicious guard dogs.)
Harumph! Good day to you, madam!
Hi,
I’m looking forward to making this chocolate, just what I’ve been searching for! I just have one question – I see the total carb for 40g of chocolate is 10g. Should I subtract the 2g fiber to get the Nett carb count? Do you have a nett carb count worked out for this? Much appreciated.
Rensuz-
The exact net carb amount is 7.875g per 40g of chocolate. But to make sure, check the labels of the products you are using… every brand is different and sometimes brands change their “formulas.”
Hope this helps! 🙂
-Jess
Pingback: 13 Healthy Halloween recipes for a guilt-free shindig! (gluten free, vegan)
Pingback: Healthy 5-Minute Microwave Carrot Cake Muffin | Gluten Free, Vegan
Pingback: How to Make Homemade Milk Chocolate (sugar free, low carb, vegan)
Pingback: Homemade Cookies and Cream Candy Bars | Gluten Free, Sugar Free
Pingback: Healthy Red Velvet Cheesecake Dip Recipe | Desserts With Benefits