Thursday 20 December 2012

the gift of raw chocolate


It is nearly Christmas, and I am still running around making and wrapping last minute presents. If you are like me and are still in the market to grab a present for a special someone this could be for you. 
The typical token present at this time of year seems to be the box of chocolates. Now don't get me wrong I love chocolate as much as the next person but what if you could give someone a box of chocolates that didn't just taste amazing but would boost their health as well? The media loves to tell us about how dark chocolate (along with that glass of red wine) is good for us and is loaded with antioxidants. Unfortuantly so often the chocolate that we buy in the stores is loaded with sugar with cocoa (the good stuff) far down the list of ingredients. Well this chocolate is about to change all of that. By making your own chocolate at home you can pack it full of the good and leave out the scary stuff. Enter raw chocolate. 
Raw chocolate is quick and very easy to make and can be tailored to suit the very lucky person who receives it. If you don't have time to make the chocolates you could even pack up the ingredients and make a chocolate making kit... including cute moulds and a recipe card.  You can split up the ingredients and make two kits for two people for about $40 total. Not bad! Of course you could make up some chocolates and spread the love even further.  
You could grab all the ingredients at a health food store or online here.   
I promise you this is the real deal, proper melt in your mouth deliciousness.... but don't just take my word for it get in the kitchen and give it a go. 


Things you will need

metal bowl and whisk
small saucepan 
mould of some sort... I used ice cube trays

Ingredients  

100g cacao butter
6 tbsp raw cacao powder (sifted)
3-4 tbsp pure maple syrup or brown rice syrup
tiny pinch of sea salt

Plus yummy things to add in. So many options but here are a few ideas...

chopped almonds
flakes of sea salt
dried berries/ fruit
orange zest
coconut flakes
vanilla seeds/ paste  
coffee 
cacao nibs

Process

Using a metal bowl and metal whisk melt cacao butter in a bowl over a small pot of hot water on the stove. When completely melted stir in the sifted cacao powder and maple syrup and whisk to combine. Add in your desired extras. The mixture should be very runny. Pour into moulds e.g. ice cub trays, small plastic containers and place in the freezer for about 30mins or until set. Store in fridge or freezer until ready to eat or give away (will be more melty than store bought chocolate). Will last about 2 weeks in the freezer... if it is around that long! 

** if you can leave it in the freezer overnight and it will be much less inclined to melt on the way to you giving it to your lucky person! **



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