I love chocolate. Occasionally you meet the odd person in life who says, “I’m not really a huge chocolate person.”
I’m not one of them.
Chocolate has many health benefits, we eat it in some form every day at my house. Unfortunately though, much of the chocolate we see in stores today is heavily processed, which strips most of its goodness. Many of these brands of chocolate are laden with sugar and hydrogenated fats which do our bodies more harm than good.
Chocolate is made from cacao beans, the dried and fermented seeds of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao) a small evergreen tree which thrives in tropical climates.
The cacao bean is incredibly rich in antioxidant flavonoids, healthy fats, carbohydrates, protein, polyphenols (resveratrol), minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sulfur, copper, iron, zinc and potassium, oleic acid which is a heart-healthy essential monounsaturated fat, fiber and vitamins E, B2, B1, B5, B3 and B9. So clearly, when chosen well, chocolate can be a wonderful source of nutrients in a well-balanced diet.
I’m not one who believes in total restriction or deprivation, but I generally avoid sugary milk chocolate and opt for organic dark chocolate. However, the caffeine content in dark chocolate is quite high, so these easy-to-make treats can satisfy that chocolate craving without all the nasties that come with processed chocolate too much caffeine. I added blueberries simply to increase the antioxidant value and because it helps the texture without affecting the taste.
These chocolate treats are ideal for children as they contain no nasties and are full of superfood nutrients, from antioxidant blueberries and cacao, to healthy fat in coconut oil and all the natural goodness of honey.
Healthy Chocolate Truffles
Ingredients
- 90 grams Organic Coconut Oil
- 40 grams Organic Cacao Powder
- 2 tbsp Raw Honey
- 50 grams Blueberries
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 tbsp Desiccated Coconut
Instructions
- Melt the coconut oil and honey in a pot over low heat. Stir well.
- Add blueberries and cacao powder and blend with a hand blender or food processor until smooth.
- Place into silicone molds or an ice tray and pop them in the freezer to harden for about 30 minutes.
- Remove from the molds and roll in the desiccated coconut. Enjoy!