Raw Cacao Bliss Balls & Raw Cacao Brownie

There's a lot of hype around raw chocolate (Cacao) at the moment. So I thought why not give it whirl, as I love chocolate & if I can make a healthier option then why not try!

Ill be honest I bought the cacao powder from Holland & Barrett months ago and its just sat in my cupboard as I wasn't 100% sure what to do with it. Till I finally took to good old trustworthy Google and Pinterest to get some recipe ideas.

 

First recipe I tried was for the Raw Cacao Bliss Balls, probably the most simple & easiest things I've ever made! So do not ne afraid. They only have 6 ingredients and no baking is involved.

 

I then made the Raw Cacao Brownie which is even more simple which has all of 4 ingredient and again no baking.

 

Cacao Benefits:

 

1. Can lower blood pressure
2. Improve digestion
3. Known to enhance physical & mental well-being
4. It is a huge antioxidant
5. Its an aphrodisiac
6. The best one of all it is pretty much guilt free (in moderation of course)

So there are just a few reasons why Cacao is good for you, with it being raw & completely untouched.

 

 



Below are the recipes for both.

 

 

 

 

 

Cacao Bliss Balls

 

Ingredients:

 

• 1 cup of cashews blended until smooth (or cheat and but cashew nut butter)
• 2 tablespoons of raw honey or agave nectar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 8 pitted medjool dates
• 2 table spoons of raw cacao powder
• 1 cup of desiccated coconut (for coating)
• 1 cup of chopped nuts (for coating)  

 

Method:

 

• Place all of the ingredients in the blender (except the coconut & chopped nuts) mix well until smooth
• Use your hands to roll the mixture in to small balls
• Pour the coconut & chopped nuts on to a chopping board and roll each of the balls until coated
• place on baking tray and pop in fridge till hard

These will keep for around 2 weeks

 

Raw Brownie

 

Ingredients:

 

• 1 1/3 cups walnuts
• 1/2 cup almonds
• 1/2 cup cacao powder
• 1 cup pitted medjool dates

 

Method:

 

• In a food processor, process 1 cup of the walnuts and the almonds until they are nearly at a crumbly consistency.
• Add in the cacao powder and process till well combined
• Add the dates a couple at a time and continue to blitz until the mixture is sticky and holds together
• If the mixture is a little dry or crumbly, add a few tablespoons of water.
• Press mixture into tin/baking dish lined with baking paper.
• Chop left over walnuts roughly
• Place the chopped walnuts on top of the brownie & push them in slightly
• Place into fridge for 2-3 hours
• If you cannot wait that long, place into freezer for at least 1 hour.

As you can see, I put dried fruits & desiccated coconut on top of my brownie as well.

 

Hope you enjoyed reading this. Let me know if you try any of these recipes  :)

 

Enjoy x