Cacao, a bean that comprises the base of chocolate, comes from a plant, but does that make it a health food? Like all other ingredients there can be a yes or no answer- it all depends on how it was produced, and if we’re getting really picky, on how it was grown (organic and fair trade are two labels to promise a higher quality product). Raw cacao itself is full of nutrients, especially antioxidants, the minerals copper, iron, manganese, and magnesium, several of the B vitamins and healthy fats. By the time it makes its way to North American store shelves these nutrients can still be intact in powdered raw cacao. However if it has been transformed into standard candy bars the chocolate has been tremendously modified and there are many additional ingredients, chemicals and preservatives, leaving a product nearly completely devoid of any nutritional benefit.
This is a really basic recipe with no added sweeteners. The dates do add quite a bit of sweetness but a couple spoonfuls of honey or maple syrup could be added in for those with taste buds not yet adjusted to a more natural chocolate flavor. A teaspoon of vanilla extract or spices like cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice can also be used to add some extra flavor.
- 1 cup dates, pitted and chopped (around 18 individual)
- ¾ cup natural nut butter of choice
- ½ cup almond flour
- ⅓ cup hemp hearts
- ¼ cup raw cacao powder
- 2 tablespoons roasted cacao powder (this just adds a bit more depth of flavor but if you only have raw cacao add an extra 2 tablespoons in place of the roasted)
- 1 pinch sea salt (omit if peanut butter contains salt)
- If the dates are really dry soak them in water for 10 minutes then drain the water so that they rehydrate slightly and break down more easily. Blend all the ingredients together with a food processor or immersion blender and take about 1 tablespoon at a time to roll compactly into small spheres.