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Raw chocolate has become increasingly popular recently. There are so many different varieties available to us now compared to even just a few years ago.
Unfortunately, delicious as they are, raw chocolates can be very expensive. Making your own is a much more economical alternative and it really is pretty easy!
It also gives you the opportunity to experiment and custom-make your chocolate to suit your own personal preferences. You can also add superfoods to enhance nutritional quality.
Here is a recipe I created for a bar of delicious raw chocolate that incorporates flavors from Central America.
There is a mild touch of spice from the cinnamon, which is beautifully complemented by the citrus essential oil. I used Young Living Citrus Fresh but a sweet orange oil would also work. Make sure your essential oil is food grade.
The Brazil nuts, gojis, and raisins add a nice textural contrast and combination of flavors. The mesquite is a nice addition but if you don’t have any you can leave it out.
Mayan Superfood Chocolate
1/4 lb raw cacao butter
1 cup cacao powder, sifted
4 tablespoons manuka honey
1 tablespoon mesquite
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 drops citrus fresh essential oil
6 Brazil nuts, chopped
2 tablespoons goji berries
2 tablespoons hunza raisins
1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder
Chop cacao butter into pieces and place in a saucepan on the lowest possible heat. Gently melt and remove from heat immediately. Keep a close eye on the temperature to make sure it doesn’t get too hot. Alternatively, you can melt your cacao butter in the dehydrator at 105 degrees.
Add the honey, sifted cacao powder, vanilla, cinnamon, mesquite, and essential oil and stir until everything is combined well. Then add the Brazil nuts, goji berries, and raisins.
Pour into chocolate molds or a glass baking dish and place in the fridge until set. Then break apart into individual pieces and enjoy.
So I hope you have some fun in the kitchen inventing some of your own artisanal chocolate creations. The only truly essential ingredients when making raw chocolate are the cacao butter, cacao powder, and some form of sweetener. The rest is up to you!
Hi wondering if you can help me
I am trying to source cocao butter
Please would you let me know
where I can purchase it in
Cape Town
Regards Ruth
Hi Ruth,
I suggest you contact Beryn and Peter Daniel at Soaring Free Superfoods:
http://www.superfoods.co.za/