Healthy Hot Chocolate Squares

Every now and then (or every 5 minutes!) I get a chocolate craving! I love chocolate, and even though there are antioxidants in the real dark chocolate, it’s still high in sugar. Sugar creates lots of inflammation in the body. I have been trying to come up with some recipes that satisfy the sweet tooth, provide the antioxidant levels of dark chocolate, and have a lower (or no sugar) content. So I threw together this recipe with cocoa powder and honey. Yay, no sugar! Plus, you also get the medicinal benefits of raw honey. The coconut oil is full of healthy fats and the gelatin is good for your hair, nails, and gut lining. I think this recipe sounds pretty darn healthy! Don’t you? Just try not to eat the whole pan right away! I named them healthy hot chocolate squares because they seriously taste like hot chocolate!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cup boiling water
• 3 Tbsp gelatin — where to find
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder — where to find
• 1/2 cup coconut milk powder — where to find
• 1 cup coconut oil — where to find
• 1/3 cup raw honey (here is how to melt it and retain its benefits)
• 1 Tbsp vanilla
• pinch sea salt
• additional coconut oil for greasing baking dish

Directions:

• Grease a glass baking dish with coconut oil and set aside
• In a small sauce pan, boil 1 1/4 cups water
• Then, in a high powered blender, add the gelatin and 1/2 cold water
• Allow it to sit and “bloom” for a few minutes — that’s fancy talk for allowing it to gel

• Note: I LOVE coconut milk powder and think these are the most delicious with half coconut milk powder and half cocoa powder. If you would like, you can use only cocoa powder for a really chocolatey hot chocolate square. I add the coconut first and top off with the cocoa…

• Next, add the rest of the ingredients to the blender

• Blend until liquefied
• Pour into your greased baking dish

• Place into your fridge until set

• Slice into cubes and enjoy!

• I store mine cut up in a plastic bag for easy access, they last up to one week in the fridge
• Makes about 25 one inch cubes