Homemade chocolate (gluten, dairy, corn, soy and refined sugar free)

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I've always loved chocolate, it is one of my favorite desserts. When cutting out sugar, I tried to elimate my evening chocolate, but that didn't work. I need that little bit of chocolate at night after dinner. It is something that I truely look forward to. Now I turn to real, unprocessed, homemade chocolate. If you think it is way too hard or you don't have time, you will see how easy it is with the recipe below. I was motivated by this recipe from Liana from The Earth Diet and with only a few ingredients you can make some great homemade chocolate desserts. My kids love this chocolate and don't miss any packaged chocolate at all.  


Benefits of Unprocessed Chocolate

Cacao raises the level of serotonin in the brain which gives us a sense of well-being.

There are healthy fats found in cacao butter. Cacao contains oleic acid, a heart-healthy fat.

Cacao has more antioxidant flavonoids than any food tested so far, including blueberries, red wine, and green teas. The benefits of these antioxidants include promoting cardiovascular health, reducing the risk of stroke and heart attacks, lowering LDL cholesterol and regulating blood pressure.

Cacao beans are rich in essential minerals, including magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium and manganese.

Cacao seems to be the #1 source of magnesium of any food. Magnesium balances brain chemistry, builds strong bones, and helps regulate heartbeat and blood pressure.

It is important to eat chocolate that is in its natural state. Commercially processed chocolate loses many of the health benefits.


Ingredients for Plain Chocolate
3/4 cup (100 grams) Raw Cacao Butter
1/2 cup almond meal
4 Tablespoons Raw Cacao Powder
3 Tablespoons Organic Maple Syrup

Additions:
Peanut Butter
Raisins or other dried fruits
Nuts (any kind)


Directions
Melt the cacao butter over low heat until melted. Add the maple syrup and cacao powder and whisk until smooth.



Fill the bottom of paper liners with a layer of the melted chocolate and put in refrigerator to set.


For the peanut butter cups, scoop a small amount of peanut butter onto the hardend chocolate. For the Raisin and nut clusters, put a few raisins and/or nuts on top of the chocolate.



Top the peanut butter or raisins and nuts with more melted chocolate and put back in the refrigerator to set again.




Take out when chocolate has hardened and Enjoy!

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