Dark Chocolate Coconut Squares
Trick or treat, kittens!
Okay, so we all know the words "healthy" and "candy" aren't typically friends per se, but this recipe actually helps them get on more of a buddy-buddy level.
On a holiday that's all about giving, getting, and eating sweets - we've gotta live a little. It's all about balance, people!Most Halloween candy makes me feel like complete garbage (likely because it's made of complete garbage), so I was on a mission to whip up something that didn't sacrifice in the taste department, but also didn't make me regret all of my life decisions after eating it.
My requirements: minimal ingredients, minimal prep time, maximum flavor, maximum health benefits.
Did you guys like Mounds bars growing up? I thought they were gross. I had some weird aversion to coconut things. But these days I'm ALL ABOUT coconut things - especially when chocolate is involved - so making a healthier version of Mounds sounded like a no-brainer.
Kyle is obsessed with Mounds, so he was sticking his paws all over these as soon as I took them out of the fridge. He's currently savaging one right now, as a matter of fact.
Before you dive into making these gems, let's have a quick chat about the health benefits:
Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants, and packed with minerals like magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc - and it's not too shabby in the fiber department either. It can boost heart health, brain function, protect skin from the inside out, and promote healthy cholesterol levels. It's even been shown to lower stress levels.
On the coconut oil front - it's anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal, and is full of healthy fats (a great source of energy). It boosts the immune system, improves skin health, and supports healthy brain, heart and thyroid function.
Raw honey is one of my favorite options as a sweetener because it has a relatively low glycemic load (meaning it doesn't cause a huge spike your blood sugar - leading to insulin release and fat storage). It's full of vitamins like B6, riboflavin, and thiamin - and minerals like magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron, and zinc. It's also a great source of enzymes and antioxidants. Raw honey is also anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal, and promotes deep sleep, strengthens the immune system, and is a great energy booster.
And I know you already know this, but even though these have some solid health benefits, definitely eat them in moderation. Too much of a good thing is never a good thing. #knowwhatimsayin
Happy Halloweeeeeeeeeen!
Makes: 24 pieces (2" squares)
Ingredients: (Always organic, if possible)
14 oz. dark chocolate (I used 72%, but darker would be amazing too)
1 cup virgin coconut oil
1.5 cups unsweetened desiccated/shredded coconut
1/4 cup raw honey
Pink Himalayan sea salt
Directions:
Melt half of the chocolate on a double boiler, then pour in a square or rectangle baking dish lined with parchment paper. Put it in the freezer until it hardens.
Add the coconut oil and honey to a pot and warm on the stove until it's just melted, then add the shredded coconut and mix together until well combined. Pop the mixture into the fridge until it cools a bit and begins to harden.
Once the coconut mixture has cooled a bit, take the baking dish out of the freezer and pour a layer of the mixture over the layer of chocolate, pop back in the freezer until it hardens.
Melt the rest of the chocolate on a double boiler, take the baking dish out of the freezer, and make the final layer of chocolate over the hardened layer of coconut mixture.
Allow to cool a bit, and then add toppings of your choice - I used pink Himalayan sea salt and shredded coconut, but SO many things would be amazing on top of these nuggets.
After you've added the toppings, put it in the fridge until everything has hardened, then take them out, cut up into squares, and impress the hell out of yo' friends!