Chocolate grows on trees. That’s right. Chocolate comes from cacao seeds, which come from the seeds of football-shaped pods that grow on cacao trees. So yes, there is such a thing as a chocolate forest! Chocolate contains phytonutrients called flavanoids, natural plant compounds that act as antioxidants in the body, and it also contains fiber and various minerals including magnesium, copper, and iron. To reap the heart and brain-health benefits of chocolate, choose dark chocolate — 70% cacao or higher — and limit your portion to about 1 ounce a day. Chocolate (even dark) provides luscious, mood-enhancing flavors, but it also comes with saturated fat and sugar. So 1 ounce daily appears to be the magic number.
As a dark chocolate super fan, I put together this delicious roundup of better-for-you dark chocolate recipes featuring treats like Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cookies with Sea Salt and Dark Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Cakes and no-sugar-added breakfasts including Dark Chocolate Quinoa Breakfast Bowls. I hope you love this roundup as much as I do. Ah, where to begin …
Want to learn all about the health benefits of dark chocolate? Tune into this week’s EAT, DRINK, LIVE LONGER.
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DARK CHOCOLATE RECIPE CATEGORIES:
Cookies
Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cookies with Sea Salt by Kara at Kara Lydon Nutrition (shown above)
Cakes/Cupcakes
Dark Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Cakes by Brittany at Your Choice Nutrition (shown above)
Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes by Amy at Amy Gorin Nutrition (shown above)
Mousse/Pudding/Ice Cream
Chocolate Raspberry Oatmeal Chia Pudding by Julie at The Healthy Epicurean (shown above)
Dairy-Free Chocolate Ice Cream by Colleen at Zest Nutrition
Dark Chocolate Orange Mousse by Laura at Laura M. Ali
Easy Chocolate Chia Pudding with Strawberries by Sharon at The Plant-Powered Dietitian
Easy Vegan Chocolate Mousse by Ginger at Champagne Nutrition
Truffles/Bark
Dark Chocolate Avocado Truffles by Mackenzie at Cheerful Choices (shown above)
Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles by Jessica at Jessica Levinson
Pomegranate-Pistachio Bark by Toby at Toby Amidor Nutrition
Vegan Turtles by Kelly at Kelly Jones Nutrition
Drinks
Cacao Powder Hot Chocolate by Monica at Monica Nedeff – The Traveling Dietitian (shown above)
Oat Milk Hot Chocolate by Leanne at Healthy(ish) Appetite
Breads/Brownies
Best Avocado Brownies by Lindsey at Nutrition to Fit (shown above)
Chocolate Cherry Brownies by Chrissy at Snacking in Sneakers
Chickpea Dark Chocolate Chunk Blondies by Kelli at Hungry Hobby
Double Chocolate Banana Dessert Bread by Jackie at Jackie Newgent (shown above)
Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread by Julie at The Healthy Epicurean
Easy Black Bean Brownies by Ginger at Champagne Nutrition
Vegan Banana Bread with Dark Chocolate Chunks by Melissa at Melissa Traub Plant-Based Nutrition
Vegan Peanut Butter Banana Muffins by Melissa at Melissa Traub Plant-Based Nutrition
Vegan Gluten Free Brownies Recipe by Melissa at Fad Free Nutrition
Fruit Desserts
Crunchy Dark Chocolate, Cherry & Pecan Clusters by Liz at Liz’s Healthy Table (shown above)
Dark Chocolate-Covered Candied Orange Slices by Anne at Craving Something Healthy
Dark Chocolate Covered Fruit Bites Base Recipe by Lexi at To Taste
Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries with Walnuts by Elysia at Haute & Healthy Living
Dark Chocolate Cranberry Bark by Andrea at Beautiful Eats & Things
Strawberry Pretzel Dessert by Anna at Healthy Simple Yum
Breakfast
Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola by Leanne at Healthy(ish) Appetite
Chocolate Peanut Butter and Banana Baked Oats by Anne at Craving Something Healthy
Dark Chocolate Quinoa Breakfast Bowl by Sarah at Bucket List Tummy
Bite-Sized Desserts/Snacks
Trail Mix with Dark Chocolate by Elysia at Haute & Healthy Living (shown above)
Chocolate Hazelnut Balls by Megan at The Oregon Dietitian
Chocolate Sea Salt Granola by Monica at Monica Nedeff – The Traveling Dietitian
Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Dessert Cups by Amy at Amy Gorin Nutrition
Vegan Cacao Coconut Snowballs by Jenna at Whole-istic Living
What an awesome round up of recipes! Thanks for sharing my avocado truffles! 🙂
And thank YOU for your contribution!
Wow! Now I know exactly where to go when I need to satisfy my dark chocolate obsession! Thank you so much for including my double chocolate banana dessert bread, Liz! 🙂
I can’t wait to try your recipe. I know YOUR recipes are always 100% awesome!