Chocolate Coconut Squares

I recently saw a post on making your own chocolate bars.  I was pretty intrigued.  Although I've learned to make a lot of things at home, chocolate bars never really occurred to me.  What a brilliant idea.  Of course, I couldn't use the original recipe due to my dairy intolerance, but I figured coconut milk/oil would work splendidly.  And, well, yeah, it worked (probably too well!). 

I can't decide whether stumbling across these bars was the best or worst thing I've discovered in a long time:)  My husband says they taste like a Newari treat - Chaku - eaten with ghee (chocolate and clarified butter?).  My mom said they taste like a Mounds bar.  Everything thought they were fantastic.

So, disclaimer time.  Please remember that these are a treat/occasional indulgence.  Particularly if you are working on your body composition, remember that SUGAR=SUGAR=SUGAR, regardless of the fact that the ingredients are "healthier".  Accordingly, these absolutely delicable little squares should be treated as a treat.  But, when you do indulge, savor and enjoy!

 

 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup coconut oil (melted)
• 1/2 cup coconut milk (if you use the canned kind, try to get the "cream" that separates from the water)
• 1/2 cup coconut crystals (I think honey or other sweeteners would work as well)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

[The original recipe calls for 1 T vanilla extract and 1 tsp salt -- my palate is not necessarily all that sensitive and I couldn't tell a noticeable difference...so I left these out.  But, you might notice that these ingredients add a certain extra "oomph" that you enjoy.]

 

 

Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients.
2. Blend until thoroughly mixed.
3. Line a small pan with parchment paper (or, grease the bottom of your pan well with coconut oil.  If you have candy molds - which I don't - you could use those as well).  Pour chocolate mixture into pan.
4. Refrigerate for about 1/2 hour.  Then, cut chocolate into squares and refrigerate another hour or two.
5. Best stored in the refrigerator...although if you're like my family, they don't last all that long.

Grain-free Sunbutter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Let me start by saying that I think dessert should be a pretty rare occurrence -- a real treat to be savored when you do indulge.  If you are trying to lose weight or cure your sugar demon, you should probably save these for another time, because sugar is sugar, regardless of the type.  But when it is time to indulge, I think you'll enjoy both the taste and ease of preparation of these cookies.  My family gives these two thumbs up!  I love sunbutter - it reminds me of peanut butter, only it's not (it's neither a legume nor nut, so those with nut allergies may be able to tolerate sunbutter).  They are adapted from a recipe by the Healthy Cooking Coach.

Ingredients:

• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 cup sunbutter (get the kind with no sugar - the only ingredient should be sunflower seeds) 
• 1/2 cup coconut crystals (I like this brand: Coconut Secret - Raw Coconut Crystals / 4 pack)
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp organic pure vanilla extract
• 1/8 cup chocolate chips (I like these ones that don't have soy (and that I can find locally):  Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, Gluten, Dairy & Soy Free, 10-Ounce Bags (Pack of 12))

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix ingredients together in a bowl.
3. Spoon onto a baking sheet (grease baking sheet if it is not non-stick).
4. Cook about 12 minutes.
5. Makes about 16 small cookies.