On February 10, Lauren Mulcahy from Whole Foods Market Foggy Bottom gave a session on healthy ways to incorporate chocolate into your diet and demonstrated how to prepare the following recipes.
Enjoy the following recipes!
Black Bean Brownies
Ingredients
2 c. cooked or 'no salt added' black beans, drained
10 pitted medjool dates (or 1 1/4 c.domestic dates)
2 T. raw almond butter
1 t. vanilla
1/2 c. natural, non-alkalized cocoa powder
1 T. ground chia seeds
Method
Preheat oven to 200 degrees
Combine black beans, dates, almond butter and vanilla in a food processor or high-powered blender. Blend until smooth.
Add the cocoa powder and chia seeds, then blend again.
Spread evenly in a lightly oiled 8x8" baking pan. Bake for 90 minutes.
Cool completely.
Cocoa Nib Fruit Salad
Ingredients
1 banana, peeled and cut into 1/2" pieces
3 medium kiwis, peeled and diced
1 medium mango, peeled and diced
1/4 c. hazelnuts, toasted, skins removed, and coarsely chopped (optional)
2 T. cacoa nibs
2 T. freshly squeezed lime juice
Ginger Chocolate Sauce
Ingredients
1 c. Vegan Chocolate Ganache
1 c. unsweetened almond milk
1 t. ground ginger
1/2 t. ground cinammon
Method
Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender or food processor. Puree until smooth. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Vegan Chocolate Ganache
Ingredients
3/4 c. pitted dates, soaked in warm water to cover for 10 minutes; reserve liquid
1/2 c. almond butter
1.2 T. pure vanilla extract
3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
Method
Places dates in high-speed blender or food processor with 2 tablespoons of the reserved soaking liquid. Add almond butter, vanilla, and cocoa powder then puree until smooth, adding 1 or 2 more tablespoons of teh soaking liquid until the mixture becomes thick and smooth. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 2 weeks.
Blender Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
1/2 c. cashews, soaked 1-2 hours
3 medjool dates, pitted
2 T. cocoa powder
1/2 t. vanilla extract
1 c. water or plant-based milk
Method
Place everything into a high-speed blender and blend until it is smooth and warm (about 2 minutes).
Image: Kimber, E. (2008). Brownies [Image]. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/woodwood/2498195772/
