9 Chocolate Recipes That Are Actually Good for You

Let’s face it: everyone loves chocolate. It’s just a fact of life. Unfortunately, it’s easy to let a little chocolate craving turn into scarfing down a few candy bars or an entire pint of Ben & Jerry’s. But in moderation, chocolate can actually be good for you! Studies have found that chocolate improves blood flow to the brain and heart, and it’s also rich in antioxidants. Try out these healthy recipes with a chocolate twist to satisfy your craving without going overboard.

1. Coconut bars with chocolate drizzle

Recipe from Real Food Real Deals

Coconuts are not only high in fiber and excellent at boosting the immune system, but they’re also tropically delicious. Try these healthy coconut bars with a little bit of chocolate drizzle. One bite and your sweet tooth will be satisfied all day long.

Ingredients for bars

• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup flour
• 2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut

Ingredients for chocolate drizzle

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix the wet ingredients for the bars together in a large bowl.
3. Add the flour and shredded coconut to wet ingredients and mix to combine.
4. Pour the mixture into a 9-by-13 inch baking dish. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until set and top begins to brown.  Cool completely on a wire rack.
5. Chop the unsweetened chocolate.
6. Heat all three chocolate drizzle ingredients in a double boiler until melted. Stir them until well combined.
7. With a spoon, drizzle onto bars.

2. Chocolate-covered fruit with walnuts

Fruit is an important part of a balanced diet, but sometimes it’s hard to eat it regularly. Everything tastes better with a little bit of chocolate, though! For bonus points, add a few nuts for fiber, protein and healthy fats.

Ingredients

• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 cups fruit (e.g. sliced apples, strawberries, etc.)

Directions

1. Melt the chocolate in the microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring occasionally, until liquefied.
2. Dip fruit in chocolate and place on tray with parchment paper or wax paper.
3. Before chocolate solidifies, sprinkle chopped walnuts on top.

3. Chocolate, peanut butter and kale smoothie

Recipe from Nap Time is My Time

Having a hard time eating your veggies? Don’t worry; you’re not the only one. The best way to change that is to mask the taste with chocolate. Yes, it sounds a little bizarre, but with the taste of chocolate and peanut butter in this delicious smoothie, you’ll get all the benefits of leafy greens without the flavor of them.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 2 scoops chocolate protein powder
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon chocolate peanut butter (Try Dark Chocolate Dreams from Peanut Butter & Co)
• 1 handful chopped kale
• Ice cubes

Directions

• Mix all ingredients together in a blender and blend until smooth.

4. Whole wheat chocolate pancakes

Recipe from Alida’s Kitchen

Who doesn’t love pancakes in the morning? Luckily, whole wheat pancakes are actually not too unhealthy as an occasional treat. So why not add a little something extra to make the whole wheat pancakes* extra delicious?

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons low-fat buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons brewed coffee
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• Strawberries (optional, for topping)

Directions

1. In a large bowl, sift flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together egg, buttermilk, coffee, vanilla and butter.
3. Add buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture and mix until blended. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Preheat nonstick skillet over medium heat and spray with cooking spray. Pour batter in skillet by the ¼ cupful and cook until bubbles appear (about 3 minutes). Flip and cook on the other side until done (about 2 to 3 minutes). Repeat with remaining batter. Serve with fresh berries, as desired.

*Don’t have as much time to cook? Use a whole wheat pancake mix from a brand like Aunt Jemima or Hodgson Mill and follow the box instructions, adding the vanilla extract, brewed coffee and cocoa powder.

5. Peanut butter chocolate dip

Recipe from Meal Makeover Moms

There’s more than one way to make fruit even tastier—you can also try a yogurt-based chocolate fruit dip! High in protein and low in sugar, this dip will only taste like you’re spoiling yourself.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
• 2 tablespoons low-fat plain or vanilla yogurt

Directions

• Combine ingredients in a bowl and mix until well blended.

6. Chocolate almond soldiers

Recipe from The Earth Diet

Almonds are a delicious way to improve heart health and prevent weight gain. So why not make them just a little bit tastier by adding chocolate? These chocolate-almond snacks are perfect to bring on the go to fill you up and satisfy your sweet tooth.

Ingredients

• 1 cup finely ground almonds
• 3/4 cup cacao powder
• 3 tablespoons raw honey or maple syrup

Directions

1. Mix the ground almonds, cacao powder and honey in a bowl.
2. Roll the mixture into balls.
3. Keep in refrigerator until ready to eat.

7. Chocolate avocado mousse

Recipe from The Daily Hiit

We know what you’re thinking: avocado and chocolate? Sounds gross. But the first time you try this dish, you won’t believe that it’s anything more than a delicious chocolate treat. It’s a great recipe to make you feel like you treating yourself while consuming natural ingredients with healthy fats rather than processed ones with additional sugar.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup honey
• 2 avocados
• 4 ounces dark chocolate pieces
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil

Directions

1. Melt chocolate pieces, coconut oil and honey either in the microwave or on the stove.
2. Combine melted mixture with avocados and cocoa powder in food processor or blender. Blend until smooth.
3. Place in fridge and chill overnight.

8. Nutella pie with strawberries

Recipe from (never)homemaker

Usually “Nutella,” “pie” and “healthy” aren’t found in the same sentence unless the word “not” is somewhere in there. But this pie has a secret, subtle ingredient: tofu. This relatively flavorless ingredient gives the pie a thick, silken texture without the extra sugar or calories.

Ingredients

• Pie crust (or make your own using this recipe)
• 1 block silken tofu
• 1 cup Nutella
• 3 ounces milk chocolate
• 2 tablespoons agave nectar
• 5 large strawberries, sliced

Directions

1. Put all ingredients besides strawberries in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
2. Spread filling inside crust with spatula.
3. Top pie with sliced strawberries. Put in refrigerator to set for 1 hour.

9. Cocoa popcorn

Recipe from Yummly

Plain popcorn is a healthy, low-calorie treat that’s easy to make at home. But you can add a little chocolate flavor to make this easy snack a sweet treat. You’ll turn this classic into an explosion of sweetness!

Ingredients

• 10 cups popcorn (plain, unsalted, popped)
• 2 tablespoons sweetener (like Splenda or stevia)
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder (unsweetened)
• 1 tablespoon melted butter

Directions

1. Drizzle melted butter on popcorn.
2. Add cocoa powder and sugar. Stir until well distributed.

Indulge in chocolate without letting your sweet tooth get the best of you! These tasty recipes allow you to eat chocolate as part of a nutritious, balanced diet. The next time you feel a craving coming on, go for one of these healthy treats.

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