4

Ingredient

Chocolate

4 Ingredient Homemade Chocolate

Cacao VS. Cocoa

I used to think that these were the same thing, but through researchinglearned that cacao and cocoa aren’t quite the same. Raw cacao is made bycold-pressing unroasted cocoa beans. The process keeps the living enzymesin the cocoa and removes the fat (cacao butter). Cocoa looks the same butit's not. Cocoa powder is raw cacao that's been roasted at high temperatureswhich kills some of the antioxidants and other nutrients.

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1. Cacao powder has more antioxidants than blueberries – helps dilate bloodvessels, reduce blood clotting and improve circulation. It also helps lowerLDL cholesterol, and lower the risk of stroke and heart attacks.

2. Cacao powder is rich in magnesium, which helps relax muscles and reducecramping. It also helps balance brain chemistry, and regulates bloodpressure.

3. Cacao powder contains high quantities of iron, zinc and calcium.

4. Cacao powder has phytochemicals, which means plant chemicals, andamino acids that help elevate your mood. It raises the level of serotonin andstimulates the secretion of endorphins. These help mood and sense of well-being. There are many articles about cacao powder and cocoa powder. Cacaorefers to the cacao pod or bean, in other words the natural state before somuch processing. In order to make cacao powder, the cacao beans areextracted from the pod then ground into a powder.

Health Benefits of Cacao Powder

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Homemade Chocolate Recipe

What you’ll need: bowl, whisk, measuring cup, andtablespoon, chocolate molds or just a storage container

Makes 1/2 c. raw chocolateINGREDIENTS:• 1/2 c. coconut oil, melted• 6 heaping Tbsp. of raw cacao powder• 4 Tbsp. of 100% maple syrup grade B • pinch of Himalayan Pink SaltDIRECTIONS:1. Melt the coconut oil.2. Add the cocoa powder, maple syrup, and salt to the bowl. Add the melted coconut oiland whisk until smooth.3. Pour into chocolate molds.

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Add nuts and/or dried craisins or fruit and make bark. To do this, I add the nuts and driedfruit to the chocolate then I pour it into a storage container lined with wax paper.

Add peanut butter and make reeses cups. You can get a reeses cup chocolate mold or justmix the PB or almond butter into the chocolate and them pour into a mold.

If you make the cups, add some chocolate, then add a dollop of PB or almond butter, thenmore chocolate on top.You can add any other ingredients that strike your fancy. Unsweetened coconut is greatand all varieties of chopped nuts.

Dip strawberries or other fruits, pretzels, whatever comes to mind. Freeze for 15 minutesor until set.

Because there are no preservatives in this chocolate it will melt when left out. So be sureto store in the freezer until ready to eat.

Check out my chocolate video to see how it’s done and be sure to subscribe to my Youtubechannel for more great videos and tips.

Drop me an email and let me know how it worked! Don’t forget to share with yourfriends!!

Variations:

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Risa Lynch

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