When a recent craving struck and we didn’t have any on hand, we decided to make our own. The result was a quick-and-easy chocolate bar made with wholesome ingredients you likely have on hand right now! The best part? They’re entirely naturally sweetened, don’t require cocoa butter, tempering, or double boilers, and come together FAST. Let’s do this! One of the keys to this recipe is to start with high-quality ingredients, especially for the cacao and/or cocoa powder, almond butter, and honey. That’s because there are minimal ingredients and their quality can vary quite drastically. We opted for a mix of cacao powder (which is more chocolaty & bitter) and cocoa powder (which is less chocolaty but has sweeter notes). For almond butter, we used freshly ground from the grocery store as it’s smooth but maintains some texture. And for honey, we recommend using a raw and/or local variety for ultimate freshness. The first step is to sift the cacao/cocoa powder. This helps break up any small chunks and allows for a smooth chocolate bar consistency. We like to use a fine mesh strainer and gently tap the edge so the sifted powder falls into a bowl beneath it. Next, add almond butter, melted coconut oil, honey, and a pinch of sea salt. The mixture is stirred until well combined and then adjusted as needed to achieve a slightly tacky, fudge-like texture (see photo below). Adding more dry ingredients (cacao/cocoa powder) helps if it is too thin, and adding more liquid (honey or oil) helps if it is too thick. Note: If making larger batches, feel free to mix in a food processor! At this point, the dough can be rolled into balls or, our preferred method (because it’s less messy), formed into chocolate bars! To form into bars, place the dough onto one side of a piece of parchment paper. Fold the paper over and use a rolling pin to flatten to a ~1/4-1/2 inch thickness. Then remove the parchment paper and form into a square or rectangle. And finally, it goes into the freezer to harden (or not, if you can’t wait that long)! We hope you LOVE these bars! They’re:FudgyRichChocolatyNaturally sweetenedQuick & easy& So delicious! They’re the perfect treat to have on hand in the fridge or freezer for when chocolate cravings strike!
More Chocolate Recipes
5-Ingredient Vegan Dark Chocolate Creamy Vegan Milk Chocolate (Low Sugar) DIY Dark Chocolate Almond Bars 2-Ingredient Dark Chocolate Truffles
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends! Lastly, don’t forget to support amazing companies like Honey Mama’s at your local grocery store! They make incredibly high-quality products that inspired this recipe! Much love to all the small businesses making the world go round and life a little sweeter.
