4 Healthy Cacao Recipes You Need to Try

Raw cacao, the dried seeds used to make chocolate, is a little different from the cocoa we had as kids. Normal cocoa powder and chocolate have been processed and roasted to reduce the bitterness of raw cacao, but unfortunately, this destroys many of its benefits as well. In this post, I am sharing 4 quick, easy and healthy cacao recipes you need to try.

Unprocessed, Cacao contains more antioxidants per gram than both blueberries and pomegranates. However, it is estimated that between 60 and 90 percent of the antioxidants found in cacao are lost through traditional processing.  

So today we are going to be looking at ways to bring this underrated superfood into your diet with some super healthy (and tasty) recipes. 

Brewed cacao is quick and easy and super delicious. It may take some getting used to for the dairy milk chocolate aficionados among you but stick with it! The result is a wonderfully warming drink that has a much greater depth of flavour than traditional chocolate milk.

Use a knife to shave off a few slivers of cacao and add a heaping tablespoon of it to your favourite mug. It is best to use warm water over boiling, and a blender is advised for the smoothest drinking experience.

Brewed cacao can be enjoyed black or with a touch of milk and sweetener of your choice.  

For those of you that prefer your drinks colder, this is the perfect, antioxidant-rich smoothie recipe that only needs five ingredients to make.

How to make Cacao Smoothie

Just take 1 banana – I like to keep mine frozen for extra freshness and bite. 1 tablespoon of cacao powder, and another of dark chocolate chips. 1 tablespoon of almond butter and 1 and ¼ cup of milk or another dairy-free alternative.

Then, simply blend it all together and enjoy! This smoothie is a great option as a morning pick me up or a post-workout shake, you can even add in a little extra protein powder to pump up the benefits.

Everybody loves a brownie, and these peanut butter cacao brownies are a healthy option for all you sweet tooth’s out there.

These are free from gluten, refined sugar, and oil but are still gooey and decadent. The best part is they only need seven ingredients to make.

How To Make Easy Peanut Butter Brownies

Preheat your oven to 350F and grease an 8×8 inch baking dish with cooking oil (I opt for coconut).

Then take ¾ cup of peanut butter, ¼ cup maple syrup, 1 cup shredded zucchini, 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed, ¼ cup cacao powder, ¼ cup dark chocolate chips and ¾ tsp. baking soda.

Mix all these ingredients in a big bowl, dump them out into your baking tray and smooth the mixture flat. Then bake for 30 minutes. Just like that, you will have hot, gooey brownies ready to enjoy without the guilt!

How To Make Cacao Energy Balls

Take ½ cup almonds, ½ cup walnuts, 1 cup rolled oats, 2 tablespoons of cacao powder, a pinch of salt, ¾ cup chopped dates, and a tablespoon or two of water.

Pulse all the ingredients together until you have a well-mixed, slightly sticky mixture. Then simply roll out the mixture into golf-sized balls and chill in the refrigerator overnight. Easy as that!