Swimsuit Ready Chocolate-Infused Summer Recipes
Blog post by Lindsay Mustard, Holistic Nutritionist
We’ve been saying it since the first snowflake fell this winter, “bring on the heat!” Well, summer has arrived and in full force. This weather is going to be hotter and sunnier than ever - what better way to keep yourself cool with these summer-inspired chocolate recipes?! It's far too common to hear people talking about their need to lose weight or cut out certain foods in the early spring to prepare for beach season. But what if you could rock your swimsuit with a dark chocolate bar in hand? Sounds like a dream right? You can stop pinching yourself, this is a reality! Zazubean Chocolate has created a superfood vegan, kosher and low-sugar dark chocolate bar line up that allows you to indulge in its deliciousness year round! In this blog post, we’ll be sharing our tips for helping you to infuse more healthy, low-sugar dark chocolate into your diet this summer and the benefits that it has to offer! Pack your swimsuit and a few extra towels, we have a sneaky suspicion that you’ll be running around all day on the beach once you learn about the health benefits that dark chocolate can offer you!
Dark Chocolate and Metabolism
Zazubean’s Low-Sugar or Sugar-Free Dark Chocolate Bars are packed with monounsaturated fats (also called MUFAs), a known metabolic booster that slows down the absorption of fats and carbohydrates into the bloodstream. This results in sustained energy and blood sugar levels that allows us to have a steady stream of energy throughout the day - bring on the beach volleyball, endless games of Marco Polo and sand castle building! Dark chocolate also has the powerful ability to reduce one’s appetite. The healthy fats combined with the low sugar contents of chocolate allow for our appetite reducing hormone, leptin, to be released. The hormone sends a signal to our brain to indicate that we are full and in turn, stops us from overeating. While others look at chocolate as being a dessert, you can look at your sugar-free alternative as being a healthy snack that is guaranteed to keep you full for a few hours and keep your cravings at bay! Dark chocolate also aids in weight and fat loss - say what?! Cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolate that gives it its rich flavour and creamy mouth feel, contains flavanols. Flavanols are plant-based nutrients that help to lower blood sugar levels and body weight. In other words, eat chocolate if you want to have a faster metabolism, balanced blood sugar and energy levels, lose weight and body fat and want to keep your sugar cravings at bay! It's a win-win all year round!
How to Infuse Chocolate Into Your Diet
Imagine a day filled with the healthiest, creamiest, best tasting dark chocolate on the planet. Imagine meals and snacks that you didn’t have to feel guilty for indulging in because you knew they were filled with protein, healthy fats and superfood containing dark chocolate. Say hello to what we know is going to be a few of your new favourite recipes! But before we get to them, let’s talk about easy ways to incorporate sugar-free, kosher and vegan dark chocolate into your diet.
Tip #1:
Add a few squares of dark chocolate to your morning coffee. Did your mouth just water? Ours too friend! Simply add the chocolate to the bottom of your mug, pour your favourite brew on top and then stir and savour. This will soon be a morning ritual you won’t want to live without!
Tip #2:
If you’re a smoothie lover, this tip will be easy to incorporate into your everyday routine. Simply toss a few squares into the blender with your smoothie concoction and start sipping! Take it up a notch and add cacao powder and dark chocolate for the ultimate chocoholics dream smoothie!
Tip #3:
Make a trail mix! Start by combining your favourite nuts, seeds and low-sugar dried fruits. Then chop up a few squares of dark chocolate and mix them into the bowl. Portion them into small containers and enjoy as a midday snack!
Tip #4:
Don’t skip dessert - eat dark chocolate. Dessert doesn’t have to be reserved for a special occasion or for a day that you feel like you “deserve it” because you exercised extra hard or you worked long hours. Start to associate dark chocolate with being an everyday food that you deserve to indulge in the benefits of. Simply allow a few squares to melt in your mouth - we promise you that you’ll feel your stress and tension start to melt away.
Ready to chocolatify your meals! Try the recipes below to give your cravings and metabolism what they are calling for - sugar-free dark chocolate!
Chocolate Superseed Spread
Makes: ½ cup
Ingredients:
1 tbsp ghee
4 squares Zazubean Nudie Dark Chocolate
1 tbsp coconut sugar
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tbsp chia seeds
Pinch of sea salt
Directions:
1. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the ghee, chocolate, coconut sugar and cocoa powder. Whisk until evenly combined and the ghee has melted.
2. Remove from the heat and stir in the chia seeds and sea salt.
3. Pour into a glass jar and place in the fridge to set for 1 hour.
4. Spread over toast or the fruit of your choice.
Triple Berry Chocolate Smoothie Bowl
Smoothie Bowl:
1 heaping cup organic frozen mixed berries
1 small frozen banana
1 cup almond milk
1 scoop vanilla protein powder of choice
Toppings:
½ cup mixed berries
⅓ Zazubean Slinky Nut & Berry Bar, roughly chopped
2 tbsp granola
Directions:
Add all of the smoothie bowl ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth.
Scoop into 1-2 serving bowls and top with toppings.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Smoothie
Ingredients:
¼ cup rolled oats
1 tbsp cashew butter
1 scoop plant-based vanilla protein powder
1.5 cups almond milk
2 squares zazubean dark chocolate
½ cup ice
Pinch of sea salt
Directions:
1. Add all of the ingredients to a high speed blender and blend on high until smooth
2. Serve and top with additional dark chocolate
Spicy Salted Caramel Brownies Bites
Ingredients:
1 cup whole almonds
1 cup dates, pitted
¼ cup + 2 tbsp raw cacao powder
¼ tsp red pepper flakes
Pinch of sea salt
1 Zazubean Hottie Bar, divided (¾ roughly chopped, ¼ melted)
1-3 tbsp water
Directions:
1. Add the almonds to a food processor and pulse until a fine flour forms. 2. Add all of the remaining ingredients except for the water and blend again until a dough forms. If the dough doesn’t bind, gradually add 1 tbsp at a time while the food processor is running until it sticks together.
3. Place 2 tablespoons of raw cacao in a small bowl. Roll the dough into bite sized balls and roll in cacao powder. Repeat with the remaining dough and place the bites on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle with sea salt. Place the energy bites in the freezer for 20 minutes to set and then store in a airtight container in the freezer.
Paleo Banana Salted Toffee Coffee Cake
Ingredients:
3 large eggs
2 cups mashed bananas 3-4 medium
1/2 cup almond butter
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup coconut flour
2 drops doTERRA Cinnamon Oil or 1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 tsp ground coffee
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 pinch of sea salt
1 Zazubean Squeeze Bar, chopped
Instructions:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 8 X 8 glass baking sheet with coconut oil.
2. Add the eggs, bananas, almond butter, butter, and vanilla to a food processor and blend until smooth. Add the coconut flour, cinnamon oil, baking powder, ground coffee, baking soda, and pinch of salt and blend again.
3. Pour the batter into the baking sheet and fold in the chocolate chunks. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden.
Paleo Chocolate Chunk Banana Muffins
Ingredients:
3 spotty medium bananas, mashed
3 eggs room temperature
3 tablespoons coconut oil melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
⅓ cup creamy almond butter
¼ cup coconut flour
¾ teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 Zazubean Bar, chopped
Directions:
1. Line a 12 pan muffin tin with paper liners and preheat the oven to 350ºF.
2. In a large bowl or mixer, combine the mashed bananas, eggs, coconut oil, vanilla extract and almond butter until fully combined.
3. Add the coconut flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt to the wet ingredients and mix well. Fold in the chocolate chunks.
4. Divide the muffin batter between the 12 muffin liners, filling each about 2/3 of the way full. Top with more chocolate chunks or chips, if desired.
5. Bake for 17 - 20 minutes.
6. Remove from oven and allow to cool