Homemade Chocolate Recipe - Healthy Vegan Recipes On Video

[coracaopboquiaberto8]

Can I get away with using unsalted butter with this recipe for now since I do not have coconut oil? I cannot help but to see my block of unsalted butter as hard as a rock sitting there in the fridge all the time. Surely I think the taste will be different but hey you discover by doing.

[cherio212]

can you make coconut oil out of coconut milk? can you make a video for that please?!?

[healthyvegan]

@cherio212 nope... coconut oil is a totally different thing

[MarksHappyWife]

@healthyvegan Actually, you can, at least with what they call coconut milk in the Philippines. :) I've lived here in the Philippines for some time now, and an older lady in my church showed me how. She taught me to make my own coconut milk too; perhaps it's different that what is called coconut milk in the States ...cont....

[MarksHappyWife]

@healthyvegan Anyway, she taught me to soak freshly shredded coconut meat in hot water for about an hour. I then line a spaghetti strainer with a clean dish cloth (cheese cloth would be awesome for this, but I havent found any here), and and place this over a large bowl. Then I empty the hot water mixture into the strainer. After all the liquid has drained into the bowl, I squeeze out any more liquid that I can from the coconut meat. The resulting liquid is coconut milk.

[MarksHappyWife]

@healthyvegan Place the bowl with the liquid in the freezer for several hours, or overnight. In the morning you will find that the coconut cream has risen to the top. Since it's frozen it will be fairly easy to seperate the cream from the milk with a little banging of the bowl against the kitchen counter. ...cont....

[MarksHappyWife]

@healthyvegan Place the frozen disk of coconut cream into a cast iron pan and heat slowly on the stove's lowest setting. It will first melt, then begin to sputter. After at least 30 minutes of this low heat, you will see a clear oil seperate from little coconut bits. Allow the oil to continue to heat and seperate until the coconut bits turn brown. ...cont....

[MarksHappyWife]

@healthyvegan Remove from the heat, and allow to cool. While it is still a bit warm, pour the mixture through a strainer to remove the browned coconut bits. (We enjoy these browned bits in salad, as a bacon bits substitute.) The resulting clear liquid is pure coconut oil! Your kitchen will have a heavenly coconut aroma. Enjoy!!

[cherio212]

can you use coconut milk instead of coconut oil?

[healthyvegan]

@cherio212 coconut milk won't solidify, so you'll wind up with more of a ganache, or gooey chocolate icing/sauce, than a bar.

[TheAlacransilla]

TOTALLY awesome recipe super easy and delish :D I just made some for valentine's for my kids and hubby they went nuts for it haha ... my kids like peanut butter so I made theirs with lots of peanuts and my hubby's with almonds thank you for the recipe!! I was done in less than 30 min and since it's winter it only took 20 min to harden YAY!

[blindfollower]

Is there any way to give it more of a "Milk Chocolate-y" flavor? you know like by adding Soy Milk or Almond Milk... or even Soy Cream. I think pure cocoa would be too strong for my taste.. just wondering! thanx for the recipe!

[healthyvegan]

@blindfollower any liquid will make a very different texture - you'd have to freeze it to get it to make a bar. If you want to temper the cocoa, I'd use cocoa butter. I hope you have fun with it :)

[uniquastudio]

Hey Heather, today i've tried this recipe, but it didn't work, i don't have refined sugar and instead i used dark brown sugar, i also tried with honey and white melted sugar, but it still didn't work.

Do you have any idea why? :/ The consistence became very lumpy and unattractive..

[healthyvegan]

@uniquastudio the sugar will not melt in oil - you have to make sure you get the sugar really finely ground. A crystal sugar (like brown sugar) won't get that fine. It's a lot better (and healthier) to use an unrefined sugar, like sucanat or palm or coconut sugar. Ones that look like grains of sand. Honey and any sugar that's melted in liquid will throw off the texture. Also, if you heat the mixture with the cocoa for too long, it'll burn and get the lumpiness. I hope that helps!

[SonOfTheSystem]

Awesome :)) Great video!

[zjaz10]

can we use stevia instead of unrefined sugar?

[healthyvegan]

@zjaz10 for sure :) you'd just have to increase the amount of carob/cocoa and/or decrease the oil to get the same ratio of wet:dry

[TheSonicfan180]

I use Crisco veggietable shortning and my chocolate and it still taste so good:D your chocolate should have veggietable shortning.

[healthyvegan]

@TheSonicfan180 glad it worked for you! I prefer coconut oil, but good to know the shortening works :)

[gangalsimone]

hey is there anything i can suppliment for the coconut oil as the oil i got gave out a bad taste and odour do plz help me...........

[XfaCTor94]

@gangalsimone canola oil is usually a good subs for coconut oil...:)

[healthyvegan]

@gangalsimone it needs to be a solid (saturated) oil. If you can find unrefined palm oil, that would be solid, or some cocoa butter. Canola oil is a liquid, so it wouldn't make this into a bar.

[eliv127]

both the coco and the carab powder are vegan right? also about food coloring is that vegan is the sugar in that vegan? are the colors?

[JandJComedyBrigade]

YUM!

[northernSars]

okay so i totally failed on making this!! I was gonna do peanut butter cups for my b-day yesterday, and it was taking FOREVER to dissolve the sugar, I ended up cooking it for like 20 mins, and.... it was like harder than a worthers candy! LOL I will try this again, but the oil and sugar didnt really mix well, is that fine? just dissolve a lil bit then pour in pan?

[healthyvegan]

@northernSars right - sugar will never dissolve in oil, it's chemically not going to happen... all that will happen is the cocoa will burn and harden, as you saw :) that's why if you're using sugar that's a bit granular, it's better to grind it up in a coffee grinder/blender first. hope you had a good birthday despite the chocolate!

[northernSars]

@healthyvegan ahh okay! I just rewatched it and kinda figured it out lol yes, they did taste very burnt, but i ate some anyway :D I don't have internet at my house so i went off what i wrote down. Now I can't wait to try again!!! Thanks Heather!

[healthyvegan]

@northernSars hope it goes better for you this time :)

[northernSars]

@healthyvegan re tried this morning!! Turned out great! used my coffee grinder for the sugar, then sprinkled in some coffee too, this is store worthy!! So glad I have a nice snack today :D Thanks once again this has got to be my favorite recipe ever!

[healthyvegan]

@northernSars awesome, I'm glad it turned out for you :)

[codybear4you]

i made a version of this but added peanut butter to it and froze it in cupcake tins. very delish!

[Rhinoceroswellness]

I absolutely love marzipan. I would drop little bits of marzipan in the liquid chocolate then when you eat it later, it will have little bits or chewyness in with the chocolate. To me, ground almond paste (marzipan) has a lovely cherry like flavor so it would be great in the chocolate alone, or maybe add some sun dried cherries. Also, a bit of cardamom or cinnamon or even a sprinkle of cayenne pepper would be nice in that chocolate! thanks for the idea

[healthyvegan]

@Rhinoceroswellness ooo, nice one! I love marzipan too :)

[outforbl00d]

@Rhinoceroswellness Omg, I did the same! I put some blobs of marzipan in mine, too! :P

[XtinaCUMSLindaPerry]

Thanks Heather :) Just one last question what brand of Cocoa powder and Cacao powder do you use and are Cacao powder and Cocoa powder interchangeable?

[healthyvegan]

@XtinaCUMSLindaPerry I use cocoa camino cocoa, and not sure the brand of carob (I buy it in bulk). The amounts of cocoa/carob and sugar will change - check out the recipe at the link in the description for the details :)

[MatthewLeelev]

I know I comment all the time, but really.. I just love watching your videos. You do a great job. I just wanted you to know that again! =D

[healthyvegan]

@MatthewLeelev thank you :) don't apologize for commenting, it's great to know that you're still watching and enjoying them!

[MatthewLeelev]

@healthyvegan =)

[illbeurbaby4eva]

I don't have coconut oil :(

Any substitutes?

[rebeccam2]

you said this is fatty and sugary, is it still healthier than store bought, if so by how much and would it be cheaper or more expensive if comparing?

[healthyvegan]

@rebeccam2 yeah, I just mean that you can't get around the fact that chocolate is based on fat & sugar - but this is better than store-bought because you can control how much sugar you put it (so if you like a super dark bar, like me, you can reduce the sugar and increase the cocoa/carob) and you can control the ingredients. So no preservatives, no white sugar, no bad fats, no chemicals... I'd say it's cheaper, especially if you compare to the organic chocolate bars :)

[rebeccam2]

@healthyvegan ooh alright sweet.

[jessiib12]

I just made this with peanuts and cranberries and it's amazing! Thank you so much!

[XtinaCUMSLindaPerry]

Heather, what exactly is unrefined sugar?? Are u talking about Sucanat because it looks different. Also what is your opinion on Chocolate? I hear/read all these raw folk saying its horrible and not healthy at all and to always go with carob.

[healthyvegan]

@XtinaCUMSLindaPerry yeah, I was using sucanat - I ground it up, so it was much finer than usual. There are some other types of sugar that aren't refined, which is why I didn't specify sucanat. Carob is better because it doesn't have caffeine and has some natural sugars, so you don't need to add as much sugar. I usually use carob, but in small amounts cocoa can be ok. Some people react to it, so pay attention to how it makes you feel and go from there :)

[ltcartwright1976]

What is your opinion on organic brown rice syrup and organic raw honey?

[healthyvegan]

@ltcartwright1976 I have a video recently on sweeteners - search back on my channel for those thoughts. In this recipe, the liquid sweeteners would throw off the solidity of the chocolate, and the ratio of wet:dry

[veganadoration]

Vanilla extract and cinnamon would work beautifully well.

[veganheart1]

@veganadoration I agree, I bet that would taste excellent with this omg!!

[liviecwh]

made this again with the orange extract and zest and WOWZA so good! Also, picked up a pomegranate and put some of the aerols in OH MY GOODNESS! SO yummy!

[healthyvegan]

@liviecwh awesome, thanks for reporting back :) pomegranate - fantastic idea!

[alis0nhick3y]

I'm SOOOOO excited to make this for my family get togethers for Thanksgiving and Christmas! And I'm definitely going to experiment with different types of nuts and fruits and syrups! 

[healthyvegan]

@alis0nhick3y nice, I hope they enjoy it!!

[C33Four]

Is it possible to make this without using saturated fat oils? I'm sure the saturated fats help keep the consistency, but do I dare ask if its possible to make 'healthy' chocolate?

[healthyvegan]

@C33Four yeah, it's the coconut oil that solidifies this. I always prefer whole food forms of fat, but it is a relatively healthy oil - coconut fat is totally different from animal forms of saturated fats. It's a medium-chain saturated fatty acid, which doesn't have the same effect on cholesterol/triglycerides/etc that long-chain saturated fatty acids (the ones in animals) have. This kind of chocolate is always going to be a treat - for real 'healthy', I go with pureed banana and carob/cocoa :)

[TheaDragonSpirit]

What about Date Sugar... As in Date Powder?

nutritionfacts [dot] org/videos/the-healthiest-swee­tener/

nutritionfacts [dot] org/videos/are-dates-good-for-­you/

[salliecinnamon]

What can be substituted for coconut oil? I don't have any coconut oil.

[healthyvegan]

@salliecinnamon coconut oil's the key... otherwise it won't solidify... if you don't have any, I'd make some chocolate cookies instead :)

[Ciweman]

great video, thanks!!



[thatkidevan]

could you put this in aluminum foil rather than parchment paper?

[healthyvegan]

@thatkidevan sure...

[veganheart1]

Oh wow this looks like it would be amazing!! Could you use maple syrup as a sweetener for it?

[healthyvegan]

@veganheart1 it wouldn't solidify the same way if you used too much, but you could try with a small amount - you'd also have to increase the cocoa/carob or decrease the coconut oil to keep the ratio of oil:dry the same

[veganheart1]

@healthyvegan Okay, thanks for the response!! I was just wondering since I don't have any unrefined sugar, I figured if I get some I might never use the rest of it since I like maple syrup as a sweetener. :D I do want it to turn out right though. Do cocoa and carob taste the same almost? (I don't have either so is one better tasting or maybe better for you than the other?) When I make this I'll tell if I used maple syrup or not, but I'll give you feedback on how it came out regardless! :D

[healthyvegan]

@veganheart1 carob does taste different, but I actually like it better :) try giving it a sniff if you can, and see if you like the smell. I prefer carob because it doesn't have caffeine like cocoa, causes less acidity in your body and it has natural sugars in it so I use more of it and less sugar than I would with cocoa powder. But go with the one you like best, otherwise it's not as good a treat for you ;)

[liviecwh]

I made this and it is AMAZING!! even my hardcore omni hubby couldn't believe it was vegan! we added a splash of vanilla and TEENSY sprinkle of salt and chopped raw almonds. I would LOVE to try orange extract with orange zest, or for xmas peppermint oil and chopped peppermint

[healthyvegan]

@liviecwh nice, my next bar is going to be orange :) I love orange-flavored chocolate... so glad you both enjoyed it!!

[jennytheripper]

can i make this with brown rice syrup instead?

[healthyvegan]

@jennytheripper I've tried it witih brown rice syrup - it doesn't set the same way, it winds up more like fudge. So that's fine, and it tastes great, but it isn't the same solid texture.

[Adriella07]

Is the chocolate a traditional hard bar, or is it softer at room temperature because of the coconut oil?

[healthyvegan]

@Adriella07 it depends what temperature the room is :) it's often a tiny bit soft at normal room temp, but in the winter it's usually more solid. I tend to keep it in the freezer, so it's always solid :)

[crosspecans]

raw pecans...mmm

[RosElisabeth]

Just made some w/ peanut butter added at the end..melted it in the pot & now it's in the fridge...

Great video, btw!

[RosElisabeth]

peanut butter and chocolate:)

[CutiePieZapZap]

awesome video! lol my brother is vegan and eats his food like medicine, but i think this thanksgiving he's going to have to try some of this!!! (: thanks for it. and fav topping is the same! almonds and dried cherries :D

[MzSuperMinni]

thank you :)

[codybear4you]

this looks soooo yummy! love your video's heather!!!

[Pippilly]

I make that lot's however I use a few drops of vanilla stevia and sprinkle a wee bit of sugar on top for that sugery fix = ) I put shredded coconut in mine also. So good isn't it? I also use my toaster oven tray as it's nice and flat ; P ' ' ' ' ' '

[ProvokeRadiance]

Great video! Would sucanat work in this recipe?

[healthyvegan]

@ProvokeRadiance that's exactly what I used - just ground it up a bit first :)

[northernSars]

i ALWAYS need a chocolate fix! fair trade organic bars can be $4 a piece so i am definitely going to try this (at least once a week :P)

[healthyvegan]

@Shrila1 great minds think alike ;)

[inberlinbythewall]

I'll do it right now. It looks delicious.

<3

[TroysKitchen]

Nice Recipe Heather! I'm gonna give it a try. Phil would probably like a chocolate covered Jalapeno Popper stuffed with Cream Cheese. Just an idea.

[Ryukei66]

@TroysKitchen hahaha :D

[running90away]

can we add soy milk in the mix? :O or would that make it go bad quicker?

[healthyvegan]

@running90away I doubt it would solidify with soy milk... but it would be a great way to make vegan chocolate milk or hot chocolate :)

[Ryukei66]

It looks fantastic!!

I would love to try carob but I can't find it anywhere...

[healthyvegan]

@Ryukei66 too bad... anyway, it's great with cocoa, so hope you have fun with it!

[Ryukei66]

@healthyvegan Yes I will definitely try it soon!

[PrincessPetunia]

Doesn't that coconut oil smell like absolute heaven?! It's one of my most favourite smells. ( ◠‿◠ )

This is such a wonderful idea. It's like a healthier version of Chocomize. Love it ~ Thank you!!!

[healthyvegan]

@PrincessPetunia thanks, hope you ejoy it!

[hopelesslydevoted16]

I love putting walnuts & bananas in mine! :D

[Ryukei66]

@hopelesslydevoted16 You use dried banana slices? or fresh bananas? :)

[hopelesslydevoted16]

@Ryukei66 For chocolate ice cream or anything like that, I use fresh bananas. For hard chocolate like this, I use dried banana slices or flattened banana pieces! :)

[Ryukei66]

@hopelesslydevoted16 Thanks! sounds so yummy :)

[hopelesslydevoted16]

@Ryukei66 No problem! It is! I think bananas, chocolate, and walnuts go so well together!

[healthyvegan]

@hopelesslydevoted16 mmmm.... I could see a banana ice cream with chocolate & walnuts on top being insanely good...

[0malakismeno0]

I love raisins with hazelnuts in chocolate! They go great together! You should try them! :)

[healthyvegan]

@0malakismeno0 yum! good call :)

[kris10elayne]

I'm SO excited to try this!!! Thankyou for posting this recipe! :)

[healthyvegan]

@kris10elayne I'm so excited for you to try it! have fun :)

[danielleshanti]

would mint work in this, or does the coconut oil add too much coconut flavor for that?

[healthyvegan]

@danielleshanti I think mint would be good - I haven't tried it yet, but I think mint & coconut would actually taste nice :)