Healthy Cacao Powder Recipes

The ultimate round up of healthy cacao powder recipes to make all your chocolate dreams come true! Muffins, quick breads, smoothies and beyond.

Want to make a smoothie? Add cacao. Want to make a dessert? Start with cacao. Want to make a savory pasta dish? Recipes with cacao powder to the rescue!

What's the difference between cocoa and cacao powder?

There must be no way cacao powder is good for you if it tastes so amazing, right? Wrong. While the word may sound like the cocoa powder for baking you buy at the store, the two are quite different both in processing and in nutrition.

They both come from the cacao plant but cacao is closest to the raw state after harvesting the seed while cocoa has been processed with high heat. Now the cocoa powder you know and love still contains great nutrients, just not nearly as many as raw cacao does.

Cacao contains a high concentration of phytochemicals, the potent anti-cancer compounds found in plants. The most abundant antioxidants in our diet today come from flavonoids. Lucky for you and me, these anti-inflammatory gems help combat damage by free radicals and improve cardiovascular health, thus preventing chronic disease.

Can you use cacao and cocoa powder interchangeably?

Not always, but in my recipes it's a sure YES. If a recipe calls for dutch processed cocoa, I would not sub cacao.

Eat more plants. Decrease inflammation. Reduce risk of disease. Easy! Moving on from all that science stuff... I always buy this cacao powder because it's organic, affordable, and because Terra Soul is a family run company that I love.

Recipes using cacao

Sweet Potato Brownies

One Bowl Vegan Chocolate Cookies

Healthy Chocolate Muffins

Mint Chocolate Energy Bites

Chocolate Zucchini Banana Bread

Healthy Hot Chocolate

Creamy Chocolate Blueberry Shake

Flourless Peanut Butter Zucchini Brownies

Peppermint Chocolate Skillet Cookie

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Best Vegan Brownies

Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars

Chocolate Banana Muffins

Fudgy Raspberry Almond Butter Brownies

Mexican Hot Chocolate Truffles

Cacao Powder Recipes: Healthy Hot Chocolate

★★★★★ 5 from 3 reviews

• Author: Alexis Joseph
• Prep Time: 13 min
• Cook Time: 3 min
• Total Time: 16 minutes
• Yield: 2 servings 1x
• Category: Drinks
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegan

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Description

Thick and creamy Healthy Hot Chocolate sweetened naturally with dates! An amazingly rich and delicious dairy free hot cocoa perfect  for chilly weather.

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 5 medjool dates
• 2 cups unsweetened vanilla non-dairy milk of choice
• 2 tbsp cacao powder
• pinch of salt
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Remove pits and place dates in a small bowl. Cover with hot water and set aside to soak for 10 minutes.
2. Drain dates. Place them in a high speed blender or Nutribullet with milk, cocoa powder, and salt. Blend until completely smooth and creamy.
3. Pour mixture into a small saucepan. Heat over medium low for about 3 minutes, or until hot. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour into a mug and enjoy with toppings of choice!

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Keywords: healthy hot chocolate