We all crave sweets sometimes. Unfortunately, we often reach for treats that are loaded with refined sugar and unhealthy fats. These Chocolate Coconut Candies will satisfy your sweet tooth without any processed ingredients. There are some amazing health benefits to the ingredients in this recipe that we will cover in this post.
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Let’s start with chocolate. You may have heard that chocolate has some nutritional benefits, but not the milk chocolate candy bars from the store. The health benefits of chocolate come from the cocoa bean. This is why the higher the percentage of cocoa (the darker the chocolate), the better! It is also important to buy quality dark chocolate. In this recipe we use unsweetened dark chocolate to maximize the health benefits. Let’s take a look at the benefits of chocolate.
Dark chocolate is one of the best sources of antioxidants you can find. Dark chocolate contains a good amount of soluble fiber and is rich in minerals. Some of the nutrients in dark chocolate include iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium. Dark chocolate contains organic compounds that are biologically active and act as antioxidants in the body. These include polyphenols, flavanols and catechins. One study even showed that cocoa and dark chocolate had higher antioxidant, polyphenol and flavanol levels than any other fruit tested. One of the benefits of flavanol is that it can stimulate the lining of your arteries to produce nitric oxide. Nitric oxide can help to lower blood pressure and therefore improve blood flow. Cocoa powder has also been shown to decrease oxidized LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) in men, and increase HDL (the “good” cholesterol) in those with high cholesterol.
Coconut products have increased in popularity over the last several years. Coconut oil has been shown to increase good cholesterol (HDL), battle insulin resistance, lower triglyceride levels, help with heart and liver health, boost energy and aid in digestion. Shredded coconut is rich in fiber which is essential for good, healthy digestion and can help with weight loss. Coconut is also high in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) which are absorbed intact and can be used for energy.
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup shredded coconut
2 tablespoons honey
2-3 tablespoons coconut oil
1 teaspoon rum (optional)
3 ounces unsweetened dark chocolate, chopped
DIRECTIONS
- In a bowl, mix the shredded coconut with honey and 2 tablespoons coconut oil. You should get a mixture that can be shaped easily. If you need, add some more coconut oil.
- Stir in the rum if you don’t serve the candies to children.
- Pour the chocolate over the candies with a teaspoon. Use two toothpicks to roll them so they are covered on all sides.
- Wait for the chocolate to harden. If you want this to happen quicker, put the candies in the refrigerator for up to 15 minutes.
SERVES: 3-4
Total time: 20 minutes Prep time: 5 minutes
NUTRITION INFORMATION: Calories: 121 Fat: 8.2g Carbs: 11.4g Protein: 1g
We hope you try out this guilt-free treat and satisfy your sweet tooth in a healthy way!
For more healthy recipes, make sure to pick up your free copy of our Easter Cookbook, here!