Chocolate. Rich, decadent, nutritious chocolate.

One of my favorite topics to explore in a workshop is the fascinating journey of cacao—from its ancient origins to the rich history of chocolate. I love sharing how we arrived at the sweet, indulgent confection treat we know today as chocolate, and revealing the truth behind the many studies on dark chocolate. The reality is, not all chocolate is created equal!

This recipe yields 1.2kg of rich, homemade chocolate. Be sure to store it in the fridge, where it will stay fresh for months—though I won’t blame you if it’s all gone much sooner! Feel free to customize it by adding your favorite chopped nuts, seeds, or dried fruits. If you want to incorporate a superfood powder, use it sparingly. Adding too much can drastically alter the texture, making the chocolate grainy. For a 1.2kg batch, no more than 1 tablespoon of superfood powder is recommended. Any more, and you risk turning your smooth chocolate into a crumbly, grainy mess!

Recipe

400g raw cacao powder
450-500g raw cacao butter (the higher amount creates a harder chocolate)
220 - 350ml liquid sweetener such as maple syrup, coconut blossom nectar or yacon

(You cannot use honey in this mix. It will not hold together at all)

Gently melt the cacao butter in a double basin/bain marie. Do not let the water get to a boil as the steam will create a motled white patchy look to the chocolate once it hardens. There is nothing wrong with it, but it becomes grainy and looks unpleasant.

Add in the liquid sweetner. Remove from the heat and add in the cacao, carefully sifting it in as you go. If you wish to add in any superfood powder, now is the time to do it. Once it has all been sifted in, then stir the powder in extremely carefully. You do not want to breathe this fine powder in. Keep stirring until it is glossy and no lumps are in the chocolate.

Pour into prepared molds or a baking paper lined tray with a deep lip. If you wish to add dried fruit, nuts or seeds, do it now. Put the chocolate in the fridge for 2-4 hours to set.

It’s that simple!

Enjoy!