There’s a moment of respite after the winter holidays when we all agree that getting healthy is a fabulous idea — and then Valentine’s Day hits. This year, to condition myself, a few days before the 14th, I ate enough Nutella to nearly make myself sick (hey, at least it was on whole grain bread). Then, in addition to chocolate given to me, I took my parental tax on the chocolate given to my children.
In other words, I’ve eaten a lot of chocolate lately, which means a) I’m craving chocolate more than ever, and b) I need to stop eating chocolate candy. My solution: healthy chocolate recipes so that I can get my fix without the refined sugar overdose. Bookmark these: If you don’t need them now like I do, trust me, they’ll come in handy someday soon.
Top: Chocolate Hazelnut Smoothie Bowl | With Food + Love
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Related: 9 awesome store-bought snacks for healthy, on-the-go snacking.
I’m a big fan of chia pudding because it really does feel like eating pudding (I swear!), is incredibly easy to make, and when done right, is super tasty. Looking at the recipe for Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding at Fit Foodie Finds, I can tell that it’s done right, made with unsweetened cocoa powder and just enough maple syrup. Perfect.
Given that my latest chocolate cravings are candy related, it’s no surprise that I’m drawn to this recipe for easy, healthy Vegan Almond Joy from our friends at Pop Sugar. These babies are sweetened with dates and covered with a thin coating of semi-sweet chocolate. It’s just enough to satisfy.
While on Pop Sugar, you also have to check out these healthy Chocolate Mousse Filled Strawberries, because, well, I have two words for you: tofu and chickpeas. I know, I know, it sounds weird, but when you see the full recipe, you might be able to imagine how it tastes good. I can, and if I’m right, holy healthy deliciousness.
Related: Healthy baking substitutes, so that you can eat more treats. (Right?)
Chocolate Peanut Butter Avocado Pudding | Minimalist Baker
Avocado is truly miraculous. It’s nutritionally dense, and just as delicious savory as it is sweet. That’s why I love this Chocolate Peanut Butter Avocado Pudding that we found while rounding up unexpected, kid-friendly ways to eat avocado. If you’ve never used avocado in a sweet recipe, get ready to be amazed by this rich, decadent treat.
Don’t be fooled by the name, because there is no sugar or cream in this deliciously healthy Chocolate Banana Ice Cream at As Easy As Apple Pie. Instead, frozen bananas are the base of this creamy, dreamy dessert. And, yes, I’ve tried frozen banana “ice cream” before and it really works. So delicious.
Chocolate Fudge Paletas | Photo by Katie Newburn
These simple Chocolate Fudge Paletas from the Nutrition Stripped cookbook featured at Daily Burn are another light chocolate treat that you can keep on hand for when you feel an ice cream craving come on. The recipe calls for using espresso powder, which will work wonders for flavor, but can be skipped if your cravings come on at night or you want to share with the kids. Because sleep and kids don’t always go well with caffeine.
Related: Healthy, low-sugar baby cookie recipes that you can feel good sharing with your baby or toddler.
I’m a sucker for a hearty smoothie bowl and this Chocolate Hazelnut Smoothie Bowl at With Food + Love (above & top) is calling my name. The recipe names a specific brand of chocolate protein powder, but any type can work. And, if you don’t want to use protein powder at all, that’s fine too; if you skip it, you may find that you want to add more cocoa powder.
