Food and Wine

HOT FOR YOU
CARAMEL CACAO BITES
are Plant-Based
and Gluten-Free

With Valentines Day just around the corner, you’ll be needing decadent, melt-in-your-mouth, sweet and sultry somethings for your honey.

This leaning tower of plant-based sweetness features a whole-food caramel sauce made of dates, with a smooth and chocolate sauce made of the superfood, cacao.

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Tower of Love

Plant-Based Benefits:

  • Cacao (the purest form of chocolate) has 40 times the antioxidants of blueberries and a whole bunch of magnesium for your heart and brain. Perfect for your valentine.
  • Cayenne pepper does heaps for your circulatory system, and digestive system by helping detoxify your systems.
  • Dates are an amazing source of soluble fibre, an energy booster and increase your sexual stamina! Plus, if you drink too much champagne this Valentines, dates actually have a sobering effect. Perfect for the end of your night before you hit the hay.  Again, perfect for your Valentine.
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Even the preparation is colour coordinated for love

Hot For You Caramel Cacao Bites

Makes: 15-20 bites

Time: 1 hour 15 minutes (includes freezing time)

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp shredded coconut **optional

Caramel layer:

  • 1 cup pitted dates (soaked for 10 minutes to soften)
  • 1/4 cup almond butter
  • 2 tablespoons water, or more as needed
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil

Chocolate coating:

  • 1/3 cup melted coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup cacao powder
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne powder
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Looking Down on Love

 

Directions:

  1. Make caramel sauce: blend all caramel sauce ingredients in blender or food processor until smooth.
  2. Spread layer of caramel along bottom of silicone mold or muffin paper in a muffin tin. I find using a silicone mold is the best option, and easiest to pop out the bites after the freeze time!
  3. Freeze for at least 30 minutes
  4. Make chocolate sauce: melt coconut oil in sauce pan, then add rest of ingredient and whisk until smooth
  5. Spoon layer of chocolate sauce over the caramel layer to fill silicone molds
  6. Top chocolate with a goji berry or two
  7. Freeze at least 15 minutes
  8. Pop out of the silicone mold, or muffin papers (may need a knife to get all of the caramel layer)
  9. Optional ** Garnish with shredded coconut
  10. DEVOUR

** Save leftover bites in the freezer for later **