Nutrient Dense Chocolate Recipes as Seen on Breakfast Television

Who needs romance & roses when you can have decadent chocolate recipes? If you share my theory, no doubt you will LOVE these recipes! Delicious, doable, decadent and in true ‘Char Fashion’: recipes use mostly pantry staple items.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day, Family Day (or any day!!) – with decadent and nutrient dense chocolate recipes that whip up in little time.

Hungry for more Delicious & Doable recipes? Grab a copy of my cookbook ‘Delicious & Doable ~ Recipes For Real and Eveyday Life’ here.

Chocolate Tahini Hummus

Plant protein-based chocolate dip? Yes, please!! If you need an excuse to dip some fruit – this chocolate tahini hummus will be your new chocolatey staple.

Ingredients

• 1 (540 mL/19 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed (and patted dry)
• ½ cup (125 mL) tahini (or peanut butter – if using peanut butter, only use 1/4 cup (60 mL))
• ½ cup (125 mL) cocoa powder 
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) dark chocolate chips (or finely chopped dark chocolate)
• ¼ cup (60 mL) maple syrup (or Fancy Molasses or liquid honey) 
• 2 tsp (10 mL) vanilla extract 
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt 
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) milk (I use plant based (almond) milk – but cows milk if fine)

Garnish:

• dark chocolate chips, toasted sesame seeds, drizzle of maple syrup and sprinkle of flaky salt

Directions

1. Place chickpeas in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse until finely chopped (scrape down sides of bowl when needed). 
2. Add remaining ingredients (except for milk) and pulse until very well combined and mixture is smooth (will likely take about 6 good pulses) – be sure to scrape down slides of bowl when needed. 
3. With the motor running, pour in milk and pulse until very well combined. Note: hummus will look a bit loose (wet) after adding milk, but it will thicken up once it sits for a bit.
4. Cover and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Stir well before serving. 
5. Place in serving dish. Garnish top with a sprinkle of dark chocolate chips, toasted sesame seeds, drizzle of maple syrup and sprinkle of salt. 
6. Serve with fresh fruit (strawberries, apple & pear slices), pretzels and/or Graham cookies.

Chocolate Dried Fruit & Rosemary Bark

This decadent chocolate bark has an explosion of flavour in every bite!

Food Styling & Photography by: Meagan Broughton @foodphotosbymeg

Ingredients

• 1 cup (250 mL) peanuts
• ¾ cup (175 mL) dried cherries
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) roughly chopped rosemary leaves
• ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
• 10 oz. (300 g) 70% dark chocolate, melted
• ¼ tsp (1 mL) flaky sea salt

Directions

1. Toss together peanuts, dried cherries, rosemary, and cayenne pepper. Set aside ⅓ cup (75 mL) of the fruit and nut mixture.
2. Stir the remaining fruit and nut mixture into the melted chocolate until combined.
3. Using a rubber spatula, spread chocolate mixture onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet to form a (approx) 10-inch square.
4. Sprinkle sea salt and the reserved fruit and nut mixture evenly over the chocolate. Chill in refrigerator for about 45 minutes or until hard. Note: I do not recommend freezing.
5. Break into 16 pieces, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
6. Place a few pieces of bark in small cellophane candy bags (found at craft or bulk food stores)and tie with decorative ribbon. Valentine gift giving never tasted so good!

Delicious & Doable Tips:

• Use almonds or cashews instead of peanuts.
• Use dried cranberries or sliced dried apricots instead of dried cherries.

Chocolate Coconut Energy Truffles

Satisfy your sweet tooth with these good-for-you and easy to prepare bites. Perfect for a post workout nibble, or 3 p.m. at-your-desk snack.

Food Styling & Photography by: Meagan Broughton @foodphotosbymeg

Ingredients

• 1 cup (250 mL) each of flaked sweetened coconut, almonds and dark chocolate chips (*at least 70% chocolate)
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) large flake rolled oats
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) each of chia seeds and ground flax seeds
• 1/3 cup (75 mL) liquid honey
• 1 tsp (5 mL) pure vanilla extract
• ½ tsp (2 mL) pure coconut extract
• ½ tsp (2 mL) salt

Garnish

• approx ½ cup (125 mL) shredded coconut

Directions

1. Place coconut, almonds, chocolate and oats in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse until finely chopped.
2. Add remaining ingredients and pulse until mixture is very well combined (scrape down sides of bowl when needed) and begins to clump together.
3. Roll mixture evenly into balls – just a bit smaller than a golf ball (should yield approx 16 ‘truffles’).
4. Roll each truffle in shredded coconut to lightly coat (you may need to use your hands to press the coconut onto the balls, so it stays put).
5. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
6. Makes 16 truffles.

Delicious & Doable Tips

• Add 1 tsp (5 mL) of ground coffee to the mixture for a Mocha flavour twist.
• Use peanuts or walnuts instead of almonds

Where to Find ‘Delicious & Doable’ Across Ontario

‘Delicious & Doable ~ Recipes For Real and Everyday Life’ can be purchased here or at one of the below retailers across Ontario:

Type Books ~ 883 Queen Street West, Toronto
Lemonberry ~ 2 Orchard Heights Blvd #10, Aurora
Fanfare Books ~ 92 Ontario St, Stratford
Casual Gourmet ~ 1027 King Street West, Hamilton
The Post Office – 18 Front St. N, Thorold
Chef’s Paradise ~ 1314 Bank Street, Ottawa
Gift It Grey ~ 19492 Opeongo Line, Barry’s Bay
Creative Cook ~ 35 Manitoba St, Bracebridge
Muskoka Brewery ~ 1964 Muskoka Beach Rd, Bracebridge
Stephen’s Butcher Shop ~ 8 Harris St, Port Carling
Hilltop Interiors ~ 1150 ON-141, Rosseau
Cedar Canoe Books ~ 72 Main St E, Huntsville
Clark’s On Main ~ 1090 Main Street, Dorset
Bigley’s Cottage Kitchen ~ 39 Bolton St, Bobcaygeon
Farmer’s Daughter – 72 Main St E, Huntsville
Kitchen Bits ~ 1390 Kingsway, Greater Sudbury