Chocolate Covered Katie - The Healthy Dessert Blog

I am always looking for healthy snack recipes - I stumble across many wellness recipe sites that post what looks to be delicious morsels of healthy yumminess, but when I create them in my own kitchen following the recipe to the exact.....it falls flat. I'm all about flavor when It comes to delicious goodies - and the healthier the better.

So when I found 'Chocolate Covered Katie' - a blog dedicated to recipes of the chocolate kind, my ears perked up and I became curiouser and curiouser.....

I explored a bit and discovered;

This isn’t just any dessert blog: it’s the healthy-dessert blog! The recipes featured are healthier versions of your favorite naughty treats: Cookie Dough Milkshakes, Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge, Brownie Batter Pancakes…..

Katie (the Chocolate Covered) says;

This healthy dessert blog is for anyone who wants to be healthy but refuses to give up eating delicious desserts in the name of health.

Happiness and health go hand-in-hand, and how can you be happy if you’re not eating what you truly desire? My favorite food is chocolate, and I eat it at least once a day. I’ve never been happier. Or healthier.


I scoured the blog - recipe after delectable looking recipe unfolded before me...until my eyes rested on one I have to try!

I'm sharing it here in the hopes Katie encourages sharing - and because the world needs to know about her! I have every intention of creating many of her scrumptious looking treats!

Gluten free brownies.....go!

Gluten Free Black Bean Brownies

 

1 1/2 cups black beans (1 15-oz can, drained and rinsed very well) (250g after draining)

2 tbsp cocoa powder- dutch or regular (10g) (add a little extra if desired)

1/2 cup quick oats (40g) (See nutrition facts link below for all substitution notes.)

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup pure maple syrup or agave (Honey will work, but not for strict vegans.) (75g)

2 nunaturals stevia packs or 2 tbsp sugar (or omit and increase maple syrup to 1/2 cup)

1/4 cup coconut or vegetable oil (40g) (See “nutrition facts” link for all substitution notes.)

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup to 2/3 cup chocolate chips (115-140g) (Not optional. Omit at your own risk.)

 

Optional: more chips, for presentation.

 

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Combine all ingredients except chips in a good food processor, and blend until completely smooth.

Really blend well. (A blender can work if you absolutely must, but the texture—and even the taste—will be much better in a food processor.)

Stir in the chips, then pour into a greased 8×8 pan.

Optional: sprinkle extra chocolate chips over the top.

Cook the black bean brownies 15-18 minutes, then let cool at least 10 minutes before trying to cut.

Makes 9-12 brownies.

We'll be creating these this weekend (thanks, Katie!). Happy exploring - and please let me know what you create from her recipes. Reviews are always welcome.

If you're looking for Katie now too, here are all of her links.

Chocolate Covered Katie's Blog

Find Katie on Facebook

Katie's Chocolate Covered Pinterest Link

Do You Happen To Like Chocolate?

I have the best recipe for a quick, at home chocolate craving solution!

I was in the kitchen last night, wondering how I was going to use up the bananas that were going bad fast enough. Banana smoothies and banana ice cream make really satisfying treats, but I was in the mood for something a little more.....naughty.

I wanted chocolate!

OK, so it may not have been that dramatic, but you get where I'm going. I zipped to the cupboard, threw a pot on the stove and whipped up the best tasting, best for you type-o-chocolate I could muster.....

........and then I ate it all. Oh....my....

Here's how it all went down.....

This isn't a recipe I have ever actually measured. It requires certain elements for success. The perfect temperature, the right mix of ingredients and the right taste tester.

I start with about 3 tablespoons of coconut oil. I keep the temperature on my stove between medium and low, but closer to medium. If you see the chocolate getting grainy or thick, it is too hot. I add 2 tablespoons of honey. You can adjust this to your own preferences. I then add about 3 tablespoons of raw powdered cacao.

Keep stirring, breaking up any lumpy bits. You want to see this the consistency of semi-thick, warm chocolate so use your discretion. it really is about finding what works for you.

Once the chocolate cools slightly, take a piece of wax paper and pour the chocolate on to it. Be sure to taste your concoction before you pour it all out onto the paper. Several times I've been so excited to have it that I forget to add enough honey. You can also add an extract of some sort. If you like orange chocolate, add some orange! Lemon, mint, peppermint - add whatever your heart desires!

Want to know what I added??

I added Goji berries!

Ohhhh these little heavenly wonders - they are so yummy to eat and so good for me!

I sprinkle them in to the chocolate while it is still warm. Sometimes I press them into the chocolate and sometimes I don't. I'm a rebel that way.

I add everything I want to my snack and then on to a plate and into the freezer it goes!

Less than an hour later we had rock hard chocolate!

Note: This chocolate, as I mentioned, is softer than store bought chocolate bars. It will stay solid but if the temperature rises (don't hold it in your hand too long) you are going to get messy. I love how the Goji berries get like rice crisps. It adds a little crunch I adore! Add your favorite nuts (chopped) or raisins.

Doesn't this photo look messy? It is!

We also take warm chocolate and drizzle it over banana slices and frozen blueberries.

The warm chocolate meets the cold berries and forms a chocolate crust *cue heavenly music here.*

The plate of goodies shown (left) is more than enough for us as a nice snack. We also find the healthier we eat, the less (real) food we need to fill us up versus Standard American Diet food.

So the next time you feel like snacking on something chocolatey, choose this! You can drizzle it on just about anything - including yourself! ;)