We all need soothing activities right now, so today I am sharing my scrumptious Orange Chocolate recipe. I have been making chocolate for years and have experimented endlessly but this is my favourite. It’s also super simple and a health boost too.
Once you read up on raw cacao you might just make it compulsory eating for the kids! It is packed with antioxidants, iron, calcium, magnesium, chromium, and zinc and contains natural mood boosting chemicals for your brain. Using orange rind like I do in this recipe also adds a dose of vitamin C and polyphenols. This recipe is gluten and dairy free, and the only sugar is a dash of honey or maca powder.
Once you get hold of the ingredients, you only need 10 minutes for prep and 20 minutes waiting painfully while it is cooling in the fridge. Still faster than driving to the shops for some of the ready made stuff that has 30% sugar.
For one tray you will need:
A small pot
A baking tray with 3cm high sides (40x25cm approx)
Baking paper
180g raw cacao butter
90g cacao powder
1 teaspoon of honey or maca powder
Grated rind off 2 oranges – wash in hot water first or use organic oranges
Coconut flakes
Method:
- Line your baking tray with baking paper. If the paper won’t lay flat, oil the tray slightly underneath so it adheres.
- Weigh and prepare all your ingredients.
- Heat the cacao butter on low heat until it is just melted. Don’t leave the room!
- Remove from heat and add the cacao powder and honey/maca. Stir well.
- Pour the liquid chocolate onto your baking tray.
- Pause to think about Willy Wonka’s factory.
- Sprinkle the orange rind and coconut flakes all over the liquid chocolate (just those two words make me feel so happy).
- Place tray in fridge very flat, for 20 minutes.
- Break it into pieces and store in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Now check out my previous post on making chocolate with some other recipe ideas.
The ratio of cacao butter to powder in this recipe gives a fantastic result, and it has been long tested by chocolate expert friends of mine, Billy and Imogen. Prior to them my sister also used to make chocolate and so I have been surrounded by chocolate inspiration for almost a decade. We all develop our own style, and in time you may develop yours!
A note on getting your cacao butter and powder. My friends and I order our cacao butter from Loving Earth Australia (online health food distributor). They have all size packs but we order the bulk 10kg block so it is only $27 per kilo. You can also get cacao butter at health food shops. Cacao powder is easier to find, and cheaper. I get mine from the supermarket (Aldi). This recipe below will cost you around $6 per whole tray.
Happy chocolate making, from Siobhan ❤️
Into the clearing 