Description
This homemade dark chocolate recipe yields rich, velvety chocolate bars made with natural ingredients like cacao butter, raw honey, and cacao powder. Perfect for chocolate lovers looking to create a small batch of delicious, customizable dark chocolate at home. Optional add-ins like chopped nuts and dried cranberries add a delightful crunch and flavor contrast. The process is simple, involving melting, mixing, molding, and chilling, resulting in indulgent treats that can be stored in the fridge for freshness.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cacao butter (see notes)
- 1/3 cup raw honey (or maple syrup for vegan option, see notes)
- 1/2 cup cacao powder (or unsweetened cocoa powder)
- Pinch of sea salt
Optional Add-ins
- Chopped almonds, cashews, or peanuts
- Chopped dried cranberries
Instructions
- Prep: Finely chop any optional add-ins such as nuts or dried cranberries if you want to include them in your chocolate bars. Place these chopped ingredients in one or more sections of a chocolate bar mold for even distribution.
- Melt: Set up a double boiler by placing about an inch of water in the bottom pot and bringing it to medium heat. Place the cacao butter in the upper bowl of the double boiler and heat it slowly, stirring occasionally, until it just melts. Remove from heat.
- Mix: To the melted cacao butter, whisk in the raw honey (or maple syrup) until fully incorporated. Then whisk in the cacao powder and a pinch of sea salt until the mixture is smooth and glossy. Taste the mixture and adjust sweetness by adding a little more honey if desired.
- Mold: Place your chocolate bar mold on a flat surface such as a cutting board to keep it stable. Carefully pour the melted chocolate mixture evenly into the mold sections, filling each one to the top. If you have leftover chocolate, pour it into a parchment-lined container to cool separately.
- Chill: Transfer the chocolate mold gently into the refrigerator. Let the chocolate chill and solidify for at least 30 minutes or until fully set.
- Enjoy: Once set, remove the bars from the mold by slowly pulling the sides of the mold away to release them. Store your homemade chocolate bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for optimal freshness. Enjoy your delicious, homemade dark chocolate treats!
Notes
- Cacao butter can be found at specialty health food stores or online. It is important for the smooth texture of the chocolate.
- For a vegan version, substitute raw honey with maple syrup or another preferred plant-based sweetener.
- If you prefer a sweeter chocolate, adjust the amount of honey or syrup as per taste.
- Using good quality cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder will enhance the flavor.
- Be sure to pour the chocolate evenly into molds for uniform bars.
- Store the finished chocolate bars in the fridge to prevent melting and maintain freshness.
