dessert

Beauty Bites: Dark Chocolate

Hold up! Before you rush to the grocery store and stock up on Reese’s Cups and Snickers bars, I should clarify one thing. The only type of chocolate that will deliver the glowing skin benefits we all desire is dark chocolate. Seventy percent or more cocoa to be exact.

Dark chocolate helps to combat stress, which is one of the biggest contributors to dull and problematic skin. Dark chocolate helps to reduce stress hormones in the body which helps to fight against premature aging.

Not only does cocoa help to combat stress, it is also filled with antioxidants. These antioxidants (flavonols)  protect your skin from UV damage. The less UV damage we have, the less wrinkles we have. Flavonols fight free radicals, minimizing the number of age spots that pop up. Flavonols also increase blood flow giving you that fresh from a facial glow we all crave.

Here are a few of my favorite healthy healthier recipes to incorporate dark chocolate into your life:

Bittersweet Chocolate Brownies are made with raw cacao powder and a special natural sweet ingredient that you might already keep in your pantry. These are the most decadent, chocolatey, and fudgy brownies I have ever made in my life.

bittersweet triple chocolate brownies

Dark Chocolate Meltaways are so delicious, easy to mix together, and you most likely have all of the ingredients on hand. The best part is that you can keep them in the freezer. Just take out a square whenever you need a chocolate fix.

Chocolate PB Meltaway

Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies are perfect when you need to whip something up for a party, holiday, or even an afternoon snack.

Dark Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies 3

Dark Chocolate Dipped Macaroons are the most involved recipe on this list, but they are so worth it. The macaroons are light, airy, and filled with coconut. The dark chocolate dip and drizzle is a lovely complement. Plus, they are a low cal dessert, so you can have that extra cookie without the extra squats.

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Bittersweet Fudge Brownies

 

Chocoholics of the world, listen up!

These are the most bittersweet chocolatey brownies ever baked. Yeah, I said it. These brownies are so fudgy and dark chocolate filled, that I made them twice in as many days. They were downed that quick.

And, they have a secret healthy ingredient. Shhh….. (more…)

Apple Crumble Muffin Cake

What an exciting day for Cleveland! The Indians have officially earned their place in the World Series!

Now, let’s take a look at the incredible crumble topping on this muffin cake. I adapted the recipe from one that I found from Cooking Light. I doubled the crumble topping, added vanilla, lemon zest and nutmeg. I also substituted coconut oil in place of the canola oil the original recipe called for. Then, I decided to make it into one big cake instead of 12 muffins. I am in love with this one. It is perfect for a coffee date, brunch, or dessert.

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Apple Crumble Muffin Cake

  • Servings: 10-12
  • Print

A lightened up fall favorite perfect for breakfast or an afternoon coffee break.


Ingredients

Crumble

2 tbs butter, melted

2 tbs coconut oil, melted

1 tsp cinnamon

4 tbs old fashioned oats

4 tbs all purpose flour

2 tbs brown sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Cake

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp fresh grated nutmeg

1 tsp lemon zest

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp kosher salt

3/4 cup low fat buttermilk *cooking tip below

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 large egg

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 apple, peeled and diced; I used red delicious (about 1 1/4 cups)


Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400.
  2. Mix together the crumble ingredients(butter, coconut oil, cinnamon, oats, four, brown sugar, and vanilla) and set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl mix together the dry ingredients: flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon zest, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  4. In a large mixing bowl combine the wet ingredients: buttermilk, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla.
  5. Add the dry into the wet ingredients in two batches, mixing in between.
  6. Fold the diced apple
  7. Pour the batter into a pie plate that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
  8. Top the batter with the crumble mixture
  9. Bake at 400 for 25 minutes, or until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.
    10. **Cooking Tip: If you do not have any buttermilk on hand, sqeeze 1 tbs of fresh lemon juice into a liquid measuring cup then pour in milk (any kind) up to the 3/4 cup line. I used this method with unsweetened original almond milk and the recipe turned out fantastic.

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Enjoy!
xo Ali Taylor

Dark Chocolate Dipped Macaroons

Dark Chocolate Dipped Macaroons

Crispy on the outside and delightfully chewy on the inside.


Ingredients


3 cups unsweetened shredded coconut, toasted

4 egg whites

1 cup sugar

1/4 tsp salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 bag dark chocolate chips

1 tsp coconut oil


Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350.
  2. Add the coconut to a parchment lined baking sheet. Toast for about 5 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Let cool.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg whites, sugar, salt and vanilla with a hand mixer until glossy with soft peaks.
  4. Fold the cooled, toasted coconut into the whipped egg whites.
  5. Using a cookie scoop, scoop the cookies onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Leave a little space in between, about an inch. They won’t spread too much.
    6. 6.Bake for 12-15 minutes. Until lightly golden, or to your preference.
  6. While the cookies cool, mix together 1/2 bag dark chocolate chips and 1 tsp coconut oil in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 45 seconds, stir. Microwave for 10 second intervals stirring in between, until melted.
  7. Dip each cookie into the chocolate. Place back onto the parchment paper and into the freezer to set.
  8. Keep fresh in an airtight container up to 4 days in the fridge.

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Enjoy!
xo Ali Taylor

Dark Chocolate Meltaways

Happy Friday Eve! I have a healthier way to satisfy your sweet tooth…Dark Chocolate Meltaways. No artificial sweeteners, just real ingredients that you might already have on hand. (more…)