Christmas Bark

Image: Jessica Mitton

I love to indulge into a bit of chocolate during the holiday season! However, the chocolate that you will find lining the shelves at the retail stores are full of refined sugars, additives and artificial flavourings.

I decided to make some chocolate from scratch so I know just what it is I am eating and I can ensure it will be good quality, delicious and just the way I want it!  

Since Christmas is just around the corner, I decided to make a Christmas Bark! This chocolate Christmas Bark has a punchy orange flavour and some crunchy and delicious toppings to leave you wanting more. I have topped this Christmas Bark off with some foods that not only gives it that crunchy and delicious flavour but also offer a visual Christmas treat, with vibrant holiday colours – red (goji berries) and green (pumpkin seeds)!

Not only are these colourful toppings nice to look at, but they also offer the gift of beneficial nutrients, including:

Pumpkin seeds:

•      Fibre
•       Iron
•      Zinc
•       Manganese
•      Magnesium 

Goji Berries:

•      Vitamin A
•       Vitamin C
•       Vitamin E
•       Fibre
•       Protein

Image: Jessica Mitton

So why not try out my delicious, crunchy and satisfying Christmas Bark and stay away from those nasty refined sugars, additives and artificial flavourings. Your taste buds will be happy as you get to enjoy a chocolatey treat this holiday season, and your body will thank you too!

A safe and happy holidays to you and yours! 

Here is the recipe:

Image: Jessica Mitton

Christmas Bark

Prep time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

½ cup cacao powder

¼ cup cacao butter

¼ cup coconut oil

2 tablespoons maple syrup

½ teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

1 teaspoon orange zest

1 tablespoon goji berries

1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds

1 tablespoon coconut

Directions:

1.        Line a baking dish with parchment paper.

2.        In a double boiler, add cacao powder, cacao butter, coconut oil, maple syrup and cinnamon. Melt and stir until thoroughly combined. Remove from heat and stir in orange juice and zest.

3.        Spread chocolate over parchment paper on baking dish.

4.        Sprinkle goji berries, pumpkin seeds and coconut on chocolate.

5.        Put chocolate bark in freezer for about 1 hour or until chocolate mixture hardens.

6.        Break into pieces. Enjoy!

Sources:

Balch, Phyllis A. Prescription for Dietary Wellness. New York: Avery, 2003. Print.

"Goji Berries." Navitas Naturals. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2016.