GLOW with Julie’s Chocolate Hemp Sauce

Until I met Julie Beyer more than a year ago, my idea of a healthy chocolate sauce was to put two squares of Green and Black dark chocolate on top of my dessert and stick it in the microwave for ten seconds.

So, to expand my healthy cooking portfolio, I hosted a foodie party with Julie as guest holistic chef/educator. For me, her standout recipes were the basil sun pesto dip and vegan lemon cheesecake topped with chocolate hemp sauce.

Julie loves to pair foods that work well with each other. In this case, try pairing the hemp sauce with Julie’s Coconut Mint Chocolate Chip GLOWnola (organic, sugar, dairy and gluten free).

Thoughts about the recipe? Leave a comment below.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups of filtered water

7 – 9 pitted Medjool dates (pitted baking dates are cheaper and work well too)

1/2 cup raw organic cacao powder

5 tbsp of hemp seeds

¼ cup coconut oil

1/2 tsp of organic green stevia or add more dates if you would like sweeter

pinch (1/8 tsp) sea salt

1/2 cup shredded raw cacao butter (optional for more rich chocolate taste)

Estimated Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Will keep for: 5 days in the fridge or you can freeze for a longer period of time

Directions

• If the dates you are using are tough, try soaking them for 10 – 20 minutes to soften before making the sauce.

• If you are using raw cacao butter, heat a pot of water on medium heat. Shave off pieces of raw cacao using a knife. Place shredded cacao butter pieces into a bain marie of warm water, and stir until melted.

• Blend all ingredients together in a blender or food processor until smooth. Be sure to let the food processor run for a couple of minutes to ensure there are no chunk pieces of dates.

• Taste and adjust taste!

Nutrition bits

Hemp seeds have powerful nutritional value. They contain essential fatty acids for optimal health and are high in protein, vitamin e and magnesium.

Green stevia is a natural zero calorie sweetener with healing properties. Note that one teaspoon replaces approximately 1 cup of sugar.

Recommended brand: Organic Traditions or Suede Hills Organic Farm (local)

Dates are awesome for digestion and in balancing blood sugar levels to avoid cravings. Loaded with vitamins and minerals like calcium, potassium and magnesium.

Raw cacao powder is known as a superfood because it is higher than processed cocoa in antioxidants, vitamin c, the feel good chemical PEA, and the relaxing agent magnesium. Raw cacao powder doesn’t wire me up as much as the commercial stuff, which is a relief.

Recommended brand: Organic Lives (local)

Cacao butter adds such a warm and dreamy chocolate flavour to any dessert. I’ll use mine sparingly but I can’t go without.

Recommended brand: Organic Lives (local)

Coconut oil has endless benefits; it helps to maintain optimum weight, improve digestion, is a stress reliever and is good for your skin.

Recommended brand: Nutiva