No-Bake Chocolate Coco-nutty Fudge {Dairy-Free| Grain-Free | Paleo}

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I’ve been on a baking tear. More specifically, a chocolate baking tear. I’m not breaking any rules, though. At least not according to one of my real food idols, Michael Pollan.

Funny thing. I was never a big chocolate person in my early years (mid-teens). Gummy bears? Hell yes. Sour patch kids? Bring it. Swedish Fish? More please!? Oh yeah, I was a hard core garbage eater when I got my hands on it. And in my defense, these things were not going to make me fat because they were “fat free”. Right? Riiight…We know how far that got us. I’m sure my system is still detoxing from the high fructose corn syrup and petroleum-based dyes that laced that crap. Thank the lawd I’ve long since come around.

I didn’t really crave chocolate when I was pregnant with Mila, but for some reason with this one, I could practically bathe in it. The baby sex-guessing experts are telling me this means I’m having a girl. Darren however, begs to differ. We’ll see.

Fudge seemed like the most obvious next step in this chocolate journey, so fudge it was. And since I’m a little less energetic these days, the less effort, the better.

I remember the days of making your own fudge meant a big old container of marshmallow fluff, mixed with more sugar, chocolate, and a few other unmentionables. Not in this house.

This no bake and dairy-free fudge is actually quite healthy, in the grand scheme of things. Its non-dairy base is made from coconut butter (also known as coconut cream concentrate or “manna”), one of the darlings in the real food/paleo world. For good reason. It’s got all of the same health benefits as its sibling, coconut oil.

Five Health Benefits of Coconut Butter:

1. Energy-Boosting

Due to the medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) that our bodies burn for energy. Unlike other fats, they put little strain on the digestive system and provide a quick source of energy necessary to promote healing.

2. Kick-Starting Metabolism

Because the MCFAs are funneled directly to the liver and converted into energy, the body gets the aforementioned boost of energy, this results in an increased metabolic rate. This means you burn calories and heal faster. Not too shabby.

3. Strengthening Immunity

Coconut is high in lauric acid, which, like breast milk (an uh-mazing source of lauric acid), boosts immunity and destroys harmful bacteria and viruses.

4. Candida-Killing

Candida is basically an overgrowth of yeast, caused by antibiotics, birth control pills, and way too much processed food (particularly sugar). Symptoms of candida include zapped energy, brain fog, and sugar cravings.  Many times people don’t even realize they’ve got an issue with candida, but rather these symptoms are “just part of life”. Not so much. Coconut, high in caprylic acid, which has antifungal properties, has been linked to dramatically improving these symptoms. So does a good (real food) lifestyle reboot. But I digress…

5. Beautifying

It’s a great moisturizer, both inside and out of the body. It helps to promote skin elasticity and can be attributed to glowing skin. I use it regularly as an all over body moisturizer (yes, even on my face with no breakouts – boo-yah!).

What Else Can I Do with Coconut Butter?

A lot. That’s what. Schmear it on toast, pancakes (instead of syrup), muffins, add it to your smoothies, coffee, or tea, spread it on fresh apples or pears, melt and drizzle it over sweet potatoes or roasted butternut squash, stir into your oatmeal, or mix it with raw cacao powder and a drizzle of raw honey and eat it straight. How’s that for a starting point?

Where to Buy Coconut Butter

Your mouth is watering by now, no? Fortunately, there are lots of people who are loco for all things coco{nut} – present company included – so finding coconut butter is easy.  Any decent health food store should have it, as well as online. Buy coconut butter, coconut spread, or coconut manna (same thing) here.

No-Bake Chocolate Coco-nutty Fudge {Dairy-Free | Grain-Free | Paleo}

Yield: 24 squares | Prep Time: 10 min | Setting Time: 60 minutes

Ingredients

Use organic ingredients when possible

• 2 ¼ cup coconut butter (buy here)
  
• ¾ cup raw cacao powder (buy here)
• 1 ½ tbsp. vanilla extract (buy here)
• 1/3 cup raw honey (buy here)
• Pinch Celtic sea salt (buy here)
• ¾ cup chopped walnuts (or any nut of your choosing – almonds, pecans, macadamia, Brazil, etc.)
• 1 ½ tbsp. shredded coconut (buy here)
  

Prep

1.  Grease a small glass or stainless steel pan (about 8-inch square) with virgin coconut oil. Set aside.

2. Heat a medium saucepan over low heat. Add cup coconut cream concentrate, coconut butter, or manna, and allow to melt. Add cacao powder, vanilla, and salt. Slowly add honey until combined and then add chopped nuts.

3. Pour mixture into greased pan and sprinkle shredded coconut over the top. Pop in the freezer for about 1 hour to cool and set. Cut into squares and store covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks (if it makes it that long) or in freezer for up to 6 months.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 square (recipe makes 24)

• Calories: 179
• Total Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Sodium: 30 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 11 g
• Dietary Fiber: 3 g
• Sugars: 6 g
• Protein: 3 g

Here’s another real food fudge recipe that looks yummy!  

If you’re a mama, what pregnancy cravings did you have? Please leave a comment below. I’d LOVE to hear!