Peanut Butter Cacao Cups Recipe

These individual cups are a real treat, but the sweetness comes from honey or maple syrup instead of sugar, so they are an excellent alternative to most shop-bought chocolates or sweet treats.

Makes:

Ingredients

100g coconut oil, melted
40g cacao powder
½ tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp raw honey or pure maple syrup
Pinch of sea salt, plus extra for topping
Raw peanut butter or almond butter (stir well and chill in the refrigerator ahead of time)

Method

1. Mix the coconut oil, cacao powder, vanilla, honey or maple syrup and sea salt together in a bowl.

2. Pour a small amount of this chocolate mixture, about 2 teaspoons, into mini paper baking cases.

3. Place these on a small tray and transfer to the freezer for 5 minutes to make the chocolate firm.

4. Remove the tray from the freezer and spoon a small dollop of peanut butter in the centre of each cup. Add more of the chocolate mixture to each cup until filled to the top.

5. Return to the freezer for another 5–10 minutes until the chocolate has set solid.

6. Sprinkle over a few sea salt flakes. Store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

Recipe courtesy of The Cacao Cookbook: Discover the health benefits and uses of cacao, with 50 delicious recipes published by Aster Books, £10. Photography by Issy Croker www.octopusbooks.co.uk

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