Good-for-Your-Gut Healthy Valentine’s Day Treats

Food is one of my love languages (I’m an acts of service and quality time kind of gal, anyone else?) I love making food for my friends, family, clients, and for you!

It’s my way of showing love on a whole other level. Preparing sustenance and enjoyment for someone I care about with wholesome, quality ingredients that will benefit their health and their taste buds makes me happy beyond words. These delectable chocolate treats are just another way to share with you a huge thank you for all your support and love.

I’m talking my famous 5-Ingredient Brownies (our clients are obsessed with these!!), Homemade Chocolate Hemp Milk, and Raw Chocolate Bark. 

I love making these year round – and now you can too! I love that I can satisfy my sweet tooth while keeping nourishing myself with clean, whole ingredients, and keeping my gut healthy. And as always, I keep them all gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, and easy to make. 

Raw Chocolate Bark

Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup virgin coconut oil (unrefined and cold-pressed always!)
• ½ cup cocoa or raw cacao powder
• 4 drops liquid stevia
• 1 tsp non-alcoholic vanilla extract 
• 1 tbs smooth almond butter, optional for thickness
• pinch himalayan salt
• Optional add ins: nuts of your choice, goji berries, pumpkin seeds, shredded coconut, etc.

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium saucepan, melt the coconut oil over low heat. Remove from heat and whisk in the cacao powder, stevia, and almond butter (if using) until smooth. Add a pinch of himalayan salt to taste. Stir in additions of your choice
2. With a spatula, spoon the chocolate mixture onto the prepared parchment-lined pan or sheet and smooth out until it’s about 1/4-1/2 inch thick. Sprinkle on toppings of your choice. Place into freezer on a flat surface for about 15 minutes, until frozen solid.
3. Once frozen, break apart into separate pieces. I like to do this organically with my hands, simply breaking it apart. Store in the freezer until ready to eat. Be sure to keep this chocolate cold, as it tends to melt easily. 

Homemade Chocolate Hemp Milk

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup raw organic hemp seeds
• 3-4 cups water (less water will yield thicker milk!)
• 1 pinch himalayan salt
• 2 drops liquid stevia – or more to taste
• ½ tsp non-alcoholic organic vanilla extract 
• 2 tbs cacao powder

DIRECTIONS

1. Add hemp seeds, water, salt, stevia, vanilla extract and cacao powder to a high speed blender and blend for about 1 minute or until the mixture is well combined.
2. Sample with a spoon to test flavor/sweetness. Adjust flavors to your liking.
3. The best part of hemp milk is it doesn’t NEED to be strained! Once complete, just transfer to a sealed container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. 

HAN 5-Ingredient Brownies

Makes 16

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup almond butter
• 1 cup raw cacao
• 2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• stevia/monk fruit to taste *or you can use 3-4 tbs coconut sugar
• 1 tsp alcohol-free vanilla extract
• Unrefined coconut oil or coconut oil spray for greasing the pan *or just line with parchment paper
• Optional add-ins/toppings: cacao nibs, coconut flakes, walnuts, freeze-dried raspberries, hemp seeds, etc. 

DIRECTIONS

1. Grease a 9-inch square pan with a bit of coconut oil or line with parchment paper Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 
2. Mix together the almond butter, cacao, applesauce, coconut sugar, vanilla extract and any additional add-ins in one medium-sized mixing bowl.
3. Pour mixture into greased pan and bake for 35-40 minutes. You’ll know that they are done when you can stick a knife in the middle and it comes out clean. Allow the brownies to cool completely.
4. Cut them into about 1 inch squares, or to desired size. They should still be soft, fragile and deliciously fudgy.

Wishing you a joyful Valentine’s day, however you choose to spend it!

xx

Hannah

PS! Want over 50 more delicious, gut-healthy recipes? Check out the HAN Cookbook, Recipes For A Healthy Gut now!