When you are on a healthy, mostly plant based diet, you learn to get super creative in the kitchen. Some of the most amazing vegan desserts are now commonly being offered at big cafes and restaurants across the country.
This avocado chocolate mousse is one that stops many non-vegans in their tracks, shocked that such a delicious dessert can be made practically out of just avocado and raw cacao. If you’re yet to experience it yourself, now is the perfect time to break out the food processor and get mixing!
There’s not many people I know that don’t like avocado. Their popularity is not only due to the nourishing flavor that hits your taste buds, but their creamy texture is also a standout.
Avocados serve as an important addition to the vegan diet, given their unique fatty acids, often referred to as the healthy fats of the food world.
In one cup of avocado you’ll find 42% of your recommended daily intake of pantothenic acid (or vitamin B5). All B vitamins are essential for vegans, given most are obtained from dairy products.
B5 in particular is great for heart health, management of stress and hormone regulation. Avocados are also a great source of fiber, Vitamin K and Copper!
Cacao is the purest form of chocolate available, which gives it great health boosting benefits. It has to be one of the most talked about superfoods, given its outstanding antioxidant properties.
Antioxidants are vital to combat all the down-sides of our modern day, fast paced lifestyles, including poor food choices, damage caused from environmental toxins, chemical cleaning products, lotions and cosmetics and all the many other aspects that place chemical burdens on your body.
Plant based foods have been found to carry overwhelmingly higher antioxidant levels than animal products! Cacao is an excellent source of iron and contains more calcium than cow’s milk. You might say cacao was created by the Gods exclusively for vegans!
I’ve selected one of my favourite nuts to ensure the mousse is full-bodied and slightly crunchy as a final product. You’ll also see I’ve used lightly toasted hazelnuts to add that extra more-ness factor!
Hazelnuts are known to boost brain health, contain healthy fats, high levels of vitamin E and are also a great source of B vitamins.
Overall, you’ll probably agree that it’s pretty awesome to have a nutritious dessert, as usually you imagine desserts as being not so great for your overall health plans! This recipe does come with a bit of a warning though…you might just become a little bit of an avo-choc mousse junkie!
- 4 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted and cut into chunks
- 2 tbsp raw cacao powder
- ½ cup dry pitted dates, soaked into purified water for 1 hr, drained
- ½ cup lightly toasted hazelnuts
- ½ cup full fat coconut milk
- Pinch sea salt
- Coconut flakes, to garnish
- Add the hazelnuts into the food processor and mix to obtain a fine grind.
- Add the cacao powder, drained dates, and salt, and pulse to incorporate.
- Add the coconut milk and avocado chunks, and pulse to incorporate.
- Transfer into lidded jars, top with coconut flakes and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
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