Hot Cocoa Mix (Dairy-free, Paleo, Vegan, AIP Adaptation)

We’re getting ready to go on a winter vacation with my parents and siblings right before Christmas. While I don’t ski, I’m looking forward to doing lots of other winter-y activities, especially since winter isn’t really winter in Texas. With winter activities, like skiing and ice skating and tubing etc, comes a craving for hot cocoa (or hot carob, if you’re on the autoimmune protocol and haven’t yet reintroduced chocolate).

I’ve found plenty of recipes for paleo hot cocoa, and I myself even developed both a Paleo Fudge Sauce and AIP Carob Sauce last summer that would be excellent stirred into hot coconut milk. However, the downfalls to these recipes is that they either 1) require lots more preparation time and/or 2) they require liquid ingredients that are a challenge to transport, especially when one is traveling on an airplane with liquid restrictions.

Recently I saw a post on social media about powdered coconut milk that was free from non-paleo/non AIP ingredients. I went on Amazon and ordered it immediately. Having powdered coconut milk meant that I could make a dry hot cocoa mix that should not only travel easily but also could then be mixed into hot cocoa with only the addition of hot water! Hurray!

I’ve reintroduced chocolate and cacao successfully, but I do still remember those days when I first began AIP and again when I did my AIP reset this summer when chocolate products were off the table. While roasted carob doesn’t taste *quite* the same as chocolate, I do think it’s better than nothing at all :) Luckily, it substitutes just great in this recipe so you can make it with either cacao or carob, depending on where you are on your health journey.

I developed this mix specifically to be mixed with water, but if you really want to make it even more luxurious, use it with hot coconut milk. Another way to make it even more special would be to add an AIP marshmallow--I know both The Urban Poser and Eat Heal Thrive have marshmallow recipes. I’ll probably skip the marshmallows with the hot cocoa because that’s a bit too much sugar for me, even if the sugar is technically compliant. I’m just happy to sip my hot cocoa on it’s own :)

For ease of transport, I’ll probably store the hot cocoa mix in plastic ziplock bags, but transferring the mix in a pretty jar and adding a little ribbon would make a really great, easy Christmas gift for someone who is Paleo, vegan, or simply avoiding dairy.

Hot Cocoa Mix (Dairy-free, Paleo, Vegan, AIP Adaptation)
Yields 8 servings 

40 g (1/2 c) Cacao Powder
48 g (6 Tbl) Powdered Coconut Milk
85 g (1/3 c) Maple Sugar (or other granulated paleo sweetener, like sucanat, coconut sugar, evaporated cane juice etc.)
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
1/4 tsp Vanilla Bean Powder

1. Sift the cacao powder & coconut milk powder into a medium size bowl. (Yes, this is an occasion where sifting is necessary.)
2. Add the maple sugar, sea salt, and vanilla bean powder. Whisk to combine evenly. 
3. Transfer to an airtight container, such as a ziplock bag or small jars, for storage. 

AIP Adaptation

• Substitute 48 g (1/2 cup) Roasted Carob Powder for the Cacao Powder
• Increase the Vanilla Bean Powder to 1/2 tsp 

Hot Cocoa Assembly
Yields 1 serving

8 oz very hot water
20 g (scant 3 Tbl) Paleo (or AIP Adaptation) Hot Cocoa Mix

1. Heat the water in the microwave or on the stove until very hot. 
2. Mix in the hot cocoa mix & stir until very well combined. If the cocoa sits, it may begin to separate again, but simply stir it again to re-combine. 

Notes:

• For an even more luxurious beverage, use additive free coconut milk in lieu of water. 
• Mix with coffee (if successfully reintroduced) for a mocha. 
• Add in a dash of peppermint extract for a peppermint hot cocoa. 
• Add some cinnamon for a spiced hot cocoa. 

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Paleo Fudge Sauce & AIP Carob Sauce

This year, as a Fathers Day gift to my dad, I “paleo-ified” one of his favorite treats. Next weekend, during a visit to ND, I’ll be making him that treat AND giving him the recipe (watch for that full recipe in a future post).  Most people can follow the 80/20 rule for paleo, meaning paleo is followed 80% of the time & during the remaining 20%, certain indulgences/choices can be made to eat non-paleo foods.  While a person could choose to indulge in a non-paleo, store-bought chocolate sauce, I developed this sauce as a slightly better-for-you option.

Still keep in mind, this paleo fudge sauce is still very much a treat.... Just because the title includes the name “paleo,” doesn’t make it a health food. However, it’s ingredients are a bit more clean than some of the store bought versions.  So far, we’ve eaten the sauce straight from the jar with a spoon (oops), added it to coffee and coconut cream to make a homemade mocha, and drizzled warmed sauce over coconut ice cream.

Though I realized as I’ve been posting some pictures on Instagram of my test batches, perhaps developing an AIP-compliant sauce for those who haven’t yet reintroduced chocolate would also be a good idea. When following AIP, there is no 80/20 rule--following AIP 100% & reintroducing foods one-by-one, very slowly is the only way to succeed. Part of the reason I create AIP treats is specifically so that we don’t have to feel left out during times of celebration when others may be consuming foods we cannot.  Carob doesn’t taste exactly like chocolate, but if you’re someone who cannot eat chocolate, it makes a pretty tasty treat option stirred into coconut milk or drizzled over coconut milk ice cream.

Paleo Fudge Sauce: Paleo, AIP Reintro, Vegan

28 g / 1 oz / (a little less than 6 Tbl) Cacao Powder
160 g / 5.65 oz / heaping 1/2 c Grade B Maple Syrup
85 g / 3 oz / 1/4 c + 2 Tbl Coconut Cream
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
30 g / 2 Tbl Enjoy Lifechocolate chips
1 t Vanilla Extract
14 g / 1 Tbl Coconut Oil

1. Combine the cacao, maple, coconut cream, and sea salt in a small saucepan. 
2. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce the heat to medium low & simmer for 3 minutes. Whisk constantly throughout. 
3. Remove from the heat and whisk in the coconut oil & vanilla extract.  
4. Pour into a jar, cool at room temperature & store in the refrigerator. The sauce will become solid in the refrigerator, so reheat as necessary for serving. 

Notes:

• I have created this recipe using the gram weight figures & later converted it to volume for your convenience. However, I have not tested the volumetric measurements, so keep that in mind. I highly recommend getting a Digital Kitchen Scale & weighing ingredients whenever possible. 
• Honey may be substituted for the maple syrup, but such a substitution will make the recipe no longer vegan. 
• I have not tested any other brands of chocolate chips other than Enjoy Life--other brands may be more or less sweet. 

AIP Carob Syrup

28 g / 4 Tbl Carob Powder
3 oz / 1/4 c Raw Honey
2 Tbl Filtered Water
1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
14 g / 1 Tbl Coconut Oil
1 Tbl Coconut Cream

1. Combine the carob, honey, water, cinnamon, vanilla & sea salt in a small saucepan. 
2. Heat over medium high heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture boils. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer 3 minutes, continuing to stir constantly.
3. Remove from the heat and whisk in the coconut oil & coconut cream. 
4. Pour into a small jar, cool at room temperature & store in the refrigerator.

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Carob Avocado Mousse (AIP)

When thinking about avocados, most peoples’ minds go immediately to guacamole or salads. But lately I’ve been reconsidering the uses for avocados, specifically when it comes to desserts. 

 The avocado’s flavor is somewhat ambivalent--it can be used in savory applications, as well as in sweet. It plays off of the flavors of items used with it. Mash avocado with some salt, lemon/lime juice & garlic powder, creating a simple guacamole (which also happens to be one of my staple items these days) Or, blend the avocado with honey, coconut milk & carob/cocoa powder, creating a luscious, “healthier” dessert. Both items (or really any avocado item) can be a little on the rich side, so portions might be smaller than you’d normally think. But due to the higher fat content, you’ll feel more satisfied even with eating less.

Using carob is not something I’ve explored until recently. I’m still following my doctor suggested detox diet, which is basically a more extreme version of the Autoimmune Protocol (commonly referred to as AIP). Both my doctor-suggested-diet and AIP put chocolate on the "avoid" list, hence, no cocoa powder. Enter carob powder, a great alternative to chocolate & cocoa powder. It doesn’t taste *exactly* the same as chocolate--my husband likes to say it has more of a roasted peanut taste--but when you can’t have the original, you settle for the next best substitution.

 The slightly nutty carob paired with the creamy avocado, sweetened with a touch of honey (which I recently had the ok from my doctor to add small amounts into my diet! yay!), and lightened with a little coconut milk to make it a bit more pudding/mousse-like.  A perfect little treat to satisfy my sweet tooth, while still staying within my dietary guidelines & ensuring I won’t regret eating it later.

Carob Avocado Mousse

makes approximately 4 servings 

2 Organic Avocados, ripe but not brown (mine weighed 10.5 oz / 207 g, without pits & skin)

2 Tbl (42 g) Organic Honey (local preferred) 

5 Tbl (30 g) Carob Powder (could sub cocoa powder, if preferred) 

3/4 c (186 g) Organic Coconut Milk Beverage 

1. Place all ingredients into a high speed blender or food processor.
2. Blend on high speed until everything is combined, scraping the sides as necessary. 
3. Portion into cups & refrigerate a couple hours before serving. 

Notes: 

• If you're not following an Autoimmune Protocol, feel free to substitute cocoa powder instead of the carob. The carob will give the mousse a slightly more toasted flavor. 
• The mousse can be frozen for a delicious frozen treat 

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