Benefits of Chocolate

Good news, chocolate-lovers.

As I tell my clients in The Clear Skin Solution, real chocolate can be a healthy and nutrient-dense treat that won’t cause breakouts. The chocolate-acne connection is due to the refined sugar, oil and dairy found inside store-bought candy bars. 

The heavily processed and overly sweetened options are not the ones you want to be consuming for health benefits. Opt for dark chocolate to reap the numerous (and delicious) rewards.

This chocolate bark recipe has you covered for a delicious and healthy treat that loves up the skin, too.

• High in antioxidants which fight free radicals that promote disease and aging.
• Potent flavonols protect skin from sun damage.
• May help reduce skin roughness and increase hydration.

You can kick up the health benefits a notch by choosing organic and fair-trade chocolate.

Benefits of Cacao Butter

Cacao butter is a true superfood. It’s the cold-pressed and raw oil of the cacao bean (where cacao powder comes from). The cacao butter has been minimally processed so it retains a number of beneficial properties. It gives the chocolate bark a nice swirl of white “chocolate”.

• Contains serotonin and dopamine, which also help boost energy and balance mood.
• Packed with antioxidants and polyphenols that reduce inflammation.
• Improves skin elasticity and boosts collagen production.

Making the Chocolate Bark Your Own

You can use the base of this chocolate bark recipe with any toppings of your choosing, including:

• Freeze-dried raspberries
• Shredded coconut
• Hemp hearts
• Medjool dates
• Dried apricots
• Pecan
• Walnuts
• + Try swapping peppermint or almond extract in place of vanilla.

If you’re looking for some additional Valentine’s Day recipes, try my Sexy Red Velvet Smoothie, Red Velvet Bliss Balls, Red Velvet Latte and Chocolate Avocado Truffles.

Sweet ‘n’ Salty Chocolate Bark

Super simple chocolate bark full of skin-loving antioxidants. Make it your own by swapping out the toppings.

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Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Author: Katie Stewart

Ingredients

• 255 g bag dark chocolate chips
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup chopped cacao butter
• 1/3 cup sliced almonds
• 1/3 cup raw pistachios
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• Himalayan salt

Instructions

• Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Set aside.
• Create a double boiler with a small heat-safe bowl (like stainless steel) and a small pot. Fill bottom 1” of the pot with water and place bowl on top of the pot. Ensure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water.
• Place over high heat and add the chocolate chips to the bowl. Stir constantly until fully melted.
• Pour chocolate mixture onto the lined baking sheet and use a spatula to spread evenly.
• Repeat the process with the cacao butter and drizzle on top of the chocolate. *The cacao butter will turn clear while hot but will turn white when cooled.
• Use a toothpick or tip of a knife to gently swirl the chocolate/cacao butter mixture.
• Sprinkle with toppings and a few pinches of sea salt.
• Place in the freezer to cool for 30 minutes.
• Remove from the freezer and break apart into desired bark size.

Notes

For brands, I used: HU Kitchen Dark Chocolate Baking Chips, Simply Organics Vanilla, Organic Traditions Cacao Butter, Yupik Organic Sliced Almonds, ELAN Organic Raw Pistachios, and Patience Fruit & Co. Dried Cranberries (Apple Juice Sweetened).