No-Bake Cacao Rounds

Looking for a no-bake cacao recipe to make a healthy, chocolate dessert? Look no further! These rich, vegan no-bake cacao rounds can be whipped up in 15 minutes (plus chilling time), with just 6 real food ingredients!

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Is Cacao the same as Chocolate?

This recipe for no-bake cacao rounds uses cacao powder as a main ingredient rather than chocolate.

Cacao is a powerful superfood and is the purest form of chocolate to consume. Chocolate is made from the seeds of the cacao tree. The seeds are removed from the pod first, then dried and roasted. During the roasting process, the seeds become a darker color and acquire their specific chocolate flavor. Afterwards, the roasted cacao seeds are ground and reduced to a chocolate mass that contains 53-58% cocoa butter. After further processing and addition of other ingredients (such as milk and sugar for milk chocolate), the final product is made. The darker the chocolate, the higher the amount of cacao contained.

Is Cacao and Cocoa the Same Thing?

Cacao and cocoa are similar, but cacao is processed at a lower temperature compared to cocoa. Cacao tastes stronger and a bit more bitter and may require more sweetener in baking and smoothies than cocoa.

Is Cacao Powder Healthy?

Cacao powder has many health benefits. For example, it is rich in antioxidant compounds known as flavanols.

Flavanols help lower blood pressure, improve blood flow to the brain and heart, prevent blood clots, and fight cell damage. Because cacao powder does not undergo processing through the Dutch method (the process of alkalizing), it retains its high flavanol content, unlike processed chocolate.

Cacao powder is also rich in magnesium, calcium, zinc, selenium and copper.

Where to Find Cacao Powder?

You can find Cacao Powder at any health food store near you. However, many store-bought cacao products contain a high levels of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal that may cause cancer.

This is why I recommend Volupta Cacao Powder.  It is also organic, fair trade certified and has a natural, slightly bitter chocolate flavor. 

Why You’ll Love This No-Bake Cacao Recipe

• Naturally vegan, keto, gluten-free, grain-free and refined sugar-free.
• Uses 6 real food ingredients and takes just 15 minutes to make.
• Perfect as a mid-day snack or a post-workout treat.
• Versatile for any combination of your favorite nuts, seeds and berries.

Key Ingredients

• Cacao Powder: the main ingredient that gives these cacao rounds their signature dark chocolate flavor.
• Coconut Oil: makes these treats super rich and decadent.
• Honey: a natural sweetener to compliment the cacao-coconut combination.
• Nuts: any nuts of your choosing will work.
• Seeds: add your favorite seeds to please your taste buds.
• Berries (dry or fresh): choose your own or see some recommendations below.

See How to Make No-Bake Cacao Rounds

How Long will These No-Bake Cacao Rounds Last?

I recommend storing any leftovers you plan to consume in the near future in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You may refrigerate these tasty treats for up to 10 days. You may also freeze them for up to 2 months. Remember to let them thaw out before eating.

What Other Nut-Seed-Berry Combinations would Work for This Recipe?

You can make these no-bake cacao rounds pretty much with any variety of your favorite nut-seed-berry combinations. Here are a few I have tried and enjoyed:

• Pecan – Pumpkin Seed – Dried Goji Berry
• Hazelnut – Coconut Flake – Fresh Pomegranate (perfect for Christmas)
• Pistachio – Pumpkin Seed – Dried Goji Berry
• Almond – Sunflower Seed – Dried Cranberry (perfect for Thanksgiving)
• Walnut – Chia Seed – Fresh Blueberry

Feel free to experiment with your favorite nuts, seeds and berries and let me know your winning combination in the comments section of this post.

More Recipes You’ll Love

• Apricot-Date Energy Balls – great as an energy snack
• Almond Butter Pumpkin Bread – great for breakfast or as a mid-day snack

No-Bake Cacao Rounds

Looking for a no-bake cacao recipe to make a healthy, chocolate dessert? Look no further! These rich, vegan cacao rounds can be whipped up in 15 minutes with just 6 real food ingredients!

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Chilling Time:: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 small rounds

Author: Naira Yeghian

Equipment

• Muffin Pan

Ingredients

• 1 cup coconut oil
• 1 cup cacao powder
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1/2 cup of dried berries or fruit of choice
• 1/2 cup of raw nuts of choice
• 1/2 cup of sprouted pumpkin seeds
• coconut flakes for topping (optional)

Instructions

• Warm a pan over low heat and add the coconut oil.
• Wait for the coconut oil to melt, then add the cacao powder and mix.
• Add the honey and mix again.
• Remove the pan from heat, add the nuts and the seeds and mix all ingredients well.
• Next line a large muffin pan with muffin cups and fill each muffin cup 1/2 of the way full with mixture. If needed, use a tablespoon to spread the nut/berry mixture evenly into each cup.
• Finally, chill in the refrigerator for about 2 hours or until the mixture is completely hardened.
• Sprinkle with coconut flakes, if desired, before serving.

Notes

• This recipe yields 12 small or 6 large rounds depending on the size of the muffin pan and muffin cups you choose to use. 
• You may use a baking pan instead of a muffin pan and then cut the hardened block into squares, but I prefer using the muffin pan to eliminate the additional step. 

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keywords: cacao, cacao powder, chocolate cups, chocolate dessert, gluten-free, no-bake, vegan

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