Dark chocolate is one of foods that I allow myself to indulge in, though not in large quantities. If I consumed a bar a day, not only would my weight increase, but I would be seriously broke. Dark chocolate, while good for you, is not cheap.
I discovered how to lessen the cost of this wonderful, healthy treat by making my own. It is extremely simple and low cost to make.
I will tell you how to make a small test batch. Once you make it, you can decide how you want to adjust the ingredients, if at all, and make a larger batch.
To make dark chocolate, you will need coconut oil, unsweetened cocoa powder, sugar and vanilla. After I’m done telling you how to make the chocolate, I will tell you how to make your own vanilla, which is cheaper, healthier and much better than what you can buy in the store.
CHOCOLATE
I’m going to give you the recipe I started out with that makes about 3.5 ounces. The chocolate I buy, Lindt 85% cocoa, is $2.79 for that same amount. Making it myself is definitely cheaper.
Melt 5 tablespoons of coconut oil. Now combine this with 5 tablespoons of cocoa powder. Once those are combined, you can mix in up to 2 tablespoons of sugar, and ¼ teaspoon of vanilla. The first time I made it, I added 1½ tablespoons of sugar. The chocolate turned out good but was too sweet. You can taste the coconut in the chocolate, but it is rather pleasant.
I adjusted the recipe on my next try. Seven tablespoons of cocoa were mixed into 5 tablespoons of coconut oil, along with 1 tablespoon of sugar and ¼ teaspoon of vanilla. The result was much closer to what I am used to eating. Also, when you add more cocoa to the mix, the coconut taste is not as prevalent.
If you want to spice the chocolate up a bit, add grated coconut, nuts, or dried fruit to your mix.
Now that your chocolate is mixed, spread it out in an appropriate container, smooth out and refrigerate until hardened. If you want your chocolate in squares, you need to score it with a knife after it has been in the refrigerator about 15 minutes, before it sets completely.
To conquer the temptation to over-indulge in this exquisite chocolate, limit yourself to 1 ounce or less of it each evening. Savor the flavor of the chocolate by not chewing it up, but allowing it to melt in your mouth.
VANILLA
Why would you want to make vanilla when it is so easily obtained from a grocery store? Manufactured artificial vanilla, and even some of the high-priced vanilla extracts, may contain artificial colors and sweeteners. When you make the vanilla yourself, all it will contain is vanilla beans and the alcohol you chose to soak the beans in.
To make homemade vanilla you will, of course, need vanilla beans. There are many stores, including Amazon, on the internet that you can buy good vanilla beans from. You will also need either vodka, brandy or rum. Each contributes its own unique flavor to the vanilla.
When choosing vanilla beans, you will be faced with the choice of beans that are graded either A or B. Which ones to use? Grade A beans are prettier, but grade B beans will do just as well. Vanilla beans are grown in many different countries - Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico and many more. It does not matter which country the beans you purchase were grown in, just be aware that each country's beans has its own unique flavor. The classic vanilla flavor comes from the Madagascar beans.
Pour 2 cups of vodka, brandy or rum and pour into the glass container with a lid that seals tightly. You will need at least 6 vanilla beans. The more beans you add, the stronger the vanilla will be. Cut the beans in half lengthwise, then you may cut them into smaller pieces so they will fit into your container. Drop the beans down into the alcohol; push them down, if necessary, until they are completely covered by the alcohol.
Place the container somewhere out of the light. Some vanilla flavor can be tasted after just a few days. The longer the beans soak in the alcohol, the stronger the flavor will be. I like to allow the beans to continue to soak until I reuse them to make more vanilla.
Homemade vanilla is a great gift to give for birthdays, Christmas, or other special events. Make it extra special by leaving a vanilla bean in each bottle so that it continues gaining flavor.
Below I have included a link if you wish to purchase the same coconut oil and vanilla beans from Amazon that I use.
Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil, 29-Ounce Jars (Pack of 2)
Premium Bourbon-Madagascar Vanilla Beans - 1/2 lb. - Approx. 54 beans
