Having given up sugar (well, almost), there are those times when I need to satisfy a craving for something powerfully tasty and sweet. Usually it’s post-dinner that I get that feeling that a little something sweet would be satisfying. And my favorite sweets are those that contain chocolate.

So once every couple of weeks when that craving hits, I add these ingredients (all organic if available):

• raw cacao
• coconut oil
• maple syrup

into a small bowl, stirring to mix.

I might add other ingredients based on what I have on hand:

• almond butter
• coconut butter/coconut manna (same thing, I believe)
• unsweetened coconut flakes
• chopped nuts and seeds*
• cinnamon

I don’t measure but add roughly the same amounts of everything, so one heaping tablespoon is a good measure for one person, except I would only add about 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon.

*I soak and then dehydrate nuts and seeds to remove phytic acid so my body can absorb the considerable minerals in these ingredients, including magnesium, iron, chromium, manganese, calcium, potassium, and zinc.

Also – just learned this – cacao is a source of anandamide, aka the bliss chemical – look it up. No wonder we love chocolate so much.

Although it probably makes sense to make a larger quantity, using a half or even a whole cup instead of a heaping tablespoon, it probably would not last long around here, and then I’d deeply regret my gluttony.

And if I could wait, I could also to spread it flat or roll it into balls (coated with cinnamon or coconut flakes) and freeze, but when I need my chocolate fix, I just can’t wait that long. So far, anyway.

So here you have it, my quick-fix chocolate-craving healthy sweet treat. Do you make anything like this? Please share in the comments.