Decadent Plant-Based Chocolate Dip
Ever find yourself in need of a treat, whether you want to have a little something for guests to bring to an event? You don’t have time to make the most amazing chocolate cream pie, but just want to have something to pull out at the end of the meal? Or you want to take a little treat to someone? This simple yet decadent plant-based chocolate dip has been my go-to again and again. It comes together in a cinch, it’s a super simple crowd pleaser, and everyone loves it.
As one reader pointed out, I use a lot of cashews! I’ve been reading How Not to Diet by Dr. Michael Greger, and am looking forward to sharing the highlights with you next week. It’s been fascinating to learn that nuts are associated with longevity and that unsaturated fat from plants is more quickly burned than other types of fat. People who replaced animal fats with nuts and avocados, but still had the same 38% of their diet from fat, actually lost weight!
So while you wouldn’t want to eat nuts all day every day, they are the perfect way to create a treat that is far healthier than most of the alternatives. I do know that some of you have allergies or need to avoid them for other reasons however, so I have another version of this recipe coming soon! Chocolate hummus is also a delicious and allergy-friendly options!
But this is one I’ve been promising friends I’ll post for quite some time because it is just so tasty!
Primarily date sweetened and just 6 ingredients, it’s a chocolate dip that pairs perfectly with apples (which are easy to dip) but can also be beautiful served with strawberries or just about anything else you like to have chocolate on. Other berries work too, as do your favorite cracker, pretzels, fingers or spoons. I’m not going to tell . . .
It’s absolutely perfect for those times when you need to have a simple treat of some type, whether it’s company for dinner, a little something to take to a friend or just something that hits the spot for your sweet tooth but still leaves you feeling good.
30+ minutes of soaking will give you the best results–it seems to draw the sweetness out of the dates and create a smoother end product, but 5 minutes and a blender are all you really need to make this fabulous treat.
You can use more or less cashews to thicken the dip to taste. I’ve made it with anywhere from 3/4 cup (this was great for strawberries or up to 2 cups)
| Prep Time | 40 minutes |
| Passive Time | 30 minutes |
| Servings |
cups
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- 1 cup cashews can use more or less for thicker or runnier dip
- 1/2 cup dates about 10 deglet noor dates
- 1 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 c cocoa powder
- 1-2 tbsp maple syrup to taste
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1/8 tsp salt
Ingredients
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- Soak cashews and dates in water for about 30 minutes
- While soaking add cocoa powder, 1 TBSP maple syrup, vanilla and salt to high powered blender. After 30 minute soak, add cashews, dates and soak water to blender and process until very smooth. Add additional maple syrup to taste.
If using a high powered blender, can omit soak time, however it seems to yield a sweeter final product.