Blue Chocolate (vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free)

So I'm on a bit of a roll when it comes to making my own chocolate. And it's been great because it restored my motivation when it comes to developing recipes. Chocolate is so versatile so it's been a lot of fun experimenting with different flavour (and colour) combinations to come up with different recipes. And I believe there's a shortage of sugar-free, vegan chocolate recipes out there. So my newfound obsession hopefully fills in that gap.

This time I present to you with Blue Chocolate! I have been experimenting with the Blue Spirulina powder that I received a while back, and I thought why not pair that up with some peppermint oil? The result is this refreshing, minty white chocolate with a blue tint. That said, the peppermint oil is completely optional if you're simply in the mood for white chocolate (that just happens to have a gorgeous blue colour).  I know most people don't even consider it real chocolate, but I absolutely love white chocolate! The idea is that it doesn't contain enough cocoa mass to deserve the chocolate title but frankly I couldn't care less.. it still has that chocolate-y taste from cocoa butter and that wonderful texture that's solid at room temperature and when you bite into it, it just melts in your mouth. 

While I listed Vanilla Powder in the recipes, I'm aware that this might be sort of hard to come by as opposed to Vanilla Extract. The thing with using the extract is that it seems to mess up the emulsion of cocoa butter and the rest of the ingredients. BUT.. you can get a way with just a few drops. Just make sure not to overdo it! And you're better off adding it last, after all the other ingredients have been blended together.

Considering this is a dessert and not a health food necessarily, I think the ingredient list is super clean. You really can't go wrong with:

• Dates: I use dates heavily on the blog as a table sugar substitute. They're way healthier than refined sugar as they're a whole food packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein and carbohydrates. So they're processed differently by the body than regular sugar. They were even found to boost Oxytocin in the body! (Source)
• Cocoa Butter: While most recipes on the blog do not contain oil, for chocolate it's simply a must. Cocoa butter has that wonderful texture that is solid at room temperature and melts in your mouth. It also lends chocolate its signature snap and the delicious chocolate flavour. It's also rich in Vitamin E, which supports vision, reproduction, skin, brain and blood health. (Source)
• Vanilla: Not just a pretty flavour, Vanilla also has multiple health benefits. It's rich in Vanillin, which was found to have antioxidant, anti-cancer, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. It's also said to be an aphrodisiac! (Source)
• Coconut Milk Powder: This is a key ingredient that lends this vegan chocolate its creamy smooth texture without the use of dairy products. Coconut milk is a good source of several vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin C, Folate, Magnesium, Copper, Manganese and Selenium. (Source) If you can't find coconut milk powder, soy milk powder will work in a pinch. Just be aware that it has a slightly stronger taste, and it's thicker so I would reduce the amount to half.
• Cashews: A surprising key ingredient in the making of sugar-free vegan chocolate, cashews serve as an emulsifier. Without cashews, this recipe would turn into a goopy mess. They're also a "good source of copper, magnesium, and manganese — nutrients important for energy production, brain health, immunity, and bone health." (Source)
• Blue Spirulina Powder: Our star ingredient, this powder not only has a gorgeous blue colour but it also packs a nutritional punch. In fact, Spirulina is considered the most nutrient-dense food on the planet! (Source)

This is what I love about coming up with healthy recipes. As you can see, all the ingredients are incredibly nutritious yet this vegan sugar-free Blue Chocolate tastes amazing! But don't take my word for it, try it out for yourself.

I find shooting recipes to be a bit laborious, and it's usually difficult for me to not just go ahead and eat everything. By the end of shooting this pictures I was so tired, I basically polished off all the chocolate that I was shooting. It tastes sooo good I kept going back for more.

I really recommend you try making your own chocolate and experiment with it! I'll keep posting even more flavour variations in the near future, but there's nothing stopping you from coming up with your own delicious chocolate. 

What's your flavour chocolate flavour and which flavour would you like me to work on next? Sound off in the comments section below!