I am so excited about this DIY chocolate recipe. Not only are the chocolates delicious and my family loves them, but I know they are better for our health too. I highly recommend you try it!
DIY Chocolates that taste better than most store-bought versions
I never thought making my own chocolate was so easy. Real chocolate you can make at home with only 3 high quality ingredients and some fun molds. A gluten and dairy free recipe that everyone in your family will fall in love with!
Now this is what I call a healthy treat. Eating chocolate can bring health benefits, and I mean, lots of health benefits! Make sure you choose a good quality coconut oilandraw honey or if you prefer, you can use maple syrup instead. I actually love the texture using maple syrup and additionally, it is also the perfect choice to make chocolates for vegans.
Let’s talk about where to find the ingredients, why this recipe is good for you, and a few other little tips for success. Then, we’ll check out my recipe! (FYI-If you’re in a rush, you can scroll down to the bottom to grab the recipe right away, or use the “jump to recipe” link at the top of this post).
Where to find the ingredients and supplies for homemade chocolate
Just a quick FYI, this homemade chocolate recipe uses affiliate links for product recommendations. If you buy through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Luckily, I was able to find organic cacao powder at Whole Foods but it is also available online. I thought of making my own chocolates and found out a way to make an amazing 3 ingredient chocolate recipe. Yes, only 3 super healthy ingredients. Make your chocolate using fun molds. This time I used the egg chocolate moldand aheart chocolate mold. But you can also simply use a classic chocolate bar mold. Pretty much anything goes!
NATIERRAHimalaniaOrganic Cacao Powder Shaker | Non-GMO & Vegan | 4 Ounce
Cacao Powder is great for baking, smoothies, and hot chocolate; Organic, vegan, Non-GMO, rich in antioxidants, and a source of fiber and iron
Freshware CB-607BR Silicone Break-Apart Chocolate, Protein and Energy Bar Mold
Flexible and non-stick: chocolate and candy pops out easily; Stain and odor resistant; Premium 100% food-grade silicone
Health benefits of real chocolate
Who said chocolate can’t be good for you? Those people are crazy! Yes, of course, if you eat it by the pound, it can definitely cause problems. However, in moderation, it’s actually quite beneficial. Let’s check out just a handful of the benefits, all backed by science.
- A 2001 Penn State study found that real cocoa and dark chocolate help lower your bad cholesterol.
- In 2003, the American Chemical Society declared that real hot cocoa (not the fake powdered stuff) is richer in antioxidants than red wine and tea.
- In 2011, the Chemistry Central Journaldeclared chocolate a “superfruit” because of all its antioxidants. Yep, chocolate technically comes from fruit!
- A 2015 study by the University Hospital Düsseldorf found that cocoa flavanols lower blood pressure even in healthy people.
- Just last year, an American Heart Association study found that cocoa can actually help relieve pain in those with peripheral artery disease.
The list goes on and on. Additional studies found that it could be a healthy treat for diabetics, help beat the midday slump, and even fight tooth disease! I know, that last one surprised me, too.
If you want to know more about the health benefits of eating cacao, please take a look at my post: How to tell if you are eating chocolate that is good for you. You will discover that unfortunately, most chocolates in the market are not real chocolate.
For more ideas on how to incorporate cacao and get all the wonderful benefits, please see myCacao Almond Meal Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting and these 4 Ingredient Dark Chocolate Hearts recipes. Chocolate recipes that are super easy to make and delicious homemade treats for you and your family, because they deserve to eat real food.
Coconut oil and maple are also beneficial!
As for the other ingredients, I think we’ve all heard by now just how good real coconut oil is for you, right? If not, some benefits include:
- Fighting gum disease
- Beating high blood pressure
- Improving gut health
- Treating acne
- …and more!
The other ingredient in this easy chocolate recipe, maple contains a whopping 54 beneficial compounds. Just make sure you’re gettingreal maple syrup. NOW Foods is my favorite. Check it out below, along with some alternatives. You can also use real honey. I’ve included a few that I like below as well. The first one is my top pick.
Certified Organic/Kosher; Packaging may slightly vary from the above image.; Deep Rich Flavor
BEST VALUE – Natural Canadian maple syrup, 32 oz. BPA-free jug;
Organic, 100% traceable from forest to plate.; Gluten free, vegan, kosher. NO additives, NO preservatives, NO artificial flavours.
Winter Park Honey Mountain Gold (Pure Natural Raw Colorado Wildflower Honey) 16oz
Pure, natural, raw honey straight from the honeycomb.; Honey made from the wildflowers of the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
Go ahead and try this super-easy way to make your own chocolates
This Mind-Blowing 3 Ingredient DIY Chocolate recipe is so easy to make. Enjoy them plain or add some fun toppings and mix-ins if you want to vary each time you make this delicious treat. I’ll share some of my favorite ideas below. You can also see my 4 Ingredient Dark Chocolate Raspberry Hearts recipe if you are interested in my other methods for how I make chocolate.
Tip: Store your chocolates in the freezer and take them out a few minutes before serving because they melt pretty quickly if left outside. With this recipe, I made about 30 mini chocolates.
Homemade chocolate toppings and mix-ins to try
When it comes to toppings and mix-ins, the possibilities are quite literally endless. Some of my favorites include:
- Chopped nuts or seeds-pistachio, walnuts, almonds, cashews, and macadamia are all amazing.
- Fresh berries-raspberry is my favorite!
- Dried fruits-just make sure they’re 100% pure fruit and not mixed with sugar, etc. Organic is best.
- Real shredded coconut.
- Natural organic peanut butter.
- Sea salt (Pink Himalayan salt is also good, and it’s beautiful too).
- Cinnamon, nutmeg, and other “dessert” spices. Or get really creative and use basil, saffron, or even curry!
- Essential oil extracts- choose food-grade oils like lemon, peppermint, orange, or even thyme for unique chocolates.
There really are so many easy ways to make these chocolate treats! You could even make chocolate bars with this recipe if you wanted to.
Most of these work as both toppings or mix-ins, with the exception of the essential oils, obviously.One more word about those- make sure you’re actually getting the real thing. If the label says “flavor” or “flavoring,” it’s fake. Also, a very, very, very little goes a long way! Seriously, 2-3 drops is plenty. Here are a few that I like:
Fun ways to package your homemade chocolates for gift-giving
These DIY chocolates make an amazing gift for Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, or any other holiday. While we just store them in a box or bag at home, if you’re gifting them, presentation matters a bit more, right? Here are a few cute ideas to try.
These cute mini Kraft boxes with heart cut-out
These little Kraft boxes are just right for a small gift. You get 20 pieces, so they’re perfect if you’re putting together gifts in bulk to give out to friends and family.
Silver Heart-Shaped Tins
If you’d rather package them up in something that can be reused, these tins will do the trick. They’re fairly small, but you get 14 of them. So again, they’re great for those holidays where you’re making a bunch of small gifts for everyone.
Simple yet elegant truffle boxes
I love these truffle boxes because they’re not really holiday-specific, so you can use them for any occasion. The window lets your recipient see what’s inside, making your chocolate the star of the show.
Of course, you can also make your own favor boxes. I found this “Favor Box Template” Pinterest board that has TONS of neat ideas. Pretty much any food-safe container goes. If you want to include your kids, maybe buy some of those plain truffle boxes or Kraft boxes and let them decorate them.
Okay, I think we’ve about covered everything. Now, let’s check out the recipe, shall we? It’s SO easy, you’ll want to make these all the time. Oh, last tip- while you can just scoop the mixture into your molds, you can also use an icing bag for more control.
Check Out My DIY Chocolate Video Tutorial
3 Ingredient DIY Chocolate
- Author: Ursula Herrera
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Total Time: 5 mins
- Yield: 30 chocolates 1x
Description
Delicious real chocolate recipe using cacao and only three healthy ingredients. Vegan, gluten free, dairy free real chocolate recipe.
Scale
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cacao powder
- 1/2 cup virgin coconut oil (melted)
- 5–6 tablespoons maple syrup or honey (use 6 if you like them extra sweet)
Instructions
- In a medium size bowl, mix all ingredients. You want to incorporate all ingredients really well. You can whisk by hand or using a hand blender.
- Put the mixture into fun molds (I used the egg chocolate mold and a heart chocolate mold). Place in the freezer for about 2-3 hours.
- Enjoy!
Notes
You can get creative with added ingredients like nuts, dried fruits, and seeds.
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Blend
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: diy, chocolate, healthy treat, vegan, gluten free, diy chocolate, vegan chocolate
Last update on 2022-11-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API