Simple Cacao Snacks For Summer
Summer is here and it’s time to enjoy the great outdoors. Whether you’ll be sunbathing on the beach, have tickets to some fabulous festivals or will simply be spending time relaxing in nature, we wanted to inspire you with some deliciously easy cacao snacks which are perfect for summer.
With all the fun and games this season brings, it’s easy to let self-care slip and snack on convenience foods which can leave us feeling slow and sluggish rather than light, bright and bursting with energy.
As a natural and versatile fast food, cacao:
· is packed full of nutrients such as iron, zinc, magnesium, copper and potassium which support our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
· is a natural energy booster, offering a gentle pick me up without the caffeine crash – helping you make the most of those long summer days.
· enhances sun protection, since regular consumption of a chocolate rich in flavanols can increase the skin’s resistance to harmful UV rays[1].
· supports weight loss, as eating dark chocolate releases hormones that promote feelings of fullness and satisfaction[2], helping you cultivate confidence and self-love.
· boosts your mood, since it contains scientifically proven bliss chemicals such as serotonin and anandamide which will leave you feeling happy and chilled all summer long.
Ritual Cacao is also 100% organic, sugar-free and with zero additives or preservatives.
We hope you enjoy these beautiful cacao snack recipes and we’d love to see your summer pics! Share them with us on Instagram @Ritual_Cacao
Best for the beach:
Cacao nib cookies
Ingredients (makes 20 cookies):
· 200g butter or dairy-free spread
· 250g coconut sugar
· 1 tsp vanilla extract
· 250g plain flour
· ½ tsp baking powder
· ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
· 100g Ritual Cacao nibs
· 1 tbsp milk or non-dairy mylk
Put the butter/dairy-free spread, coconut sugar and vanilla extract into a large bowl. Sift the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda into the bowl and beat until smooth. Add the cacao nibs and milk/ mylk and mix. Use a tablespoon to drop neat mounds of dough onto a lined baking tray, allowing plenty of space between each cookie as they will spread during cooking. Bake for about 10 minutes in a pre-heated oven at 180C/ gas mark 4, or until golden brown.
Best for festivals:
Cacao, date & nut bars
Ingredients: (makes 6 bars)
· 100g almonds
· 100g cashews
· 20 soft pitted dates
· 1 tsp vanilla extract
· 30g grated Ritual Cacao
Combine the ingredients in a food processor until smooth. If it looks too dry, you can add a teaspoon of coconut oil. Place the mixture between 2 sheets of baking paper and flatten into a rectangle with a rolling pin – make sure it’s not too thin! Put in the fridge to set for an hour then cut into bars.
Best for picnics in nature:
Cacao truffles
Ingredients (makes 16 truffles):
· 20 soft pitted dates
· 30g grated Ritual Cacao
· 2 tablespoons coconut oil
· 2 tablespoons desiccated coconut
· honey or maple syrup to taste
Using your hands, mix all the ingredients together in a bowl until smooth. Yes, it feels gooey and amazing. Roll into small truffle balls in the palm of your hands, before rolling in grated cacao or desiccated coconut to finish. Place in the fridge for an hour to solidify.