Dark Chocolate Recipe

Instead of buying Dark Chocolate, let me tell you how you can make it from scratch at home!

Using simple ingredients, you can make dark chocolate bars that you can use for recipes or enjoy on your own. You might be surprised at how easy it is to prepare your version of dark chocolate.

Once you know how to make dark chocolate, you can use it to make desserts, drinks, snacks, smoothies, baked goods, and more. It’s easier than it looks and you will surely love the results!

When I tried this recipe, I never had to buy dark chocolates from grocery stores again. It’s one of my favorite healthy recipes because it has the perfect creamy, chocolatey, and smooth goodness!

How to Make Dark Chocolate

It only takes three simple ingredients to make dark chocolate. In a few steps, you can already make it from scratch. Using an oven and a miller, you can easily get the best Dark Chocolate.

Learn all about making dark chocolate, right here!

Ingredients

Can you believe that it only takes three ingredients to make dark chocolate?

Cocoa nibs

You can’t make dark chocolate without cocoa nibs, can you?

Cocoa nibs have an earthy and bitter taste that makes them best for bittersweet foods. When raw, the cocoa nibs have a crunchy texture that you can easily mill once you roast or toast them.

Before you can use them as ingredients, you will need to pick, ferment, dry, roast, and cull the cocoa nibs. I usually buy my cocoa nibs in grocery stores so that they’re ready to use for recipes.

You can add cocoa to yogurt, butter, smoothies, baked goods, desserts, snacks, drinks, bread, cakes, and other healthy recipes. No matter how bitter they are, you can always put them to good use. How do you usually use cocoa nibs?

Coconut oil

The dark chocolate recipe will not be complete without coconut oil.

Give dark chocolate a rich flavor and texture with coconut oil. It has a nutty and tropical flavor that will make any dish tastier and smoother. The oil also makes the chocolate smooth even after it hardens.

It also helps with forming the chocolate and giving it a thicker and creamy quality. With coconut oil, you will get the right shape, texture, and form. Be sure not to skip the oil for the perfect quality.

There are many ways to use coconut oil. For instance, you can use it for frying, baking, and making drinks. I love using this oil for Coconut Fried Rice, Coconut Cake, and Nigerian Coconut Buns!

Confectioner’s sugar

You may recognize this as powdered sugar. It is usually used in baked goods, particularly in icing and fudge recipes. This adds a quality to the chocolate that almost melts in your mouth! 

The confectioner’s sugar is sweet, so it tones down the bitter taste of the cocoa nibs for the best chocolate flavor ever. 

Did you ever expect that it only takes these three foods to make dark chocolate at home?

Directions

Come and make dark chocolate with me!

1. Spread cocoa nibs on a lined baking tray.
2. Bake them at 150°C for three minutes in a preheated oven.
3. Then, leave it to cool.
4. Transfer the baked cocoa nibs into a miller. 
5. Grind the roasted cocoa nibs on high speed. 
6. Mill the roasted cocoa nibs with the sugar and coconut oil on high speed until thick.
7. Pour the contents into the chocolate mold.
8. Refrigerate for four hours or until solid.
9. Wrap it in parchment paper, store it in a resealable bag, and refrigerate. 

Doesn’t it taste heavenly and delicious? This dark chocolate recipe is also extremely healthy because it is natural, organic, and safe to eat! 

Tips

Cocoa Nibs

Buying cocoa nibs

• Cocoa nibs are readily available in grocery stores.
• You will usually buy them in packages or packets.
• If there are samples at the grocery store, then go for ones with a nutty and earthy flavor. 

Storing cocoa nibs

• Vacuum seal the cocoa nibs in containers or resealable bags.
• Store them in a dark and cool area of your kitchen.
• Check the cocoa nibs for signs of mold or changes in fragrance. 

Preparing cocoa nibs

• This recipe suggests roasting the cocoa nib in the oven.
• However, you can also do it over a stove.
• Spread the nibs over a skillet and let it roast over medium heat for up to ten minutes with mixing to prevent burning.

Coconut Oil

You can buy coconut oil at the grocery store, but here’s how you can make it at home:

1. Open the coconut and extract the coconut meat.
2. Use a blender to puree coconut meat with water until thick.
3. Filter the contents using a sieve.
4. Heat the mixture in a pot over low heat until the oil floats to the top.
5. Let it cool to harden the coconut oil for at least two hours.
6. Once you can separate the oil, strain it with a sieve and store it!

Confectioner’s Sugar

You can easily make this sugar at home. Just use a tablespoon of cornstarch for every cup of sugar. Process these in a blender or food processor until they become white and velvety.

Store this in a clean jar and let it sit at room temperature for months. 

How to Temper Chocolate Without Molds

Aside from chocolate molds, you can also use ice cube trays! Additionally, shallow containers and cupcake molds can be used to form chocolates. You can slice them with a knife once they are solid. 

Dark Chocolate Variations

This dark chocolate recipe for vegan and gluten-free foodies is the one for you. You can guarantee that it’s made from scratch!

Add vanilla extra, agave, and cocoa butter for a unique and richer flavor. Put in a pinch of sea salt to tone down the sweet or bitter flavor. For more flavor, color, and texture, you can mix in some nuts, raisins, or berries. 

No-Miller Dark Chocolate

For the cocoa nibs, you can turn them into powder using a grinder or a food processor. Then, slowly add the sugar and the coconut oil until thick and creamy.

In case you don’t have a miller or any of the mentioned equipment, you can also make cocoa powder with a mortar and pestle.

You can also cook them together in a pan. Heat the coconut oil before adding the cocoa nibs and the sugar. Once content with the flavor and texture, pour them over the chocolate molds and store them in the fridge.

Recommended Tools

• Oven: Roast the cocoa nibs in the oven. 
• Miller: Mill the ingredients to achieve a smooth and creamy texture. 
• Chocolate mold: Pour them on the chocolate mold to harden. 
• Baking tray: Bake the cocoa nibs on a baking tray in the oven.
• Parchment paper or resealable bag: Wrap and store the dark chocolate with these materials.

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How to Serve and Use Dark Chocolate

Once the dark chocolate hardens, you can try it out to experience how delicious and heavenly it is!

Aside from eating it as a snack, you can also use this for breakfast meals and desserts. For instance, you can grate it to add to your oatmeal or granola bars. It can also be used as a garnish for fruit bowls or as an add-in for ice cream. 

It is a popular ingredient for pastries such as cakes, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, bread, pies, tarts, and more! You can melt it into a dip or sauce, spread it over a slice of bread, or turn it into candy bars. 

According to NDTV, the best time to eat dark chocolate is on an empty stomach and 30 minutes before your first meal for the day – this is especially suggested if you are trying to lose weight. 

Of course, you are free to eat dark chocolate whenever you feel sleepy, stressed, and tired. When at how do you usually enjoy dark dark chocolate?

Storage Tips

• At room temperature: In an article in Still Tasty, dark chocolate bars can last up to three weeks at room temperature. Wrap it in parchment paper and eat or use it within a few days. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is dark chocolate good for health?

Dark chocolate is one of the healthiest chocolate in the world. According to Healthline, dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants and vitamins for blood pressure, stress relief, heart health, and more!

How healthy is 100% dark chocolate?

Pure dark chocolate is absolutely healthy for you. It has the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that you would want to get from chocolates. You can also get lots of health benefits from 100% dark chocolate, especially for your heart, mood, and brain function.

How much dark chocolate a day?

While you can eat dark chocolate every day, be sure to limit your intake to one to two ounces. Remember that too much of anything can be bad for your health.

What’s dark chocolate made of?

It depends on the recipe you choose. In this recipe, I suggest using cocoa nibs, coconut oil, and confectioner’s sugar to get the right flavor and texture.