Thursday, February 5, 2015

Coconut Oil Chocolate Candy Bar

You won't believe how ridiculously easy this is to make...and it's actually healthy too!  I kind of take away from the health factor when I make mine, because I like to add Heath Bar chunks to it, but it is still on the healthy side, as it is made with Virgin Coconut oil, which is loaded with health benefits, antioxidant rich cocoa powder and Agave Nectar as a sweetener.  I like crunch in my chocolate, so I also add almonds. You can make this without any additions, though, and it is still so good.   This Coconut Oil Chocolate Candy Bar keeps best in the fridge, and is a great guilt free treat!

Coconut Oil Chocolate Candy
You have to use a liquid sweetener in this recipe as any granulated type sugar will not dissolve in the melted coconut oil.  The first time I made it I tried using Coconut Palm Sugar, but it just all sank to the bottom and was like sand at the bottom of the candy.  Lesson learned.  I hope you try this Coconut Oil Chocolate Candy Bar out!  Let me know how you like it!

COCONUT OIL CHOCOLATE CANDY BAR
Recipe from:  Goodies Gone Gluten Free
click here for Printable Recipe

2/3 cup cocoa powder
2/3 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup Agave Nectar ( or any liquid sweetener of choice)
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Heath or Skor bar, broken or chopped in pieces
1/4 cup of toasted slivered almonds

Heat coconut oil in a small saucepan over low heat.  Once it melts, add the remaining ingredients.  Stir and pour over a parchment paper lined 9" pie plate or small cookie sheet, depending on how thin you want your chocolate.  I used a 9" pie plate and it was the perfect thickness for me.  Place in refrigerator for 2-4 hours or until set, and break into pieces.  Store in container in the fridge.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Gluten Free Chocolate Dipped Toffee Brownies

I thought this recipe was a good way to kick off February. With Valentine's Day fast approaching and all things chocolate being glorified this month, I wanted to add to the glory! These Gluten Free Chocolate Dipped Toffee Brownies are so decadent. They not only taste amazing, but make a nice presentation when put in a little box tied up with a bow.
Gluten Free Chocolate Dipped Toffee Brownies

This is an easy recipe to make, but if you want to go real easy, you can start with a boxed gluten free brownie mix and just add the broken toffee to it. I make mine using the Toffee Brownie recipe on the blog.

I suggest you don't go spending lots of money on store bought chocolates when you can give a fudgy homemade gluten free brownie filled with crunchy toffee that has been chocolate dipped and topped with more toffee crunch. Now after that description, doesn't an old chocolate bon bon in a cardboard heart sound boring? I think the appropriate answer is "Yes, it does."

 GLUTEN FREE CHOCOLATE DIPPED TOFFEE BROWNIES
 Recipe from: Goodies Gone Gluten Free
click here for Printable Recipe

Brownies: (from Barefeet in the Kitchen):
1/2 cup butter
2 cups semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
1 cup light brown sugar
1 Tbsp vanilla
4 eggs
2/3 cup brown rice flour
1/3 cup tapioca starch
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 cup toffee bits (like Heath or Skor), or chopped toffee bar, reserve 1/4 cup for topping 

Chocolate dip:

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 Tbsp. shortening

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper or line it with foil and grease it very well with butter.  Melt the butter in a large saucepan, over medium heat.  When the butter has melted, add the chocolate chips ans stir with a whisk until they have melted.  Remove from the heat, add the sugars and whisk until smooth.

Add the vanilla and then whisk in the eggs, one at a time.  When the mixture is smooth and shiny, slowly add the dry ingredients to the mixture in the saucepan.  Stir to combine thoroughly.  Add 3/4 cup toffee bits.

Spread the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan and them sprinkle the top with the reserved toffee bits.  Bake for 28-32 minutes just until a inserted toothpick shows moist crumbs.  Let the bars cool completely and then put them in the freezer until they are somewhat frozen (not completely hard, but solid enough to not drop crumbs when cut).

Once hardened, remove brownies from freezer and cut into 1 inch long and 1/2 inch wide bars. Melt chocolate chips with shortening in microwave safe bowl on medium power at 1 minute intervals, stirring in between each time.  Once melted, dip brownies in chocolate, with fork, letting excess chocolate drip back into bowl.  Place brownie on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and sprinkle with chopped toffee.  Once all brownies are dipped, let them set up in the fridge.