Sweet and Salty Nut Chocolate Cups (Vegan+GF)

Food allergies, intolerances and dietary restrictions are a common occurrence nowadays so trying to find recipes that meet everyone’s needs is HARD! I know what you’re thinking – this crazy dietitian thinks I’ll be convinced that this vegan AND gluten free dessert it going to be tasty? Well, think again! I’m a fan of baking and desserts as a whole and will only share recipes that are yummy when it comes to sweet treats. These little bites were crazy easy to make and were a hit when I brought them to work! After watching many IG stories from Erin Ireland on how to make easy vegan chocolate, I thought I’d try to make something gluten free and vegan for my coworkers the past week.

NUT BASE

3/4 cup (180 mL) almonds
1/4 cup (60 mL) rolled oats
2 tbsp (30 mL) nut butter (I used sunbutter)
1 tbsp (15 mL) coconut oil, melted
2 tbsp (30 mL) maple syrup
1/2 tsp (2 mL) vanilla extract
1/4 tsp (1 mL) cinnamon, ground
1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt

CHOCOLATE TOP

3 tbsp (45 mL) coconut oil, melted
3 tbsp (45 mL) maple syrup
2 tbsp (30 mL) cocoa powder
1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt

What to do:

In a food processor, add almonds and rolled oats. Pulse until it looks like flour. Transfer to a bowl.
Add nut butter, melted coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon and salt to the almond/oat flour. Mix until it forms a “dough.”
In a cupcake tray, place cupcake liners onto tray. Add a spoonful of nut mixture to each cup and press down with your fingers or a small spoon. Set aside.

For the chocolate top, mix together the coconut oil, maple syrup and salt until a homogeneous mixture. Spoon on top of nut base. Stick in the fridge or freezer until chocolate hardens (approx 10-15 minutes).
NOM!

Makes 12 nut chocolate bites

Tips & Tricks

Consume these cold since the chocolate layer does soften up once at room temperature.
Make sure the oats you use are gluten free (if you’re needing a gluten free treat). Regular oats may be contaminated with gluten during the processing of the oats so remember to check the labels before adding!
I melted the coconut in a small bowl in the microwave. Start with 30 seconds, give it a stir, then heat additionally in 15 second increments until melted.
Like a saltier treat? Add a bit more salt (1/2 tsp total) to the nut base for a super salty-sweet treat!

NOTE!! Coconut oil is a great vegan substitute for butter. But remember, it’s still a saturated fat. Eat these bites as treats!