Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free CHOCOLATE! (with photos)

[quirkycooking]

Agave sweetened raw chocolate (ILB's recipe, with roasted almonds)

Rapadura sweetened 'almost raw' chocolate

This is my version of the Gluten Free, Dairy Free Raw Chocolate recipe that ILB posted a while back - I wanted to try Rapadura to sweeten it instead of agave, as I like the rich taste of Radadura and chocolate.  I found it definitely helps to cook/stir it longer as ILB suggests, as it turns out much smoother.  The first picture was chocolate that was stirred for about 30-40 minutes, the second was stirred for an hour.

I call this "Almost Raw" Chocolate, since Rapadura's not really raw (but closer to 'raw' than raw sugar, at least!!)

Make sure your bowl, blades, lid and seal are all nice and dry before you start - water and chocolate don't mix!!

1.  Grind in Thermomix on speed 9 for 1 to 2 minutes, until as fine as possible, scraping down sides now and then with spatula:
- 100g Rapadura
- 1 whole vanilla bean, cut in quarters
(alternatively, you can use 1 tsp of vanilla bean paste added with the salt and any other flavourings at the end)
Remove to a bowl and set aside.

2.  Place cacao butter in bowl and melt at 37 degrees for 10 minutes on speed 1:
- 200g raw cacao butter, chopped in small pieces
(if you can't get raw cacao butter, you can use cocoa butter)

3.  Add in Rapadura and vanilla, and keep cooking at 37 degrees for 20 minutes on speed 1.

4.  Add cacao powder to bowl and combine on speed 6 until well mixed, scrape down sides, then continue to stir at 37 degrees, speed 1, for another 20 minutes:
- 80g raw cacao powder

5.  Add salt and any flavourings you want and continue to stir on 37 degrees, speed 1, for another 10 minutes, or until smooth:
- 2 pinches good quality sea salt (eg. Himalayan, pre-ground)
- optional flavourings (eg. peppermint oil/ground dried chilli/ground cinnamon)
- optional extra sweetener - sometimes I add a little agave syrup here if I want it sweeter

6.  Prepare a large rectangular tray/dish lined with baking paper and pour the chocolate in - it should be quite thin.  If you'd like nuts or fruit in your chocolate, sprinkle them over the paper, then pour chocolate over the top.  Place in the fridge to set (or freezer if you're like me and don't want to wait!).  Here's some filling ideas:
- roasted nuts: hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts
- raw cacao nibs
- naked ginger pieces
- orange zest
- toasted, roughly chopped coffee beans
- dried fruit: cherries, blueberries,
- shredded coconut
- a mixture of above fillings!

[zebraa]

That looks ridicuolsly good! 

[Cornish Cream]

Jo, you are one busy lady, lovely recipe.

[quirkycooking]

Thanks CC    It does taste good - I think I need to make some more!! 

[quirkycooking]

Just changed this recipe a bit - I tend to do that when I make things again! 

[cathy79]

Is Cacao butter easy to find?  I've never tried. 

My DD is coming home with Christmas treats from her friends, none of which she can eat.  She's informed me that Santa needs to give her treats that won't make her sick.  I'm trying to teach her to ask people what is in food before she takes it.  It's a challenge!

[quirkycooking]

Poor thing    I'm always telling my kids to ask me before they eat things people give them!

You can buy cacao butter from health food shops (expensive) or online (a bit better)... the cheapest place I've found is Biodistributors.  Has anyone else found somewhere better?  I think it's best to buy it bulk and split your order with someone!  If all else fails, you can use cocoa butter, it's cheaper! 

[cathy79]

I've made DD's day this afternoon.  After explaining to her that she couldn't have most chocolate as it would make her tummy sore, I told her that mummy had made her some special chocolates.  The look on her face was priceless!

I used some Christmas moulds, and they turned out very well.  Definitely not cheap to make so I will only be giving it to those who appreciate the ingredients that went into it!

Thanks Jo!  Another winner.

[quirkycooking]

Yay!! 

I had a friend tell me she made this and poured it over chopped naked ginger, and it was delicious!!  I'm going to try organic salted roasted cashews and craisins tonight.  (I'm making them to give out as gifts at our Christmas Cooking Class.) 

[meganjane]

mmmm! This looks wonderful! I've ordered some raw cocoa butter from Aussie Soap Supplies as the only one I have is for soap making and is processed.
Jo, can you use raw sugar in place of rapadura? I find rapadura so expensive and we're on a bit of a budget after our disastrous harvest.

[ahoney]

I made this last night to put in easter moulds, they look great!

[judydawn]

Good for you ahoney - they certainly look good.

[quirkycooking]

Oh, those look so good, ahoney!! Well done! 

I went digging through the cupboard to find my cocoa butter the other day, and realized I had none left! Takes too long to order, so we didn't have any homemade choccies for Easter.   But the kids were quite happy with their dark choc Lindt bunny!! I haven't even felt like eating any chocolate today... too much around... I only seem to crave it when it's all gone! Ha.

[ellie j]

Just followed your link to biodistributors Jo and it seems they are closed for trading at the moment due to illness .. Any other suggestion BTW your chocolate looks delish 

[Meagan]

Just followed your link to biodistributors Jo and it seems they are closed for trading at the moment due to illness .. Any other suggestion BTW your chocolate looks delish 

Not sure if you are talking about the cacao butter or the rapadura. But as MJ suggested you can use cocoa butter as an alternative

 "I've ordered some raw cocoa butter from Aussie Soap Supplies"