Thursday, July 25, 2013

Raw Peppermint Patties (paleo, cane-sugar free)

These raw peppermint patties are dedicated to my handsome chocoholic husband.  This is his favorite combination (chocolate, peppermint, and coconut).  I love creating healthy treats for my family...I feel like such a superstar mom when I'm like, "Why yes, we have a fun sweet treat for snack, or yes, there is something tasty and healthy for dessert."  I love it.  I've been working on this recipe for a while. I'm excited to share the final product with you today.  Enjoy!   
Raw Peppermint Patties 

Ingredients:

Chocolate Shell
-1/4 cup melted cocoa butter
-1/4 cup honey (vegans use 3 T maple syrup, 4 T coconut nectar or 1 teaspoon stevia) 
-1/4 cup raw cacao powder
-1/4 cup melted coconut oil 
-1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
-Tiny pinch of salt 

Filling
-1 cup shredded coconut
-1 to 2 tablespoon honey* (vegans use maple syrup or coconut nectar) 
-1 teaspoon vanilla 
-1 tablespoon peppermint extract/flavor (or more to your preference) 
-1 tablespoon cocoa butter (optional, but worth it) 
-Cacao nibs (optional) 

How To:
1.  Melt the cocoa butter.  Here is how to keep it raw while melting: fill a small pot with water (half full) and place a 1 cup glass Pyrex in the water.  Add the cocoa butter (shredded for quicker, more even heating).  Stir while it's melting.  Once melted, remove from the water.  
2.  To the melted cocoa butter add in all the above chocolate shell ingredients.  Stir until the raw cacao powder is incorporated.  
3.  Don't skip this next step:  Use an immersion blender (or some blender) to emulsify the mixture for only about 10 seconds* (see notes).  If you skip this step, the honey will sink to the bottom and will not be evenly distributed throughout the chocolate.  
4.  Pour chocolate (as much or as little as you like) into the bottom of a mold (silicone or paper) - place in the freeze for about 5 to 10 minutes to harden.  
5.  In a food processor make the filling.  Add the 1 cup of shredded coconut and blend 3 to 5 minutes.  Scrape down sides as needed. Add in the rest of the ingredients and blend until incorporated.  If adding the cacao nibs, add last and pulse a few times to incorporate.  
6.  Remove the molds from freezer and (with your hands) add in the filling on the layer of chocolate, leaving enough room on all sides for the top layer of chocolate to form around the filling and touch the bottom layer of chocolate.  Add as much or as little as you like. 
7.  Transfer to fridge or freeze to harden.  
8.  Makes 4 to 5 large peppermint patties.  I pour any leftover chocolate into small silicone candy molds and refrigerate.   

Notes:
*Be careful...DO NOT blend the chocolate too long.  Something crazy will happen: the honey and coconut oil blob together and the cocoa butter separates.  There is no recovery when this happens.  
*I use 1 tablespoon of honey for the filling - these puppies are RICH, but add in more sweetener to your preference.    
Here they are with cocoa nibs for added texture and flavor 
Here's what they look like made thin(er) 
*
Here is the general building process 
Shared on: Fat Tuesdays, Raw Foods Thursdays, Allergy-Free Fridays, Wellness Weekend, Healthy Vegan Friday 

26 comments:

  1. any substitute for coconut butter? I can't get it where I live.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous,

      You don't need coconut butter, you can just use shredded coconut. Hope that helps.

      Delete
  • Amber!
    I kid you not, I just ordered cocoa butter off of Amazon to make these! I have questions though! I'll have to omit the honey and use all stevia. In the shell, do you think this would work if I upped the cocoa butter content by a tablespoon or two to make up for the honey? I've never worked with cocoa butter, but I'm assuming it's much like coconut oil (just a little more thick/durable)? And what about the filling? Just up the cocoa butter to replace the honey? What do you suggest?

    Thanks so much, my friend! I'm really looking forward to these!
    Hugs,
    M

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Megan,

      All good questions!

      Stevia will absolutely work with the shell. If you want to make up for the lost 1/4 up of honey, I would add a tablespoon or two more of the cocoa butter, coconut oil, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and another teaspoon or two of cacao. That should bring you up to the correct liquid ratio.

      I make chocolate all the time with stevia and it works well. Just a few drops of stevia will also work in the filling. You could even add in a T of coconut oil to make up for the lost tablespoon of honey liquid. But I think it would be fine without adding in any additional liquid.

      Let me know how it all turns out! These are super rich girl, such a decadent treat. I'm excited for you to try cocoa butter. It's wonderful. :-)

      Hugs,
      --Am

      Delete
  • I can't wait to make these! I love the simple ingredients and they look so delicious!

    I think they would make ideal Christmas presents for the family - who doesn't like peppermint and dark chocolate! Yum!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Vicky. Yes, I agree, these would be great around the Holidays. I just need to figure out how these can keep at room temp...you know, like the original version. I love making chocolate, but it has to stay in the fridge or it will melt. Still, these are very tasty. And I like them cold, actually. :-)

      Delete
  • Heather @Gluten-Free CatJuly 28, 2013 at 6:14 AM

    Oh WOW! Peppermint Patty's were one of my favorite treats as a kid. I can NOT wait to make these! Thanks for the great recipe, the instructions, and the pictures. What a fabulous post! (Now I'd like to place an order for...)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Heather. Mine too. Love them. :-)

      Delete
  • Adelheid PetersonAugust 12, 2013 at 11:24 AM

    I just made these today and they are wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing :)

    ReplyDelete
  • Woo--hoo! So glad you enjoyed them. Thanks for dropping me a note!!

    ReplyDelete
  • Made this this afternoon. Doubled the recipe and filled up 24 mini muffins. Had mostly left over filling (probably could have just done 1.5 recipe vs doubling), and a bit of left over chocolate sauce. Mixed the two together and used that in the candy mold. My 8 year old loved the patties and the molded candy. We've been on GAPS diet for 16 months and only added cacao into our diet about 2 weeks ago. She said, "I can't believe I get to have peppermint patties again!" This recipe made our day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your note, Nancy. How awesome for you and your daughter to have a chocolate treat. I hope you continue to do well and heal Thanks for stopping by today and leaving such a nice comment! Take care.

      Delete

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