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Raw Chocolate Hearts

February 1, 2012 by Cara

Valentine’s Day has never been of much amusement for me.

Don’t get me wrong,

I love all the holiday-themed foods and crafts of hearts & cupids just like anyone…

But that is usually the extent as to how far my love goes for the holiday.

Raw Chocolate Hearts - Fork & Beans

Maybe it was all those bitter years of loneliness

that damaged this upcoming holiday’s reputation with myself.

I am giggling writing that.

In all fairness, it’s just that I didn’t understand why I needed one day to say “I love you.”

In fact, growing up in my household,

saying those words were {still are} a requirement for everything.

Greeting each other.

At the end of a phone conversation.

Leaving for school.

Coming home from school.

Saying good-bye.

And it was {still is} followed in this progression:

Hug, “I love you,” “I love you too,” side of the cheek hug, kiss in the air.

Not doing that is like taking oxygen away from my lungs…

{now that I think about it, it’s probably just my OCD}

It’s to the point though, that if you do not say “I love you” after saying good-bye on the phone,

the other person will call you back, yelling,

“I SAID, ‘I LOVE YOU!’ NOW SAY IT BACK!!!”

I love my family.

Raw Chocolate Hearts - Fork & Beans

These hearts are a work in progress. They stand as a good foundation to work from.

Raw Chocolate Hearts Recipe

Adapted from Sarma Melngailis’s Living Raw Food book

gluten, dairy, refined sugar free, raw

makes 30 hearts

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1/4 c. coconut oil, melted
  • 3 Tb raw cocoa powder (if you don’t have this, you can always use the regular cocoa powder)
  • 2 Tb maple syrup
  • dash of vanilla extract (optional)
  • heart candy mold

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl until smooth.
  2. Using a spoon, gently add chocolate mix into heart candy mold.
  3. Freeze for 10-15 minutes.

Raw Chocolate Hearts - Fork & Beans

So while you are planning your Valentine’s gift, meal, event for that special someone,

don’t forget to tell them that you love them right this moment.

You can even throw in a side cheek hug in there if you like.

And if they don’t say it back,

yell at them.

A tried and true method for forcing out an “I love you.”

Fact.

YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE:

  • Raw Cadbury Eggs Raw Cadbury Eggs
  • Graham Cracker SandwichesGraham Cracker Sandwiches
  • Vegan Chocolate Easter BunnyVegan Chocolate Easter Bunny
  • Homemade Candy ButtonsHomemade Candy Buttons

Filed Under: Kid-Friendly Tagged With: candy, chocolate, Food, gluten free, holidays, I love you, raw food, recipes, Valentine's Day, vegan, vegetarian

About Cara

Based in Chicago with her husband and son, Cara is the creator behind the site Fork and Beans: A place where kids can have fun with their food.

Previous Post: « Raw Taco Wraps
Next Post: Raw Cheesy Noodles »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Danielle

    October 31, 2012 at 4:10 pm

    I am allergic to anything coconut! A lot of raw and paleo is made with coconut any substitution for that

    • Cara

      November 5, 2012 at 8:13 am

      Hmmmm, if it’s coconut oil just for cooking then I would recommend using a good olive oil. But when it comes to this recipe, the reason for the coconut oil is because of its creamy flavor and it solidies nicely when cold. You know, you could mess around with this recipe and maybe use cashews as the base instead and use a little bit of olive oil? Now you have my wheels turning…

  2. Julie

    October 7, 2012 at 9:04 pm

    Can I use something other than coconut??

    • Cara

      October 8, 2012 at 9:22 pm

      Hi Julie! Are you referring to the coconut oil? If so, this is really the only oil to use because of how it hardens when it chills, allowing the chocolate to also harden πŸ™‚

    • Alec

      January 5, 2013 at 11:26 am

      Well…you could use melted cocoa butter instead of coconut oil! But of course it’s more expensive and not so easily available… πŸ˜‰

    • jane

      October 2, 2014 at 9:01 am

      Yes Cocoa butter

  3. Mrs. Price

    February 12, 2012 at 1:34 pm

    These chocolates were toddler approved! My son loved them!

    • Cara

      February 12, 2012 at 3:51 pm

      If kiddos approve, adults will too πŸ™‚ Thank you for this, Mrs. Price!

  4. Sadie Miller

    February 9, 2012 at 4:17 pm

    These look super yummy! Do you think they could be made into a chocolate chip like shape?

    • Cara

      February 9, 2012 at 6:51 pm

      THat’s a great idea, Sadie! I think it just might be doable however you would have to let the mix sit a little in order for it to solidfy {maybe}?? Now you have me curious! If you try it out, let me know please–I would love to hear the results πŸ™‚

  5. Farmer Ks Kitchen

    February 8, 2012 at 4:02 am

    Can’t wait to make this recipe tomorrow! I have all the ingredients ready to go πŸ™‚ Thanks so much for sharing, and giving me the go ahead to repost it on my blog once I am done. Loving all your recipes and you have become one of my go-to blogs for all things good! Keep up the beautiful writing and recipes! <3 K x

    • Cara

      February 8, 2012 at 7:23 am

      They definitely are a foundation to start with. I haven’t made them since but if you find a way to spruce them up even more so, I would love to hear what you do!

  6. stephanissima

    February 7, 2012 at 8:54 am

    Those look sooo gooood! Are they at the dark chocolate level of chocolatey goodness?

    • Cara

      February 7, 2012 at 11:28 am

      Not as bitter as dark chocolate (depending on how much maple you wanna add) but boy do these suckers melt in your mouth!

  7. Lou

    February 4, 2012 at 3:10 am

    oh so sweet shiny little hearts… I use a similar recipe for a fail-safe chocolate sauce, and I freeze it for my own raw chocolate chips… oh YUM. I’ve actually tried a version subbing in some tahini/nut butter for about 1/2 of the coconut oil amount, and you get an almost truffle-like texture when it freezes. Yip, truffle is GOOD.

    • Cara

      February 4, 2012 at 7:03 am

      Ooooooooh, send me over that recipe please! πŸ™‚

  8. cadryskitchen

    February 3, 2012 at 5:24 am

    This post is so cute! You were lucky to grow up in such an openly loving family. It sounds a lot like my family. I remember an ex-boyfriend being mystified by how many “I love you’s” were bandied about at my house. He remarked, “I wouldn’t be surprised if your family hugged and said ‘I love you’ before you left to go to the bathroom!”

    • Cara

      February 3, 2012 at 8:08 am

      Sometimes one need reassurance upon making a trip to the loo! What a hater… ha.
      I guess I should also add here that as “I love you” addicted as we are, we are also a very sarcastic family that likes to beat each other up. Especially with my dad. Him saying “I love you” is as about as affectionate as he gets. I absolutely adore that about him though πŸ™‚

  9. Amber Shea @Almost Vegan

    February 2, 2012 at 8:05 am

    I love making raw candy with coco oil – it’s so fuss-free! These look delicious.

    • Cara

      February 2, 2012 at 8:27 am

      Hi Amber! Thank you for the comment. I had no idea how easy making homemade raw chocolate could be either. I have been biten by the raw bug and plan on using your blog as one of my guides πŸ™‚

  10. AnonymousBurn

    February 2, 2012 at 5:25 am

    Mmmm, me likey!

  11. Kris

    February 1, 2012 at 9:03 pm

    I am so accustomed to saying “I Love You” to my family and friends that I am afraid I will say it to a client or business contact… if I have not already. πŸ˜‰

    Jason and I have this weird thing, we don’t say “I love you TOO…” just… I love you. I don’t even recall why… the “too” just sounded weird to us. but WE are weird, so… and for some reason, even though we say appreciate each other CONSTANTLY, we both LOVE Valentines Day…

    • Cara

      February 1, 2012 at 10:33 pm

      You two are romantics at heart–I love that! I wish I lived nearby so I could witness the two of you get lovey dovey and then I would make barfing noises, all the while secretly loving it πŸ™‚

  12. Richa@HobbyandMore

    February 1, 2012 at 7:26 pm

    there you go again with some perfect and pretty treats!
    hmm my family is currently a bit like that…… dad was the ” i am the man of the house, i m not going to show any emotion or say sweet things” while we were growing up.. though we all knew he would send the invisible hugs to us everyday.. but now, since the last 6-7 yrs, he shows a lot more emotion.. he keeps saying sweet things to mom… he hugs us and says i love you too now.. mom has always been the sweet huggable person.. she keeps getting even more huggable every year.. now i am missing her.. πŸ™
    she is like 4 ft 9 inches tall..:) but she still can envelope everyone in a big love filled bear hug!

    • Cara

      February 1, 2012 at 8:15 pm

      You are making me miss my mom now too! πŸ™
      Our dads sound exactly the same, by the way…

  13. Brooklyn

    February 1, 2012 at 12:25 pm

    I love you! πŸ˜‰

    • Cara

      February 1, 2012 at 2:25 pm

      I love you and that belly of yours as well!! xo

  14. Dawn

    February 1, 2012 at 10:10 am

    Want.

    My family is the same way too. I’ve probably come close to telling customers “I love you” when I hang up the phone. I don’t think I’ve ever done it though. Yet. I’m for sure going to do it now.

    I love you <3

    • Cara

      February 1, 2012 at 10:47 am

      Ohmygosh, that would be soooo funny if you did say that! I double dog dare you to do it πŸ™‚
      I love you too, Dawn!

  15. Brooke

    February 1, 2012 at 10:06 am

    Dangit, Woman! You just totally trumped my ice recipe! Frozen Chocolate?! Hello! πŸ™‚

    • Cara

      February 1, 2012 at 10:46 am

      Well you never sent me that recipe for ice so I had to improvise πŸ™‚

  16. Shannon

    February 1, 2012 at 8:34 am

    Valentine’s Day isn’t something I have ever been very interested in celebrating. But I love all the candy recipes that come out this time of year!

    • Cara

      February 1, 2012 at 8:59 am

      I do too! How can you not, you know? I’m a sucker for everyday foods/things shaped into cute themes. Glad to know you are the same πŸ™‚

  17. Heather

    February 1, 2012 at 7:09 am

    You & your Family must be the exact replica of my NH Family – we are the same EXACT way, it would never cross my mind to not say I love you to anyone of my family members, on the phone, in person, out in public or via e-mail πŸ™‚ We are a very lovey group of people

    My line on Valentines Day is ” Justin and I show each other we love one another everyday, why do we need just one day to show our love” then they all throw things at me for being so mushy

    Your hearts are uber cute – yep just broke out uber, which kinda sounds like goober – maybe you should make some raw goobers – remember those!? Okay now I am rambling πŸ™‚

    • Cara

      February 1, 2012 at 8:58 am

      Do I remember Goobers??? Is it chocolate in candy form? Then I remember it! πŸ™‚ In fact, along the lines of talking about goobers, this was a term of endearment my father would call me all of the time. That, and dork and moron. Despite our need to tell each other that we love each other, we are very sarcastic and abusive to one another (a typical greet after an I love you would be followed by a punch in the arm). Hmmm, does that sound dysfunctional or what???

      • Heather

        February 1, 2012 at 9:15 am

        not as bad as being called Brillo by your Dad becuase of your crazy curly hair when you were a pre-teen resembled a brillo pad – it was although said with tons of love πŸ™‚

        we are a hockey family so razzing and name calling comes natural to us

        • Cara

          February 1, 2012 at 9:30 am

          Okay…I too, had hair just like that! God bless the Brazilian Blowout, otherwise I would still have “furry” hair as it was lovingly referred to. I love how you say it was said with tons of love. HAHA.

  18. Nora @ Natural Noshing

    February 1, 2012 at 7:03 am

    I love homemade chocolate with coconut oil!!! These little hearts are precious and perfect looking πŸ™‚
    Our family is the exact same way about “I love you’s”…and greeting cards for that matter… I get a couple for every occassion, I’m sure I’ll receive 2 Vday cards from each of my parents πŸ™‚ I love my family too!

    • Cara

      February 1, 2012 at 8:55 am

      Aaaaawww, that is so cute about the cards of Valentine’s Day!!
      It’s funny because other than that “I love you” tradition certain members of my family are not affectionate, particularly the men really. So on my cards, I usually get some mean comment written on it <–total bipolar family, which makes me love them even more πŸ™‚ Yay for families…

  19. Ashlae W.

    February 1, 2012 at 6:03 am

    For months I’ve been (lazily) slopping together some coconut oil, cacao powder and powdered sucanat to satisfy my chocolate craving – which was hardly satisfying becuase I had to cut that shit out of a pan. And now you have these perfectly bite-sized pieces which I will obviously need to make. Today. But there’s one problem, I don’t have a heart shaped chocolate mold – be a sweetie and tell me where to find one? πŸ˜‰

    • Cara

      February 1, 2012 at 8:53 am

      Oh now you want me to tell you my secrets eh? The other day you were having a hissy about me *not* telling you. You are so confusing!
      I got mine at Michael’s and it was only $2. Not bad of a deal, right? Does Denver have a Michael’s anywhere close by you? Or a Joann’s?

  20. Veggie V's Vegan Adventure

    February 1, 2012 at 5:52 am

    Ok. Question. This is a similar recipe that I use to make chocolate bars, candies, chips, etc., but when I make mine, it’s thick and gloppy and pasty an dull looking. Yours (and others I’ve seen) are shiny and pretty. Is your mixture thick or pourable? Curious.

    • Cara

      February 1, 2012 at 8:51 am

      It was actually very pourable. You could even use it as a sauce over ice ream or whatever you fancy, really.

    • Laurel

      February 1, 2012 at 9:16 am

      Sometimes putting over a bowl of warm/hot water (don’t let it get into the chocolate) and continuing to stir helps. It also helps if your mixture is about 90F to set up nice and shiny. πŸ™‚

      • Cara

        February 1, 2012 at 9:30 am

        See folks? This woman is a pro πŸ™‚

        • Veggie V!

          February 1, 2012 at 10:32 am

          Hum…I need to work on this. I want pretty chocolate!!

          • Cara

            February 1, 2012 at 10:48 am

            I foresee pretty chocolate in your future…

  21. Laurel

    February 1, 2012 at 5:38 am

    And If I could spell that would have been friend not some weird combination of that and fiend, although…

    • Cara

      February 1, 2012 at 8:51 am

      I didn’t even notice it either. Must because I am such a good friend and overlook all faults πŸ™‚ hehe

  22. Laurel

    February 1, 2012 at 5:37 am

    You are absolutely DETERMINED to get me out of bed and back into the kitchen, aren’t you? Must be why you’re my freind. <3 <3 <3

    • Cara

      February 1, 2012 at 8:50 am

      Is it working yet????

      • Laurel

        February 1, 2012 at 9:13 am

        Leaving for the doc in a couple of hours, they’re threatening an intervention. Imagine. πŸ™‚

        • Cara

          February 1, 2012 at 9:15 am

          So what is going on with that little body of yours?

          • Laurel

            February 1, 2012 at 10:18 am

            I may never find out if my husband doesn’t get here in time to take me.
            He’s late AND not answering the phone. Doesn’t sound good, does it?

          • Cara

            February 1, 2012 at 10:47 am

            I would be in tears at this point, planning his funeral (haha–I am such a worrier, it drives Greg nuts!)

  23. Nina

    February 1, 2012 at 5:36 am

    You made me laugh with this post Cara. We are also very ‘I Love You’ liberal. πŸ™‚
    And, oh yes! I want these! Now if only all the cool moulds you have in the US were readily available (and when found, not 4 times the price) here in Oz. Sigh! I shall persevere with my candy mould hunt.
    In fact, if you could just post that plate of hearts to me…. I’ll email my address? πŸ˜‰

    • Cara

      February 1, 2012 at 8:50 am

      You guys don’t have a craft store over there that sells cheapo molds?? (mine literally cost $2) There has got to be somewhere like that! I am determined for you now… Sending you a puddled mess of raw chocolate via mail πŸ™‚

  24. Caitlin

    February 1, 2012 at 4:34 am

    omigosh, cara. ANOTHER similarity! my family and i are the same way- we say “i love you” greeting each other, saying goodbye, at the end of a phone call. (if it’s my dad, during every day conversation..) and dayv and i are the same way now, too. when he leaves for work in the morning at 5:30 am and i’m still in bed, kiss and “i love you”. if one of us is running out of the house to go anywhere, kiss and “i love you”. going to bed every night. at the end of a phone call.

    anyway, that was pretty specific. but! i agree, it is SO important to let the ones you know all the time how much you love them. i think it’s one of the most important things you can do. all you need is love..am i right? haha..

    and i love your raw treat! they are so easy to make- i have to make them <3

    • Cara

      February 1, 2012 at 8:48 am

      Greg and I have adapted this habit as well–his is definitely not that way so I had to convert him (which was rather easy, if I do say so myself). Twinsies again πŸ™‚ Where is the eerie music when you need it cued?? xo

      • tae

        February 9, 2012 at 1:32 pm

        i had to convert my husband, too! my family sounds exactly the same. and i can’t wait to make these delicious chocolates!

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