Tonight I made up the yummiest treat ever. It’s totally healthy, GAPS legal, and super easy!
Chocolate Pumpkin Clusters
Ingredients:
4 oz cocoa nibs (pure, no additives, just cocoa mass)***see note
1 TB coconut oil
1/2 c honey
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 c pumpkin seeds (Previously soaked & dried. Can be roasted or not, mine weren’t.)
1 c shredded coconut (unsweetened)
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside.
Combine cocoa nibs and coconut oil in a medium pot, cook over low heat until melted, stirring often.
Add in the honey, vanilla and sea salt, stir until combined.
Remove from heat, stir in the pumpkin seeds and coconut, mix well.
Use a small cookie scoop or a tablespoon to make little mounds on prepared baking sheet. Place in fridge to harden (about 1 hour). Keep in fridge until serving time. Enjoy!
***I just realized that what I had purchased that was called "Cocoa Nibs" is not what they usually call "Cocoa Nibs." It was little round discs of pure chocolate mass. I went to buy it again, and that store (Trader Joes) is only planning to stock the sweetened version now (sad!!!). I ordered raw cocoa nibs through Azure Standard and attempted to make another treat last night, only to find that they wouldn’t melt! I ended up making a coconut flour "chocolate chip cookie" type recipe that was decent, but I was bummed that they wouldn’t melt. So far the above recipe, it would be best to find unsweetened chocolate (pure, no soy, no sugars, no extra junk).
Hi Brenda,
I have enjoyed your post and have been exploring your GAP diet. My concern is that the thing that seem to bother me are corn, nuts, oatmeal and too many raw veggies. I have cut out milk from my diet and now considering thing with gluten but wonder how to do that with also eliminating nuts and raw veggies. Raw veggies are mostly carrots, celery, spinach, lettuce and other high fiber veggies. Any advice. Hugs. Liza
Hi Liza,
Thanks for your comment! Corn, nuts and gluten also bother me. Many people who do GAPS use lots of nuts, but I don’t use them at all. When you start GAPS, you start only with cooked veggies, which are easier on your system. As you become “symptom free,” you can add in the raw veggies, 1 at a time, and if they bother you, stay away from them. 🙂 For nuts, if your throat isn’t tight because of them, I would suggest soaking them overnight if you’re not already, and then drying them in the oven for use whenever you want. I wouldn’t recommend already roasted nuts or already ground nut flours.
The goal of the GAPS diet is to heal your gut (over 2 years time) so that you can eat these foods again without any issues! That’s why I’m so excited about it–it’s not necessarily “forever,” but there’s hope of being able to eat some things again without feeling sick. Though, as we eat this way, we enjoy it more and more and don’t feel like we’re missing much at all. =) I hope this helps you!
Blessings!
ok…I’m feeling a bit dumb…what are cocoa nibs?? I know this can’t be cocoa powder…humm? Where did you get yours?
thanks! =)
ps…I’m finally downloading my free jonathan park stuff to listen to while traveling this season!
I can’t wait for the kids to hear it!
one more =)….thought you would like this series…I read part of it last year when she was writing it, so it was great to read up on the rest of what she wrote:
http://www.nourishingdays.com/2010/12/adrenal-fatigue-a-3-part-series/
For Liza,
I used to eat much raw food, I am starting on Gaps and after just a few weeks, I feel so much better eating mainly cooked vegetables. And my body is not craving anymore for bread.
Looks like a great recipe, Brenda ! pumpkin seeds are a good add in the diet.