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By Emily Leary. Published Jan 30, 2018 Modified Apr 12, 2021. 2085 words. About 11 minutes to read this article. Green ad links may earn me a small fee at no extra cost to you.

Raw vegan chocolate recipe

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You'll love how easy it is to make this incredibly delicious raw vegan chocolate recipe, packed with hidden fruit and nuts. It's from Hungry Healthy Happy by Dannii Martin.

These healthier chocolate bars are vegan, gluten and dairy free - and full of healthy fats

Dannii describes these chocolate bars as one of the recipes she's most proud of, and I can confirm they're totally delicious. Though high in calories, they make a great occasional treat as they are packed with healthy fats and nutrients that will satisfy your body as well as your sweet tooth.

She says, "Kids LOVE them and people never even know that they are a healthier version. They have always been popular on my blog and I just know anyone that buys the book will love them too."

Hungry Healthy Happy by Dannii Martin - the cookbook in which this healthier chocolate bars recipe features

And it's true, my two love them, and so we've been cutting them into individual little squares and they're lasting ages in the fridge as each bite is nice and satisfying.

Here's how to make them.

Ingredients

For the base:

  • 500 g (1.1 lb) mixed nuts (I used pecans and almonds, but any will work)
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil, warmed to a liquid
  • 4 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 440g (15.5 oz) pitted dates, softened in boiling water for 10 minutes then drained

For the topping:

  • 4 tbsp pure maple syrup
  • 4 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 4 tbsp coconut oil, warmed to a liquid

Instructions

Line a square 25 cm/10 inch shallow baking tin with cling film (plastic wrap).

First make the base. Put the nuts in a food processor.

Mixed nuts, shown in a food processor

Pulse until finely chopped.

Ground mixed nuts are a key part of these healthier chocolate bars
Dates, cocoa powder and coconut oil are mixed together

Add the coconut oil, cocoa powder and dates and process until smooth.

Mixing the healthier chocolate bars ingredients together in a food processor
Finely mixed ingredients for the chocolate bars

Tip the mixture into the baking tin.

The healthier chocolate bars mixture is tipped into a baking tray lined with cling film

Pack it down evenly. Transfer to the fridge for 2 hours.

Pack the healthier chocolate bars mix down evenly and chill in the fridge

When the base is ready, make the topping. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and stir until combined.

Mixing the topping for these delicious healthier chocolate bars
The mixed healthier chocolate bars topping - doesn't it look amazing?!

Pour the mixture over the base.

Pouring the topping mixture over the healthier chocolate bars base

Use a spatula to spread it out evenly. Return the bars to the fridge for another hour until the chocolate topping has set.

Spread the topping over the base and chill in the fridge

Slice into pieces and serve.

Slice into bars, serve and enjoy these healthier chocolate bars!

These bars melt quickly, so are best stored in the fridge until you are ready to eat.

A stack of healthier chocolate bars, ready to serve to friends, family and loved ones

We love these healthier chocolate bars - will you be trying the recipe and will you add your own flair to it?

An interview with Dannii

Emily: Your journey to a healthier lifestyle is inspirational.  Did you ever think at the beginning that you’d be sharing it with such a huge audience and inspiring so many people to make similar changes?

Dannii: It never even crossed my mind when I started up the Hungry Healthy Happy Facebook page (which actually came before the blog) that it would become what it has and I guess it really does show the power of the internet. What started off as just family and friends reading my posts has turned in to a wonderful community of people looking to be healthier and happier. I just wanted to show people that it wasn’t just celebrities with personal trainers and chefs that could change their lives, but it was every day people like me and them. I also wanted to show both the ups and downs of the journey.

I love that rather than your story being about any kind of dramatically restrictive fad diet, you talk about maintaining a varied diet – the same sorts of food you loved before - but in a healthier form. What was the thinking behind this?

The main thinking behind it was that I LOVE food, and always have, and I didn’t want to give up the foods I loved and I didn’t think I needed to either. Like most people, I had tried every diet out there and they were all restrictive and punishing and I always gave up on them. Then I thought, how about I don’t restrict myself, and just make healthier versions of my favourite foods, in healthier portion sizes and see how that goes. The moment that I stopped “dieting” was the moment that I started losing weight.

You refer to yourself as an emotional eater prior to your lifestyle change.  What would you recommend for people who are struggling with the same issue and trying to rebuild a healthy relationship with food?

I think this is something that I will always have to deal with, as I have such an emotional attachment to food, but it’s definitely something that I can limit. I found that keeping an emotional eating diary really helped me to address the reasons why I was overeating. I would track what I was eating and then I would write how I was feeling before I ate and how I felt after. If I overate on junk food, then I would be able to see the reason for it and what my triggers were and it was easier to cut those things out.

I think it also really helps to not demonise specific foods. Ice cream isn’t “bad” the same way that salad isn’t “good”. Being healthy comes down to consistent choices, not the things that you eat every now and then. It’s all balance!

Making a long-term lifestyle change is challenging, and you’re very honest about it sometimes being hard to stay motivated.  When you have a tough day what helps you to stick at it?

Sometimes I do have to drag myself out of bed to go to the gym and other times I really have to talk myself out of having a second (or third) slice of cake – that’s what makes me human, I am no perfect. But on those days that I find it really difficult, I remind myself of all the reasons why I started. I remind myself of how good I will feel after my workout or how sick I will feel if I eat more cake than I need. I also have a lot of motivational quotes around my house.
Your blog passes on your learnings and tips to others who may be struggling with making the change to a healthier lifestyle.  Where did you find your support from during your own journey? It seems like your Facebook page is a fantastic daily motivator for the community you’ve built there?

It was Facebook that really helped me in the beginning. I found that knowing that people were expecting me to post my meals each day on Facebook kept me accountable. I couldn’t post pictures of pizza every night for the week, so I guess that kept me on track. Offline, my support came from my husband. I could myself as very, very lucky that I had the support from him, as I know some people don’t. Don’t get me wrong, there were times that I was drinking a smoothie and he was eating a crème egg, but he did overhaul his diet with me. He loved me no matter what my size was and only cared that I was happy and healthy and that helped a lot.

Your new book, Hungry Healthy Happy, focuses on healthier ways to cook the food we all love.  Do you think this is the key to sustaining good habits?

I truly believe it is. There are lots of fad diets out there that are filled with foods and meals that people hate, yet they force themselves to eat them because they think they will have the “perfect” body after. It’s no wonder people give up on those diets after about a week. My recipes don’t use out of the ordinary or hard to source ingredients, they are just every day meals that the whole family will love, which I also think is important, as no-one wants to be making 3 different meals for the whole family.

I remember a piece of advice from you that I loved and that has really stayed with me, around allowing yourself a treat meal (e.g. a takeaway) occasionally, but not considering it a failed day/week but rather a ‘meal off’ - can you share a bit about that?

As much as I love my healthier alternatives, sometimes they don’t cut it and you just need the real thing – a burger, a cheesy pizza, full-fat ice cream, and there is nothing wrong with that at all. As I said above, there are no bad foods, just consistent choices. If you are having takeaways for every meal, then chances are you are not going to be at your healthiest, but one takeaway is not going to do any damage, the same way that one salad doesn’t instantly make you healthy. That one takeaway does not undo all the healthy meals that you have eaten through the rest of the week. Just relax, and enjoy it!

It’s more than just a cookbook; you also cover the principles of losing weight, the importance of exercise and a meal planner.  What inspired you to structure it in this way?

There are so many recipe books out there, especially healthy recipes, but healthy eating is SO much more than that. Although I like to think people will discover things they haven’t thought about before in my recipes, most people know how to eat healthily, but being healthy is so much more than the food we eat. What most people struggle with is how to be healthy on a diet, or how to motivate their selves to workout or to do all of that with a busy work schedule. So I wanted to include all of that so they had the support to go along with the recipes.

Your recipes are proof that healthy eating doesn’t have to be expensive, do you find that people are surprised by this?

Yes, and it’s probably the topic that always causes the most debate when I bring it up on social media. It’s difficult, because the word expensive is subjective and I know some people are really living on the bread line and can barely afford to eat. But, personally, I found that I saved money on my food shopping when I started eating better. I think that if you buy in to all the new trendy healthy ingredients, then you can spend a fortune. But it doesn’t have to be that way – junk food is expensive and so much cheaper to make yourself. The trade off for that though, is it will take a bit more time to make it yourself. People pay for convenience, which is why I have made my recipes as easy and as quick as possible.

Name your top five ingredients that you couldn’t live without.

Avocado (followers of my blog would not be surprised by that), Greek yoghurt, feta, sweet potato and chocolate.

Hungry for more? Dannii has a new book of Healthy Slow Cooker recipes coming in autumn. I can't wait.

Print this healthier chocolate bars recipe

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4.9 from 8 votes

Raw vegan chocolate recipe

You'll love how easy it is to make this incredibly delicious raw vegan chocolate recipe, packed with hidden fruit and nuts.
Prep Time30 mins
Total Time30 mins
Course: Desserts and sweet treats
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Keyword: chocolate, dessert
Servings: 15 bars
Calories: 348kcal
Author: Dannii Martin

Ingredients

For the base:

  • 500 g (1.1 lb) mixed nuts I used pecans and almonds, but any will work
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil warmed to a liquid
  • 4 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 440 g (15.52 oz) pitted dates softened in boiling water for 10 minutes then drainedFor the topping:
  • 4 tbsp pure maple syrup
  • 4 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 4 tbsp coconut oil warmed to a liquid

Instructions

  • Line a square 25 cm/10 inch shallow baking tin with cling film (plastic wrap).
  • First make the base. Put the nuts in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add the coconut oil and cocoa powder and process again to combine. Finally, add the dates and process until smooth. I like it with a few chunky pieces of nuts through it.
  • Tip the mixture into the baking tin and pack it down evenly. Transfer to the fridge for 2 hours.
  • When the base is ready, make the topping. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and stir until combined. Pour the mixture over the base and use a spatula to spread it out evenly. Return the bars to the fridge for another hour until the chocolate topping has set.
  • Slice into 15 pieces and serve. These bars melt quickly, so are best stored in the fridge until you are ready to eat.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 348kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 447mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1.9mg
* Note: nutritional information is estimated, based on publicly available data. Nutrient values may vary from those published. Information on this website should not be taken as medical advice. Cuisines identify the primary region of inspiration for a dish.
Tried this recipe?Snap a pic and tag @amummytoo on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. I can't wait to see your posts!

Recipe reproduced with the publisher's permission. Pics my own.

Pin these healthier chocolate bars

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  1. Carly Markham says

    February 12, 2018 at 10:44 am

    These look really tasty and actually look easy enough for me to make. I have decided when I move house that a food processor will be my housewarming gift to myself! Then I can make life so much easier and make lots of yummy foods.

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 13, 2018 at 1:04 pm

      These chocolate bars are both healthier and truly delicious! I bet you're looking forward to buying that food processor!

      Reply
  2. Rachel says

    February 10, 2018 at 3:09 pm

    Healthy or not, these look absolutely amazing to me x

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 12, 2018 at 9:33 am

      Yes, they do look and taste delicious! Let me know if you give them a go!

      Reply
  3. Debbie says

    February 10, 2018 at 10:40 am

    Oh these look delicious and we all need something nice once in a while. I’m on SlimmingWorld and will be making these!

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 12, 2018 at 9:36 am

      You're right - we do all need something nice once in a while and they are truly delicious! Let me know how you get on.

      Reply
  4. melissa major says

    February 09, 2018 at 10:37 pm

    5 stars
    wow these look like a delicious alternative to chocolate, will have to make these

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 12, 2018 at 9:41 am

      Yes, it's such a good recipe and they really are delicious! Let me know how yours turn out!

      Reply
  5. Dawn and Bella says

    February 09, 2018 at 10:34 pm

    4 stars
    These sound lovely for an occasional treat. Impressed about the free from aspect and great for bulking up on calories before a winter walk!

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 12, 2018 at 9:44 am

      Yes! They're just right for a treat before a winter walk. Let me know if you try them!

      Reply
  6. Kara says

    February 09, 2018 at 5:24 pm

    I am sat at my son's swimming lesson and now I am starving, these look delicious!!

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 12, 2018 at 9:47 am

      They are really tasty and something you could make to indulge in next time you take your son to his swimming lesson. He would probably like some after an energetic swim too!

      Reply
  7. Sarah Bailey says

    February 09, 2018 at 4:31 pm

    5 stars
    Oh how good do these sound! I love the idea of a healthier chocolate bar and they sound absolutely yummy, perfect combination.

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 12, 2018 at 9:53 am

      Yes, they are so tasty and it's good to know that they're vegan and gluten free. Let me know if you give them a go!

      Reply
  8. Rebecca Smith says

    February 09, 2018 at 2:48 pm

    5 stars
    What delicious looking chocolate - and I love that they are healthier than 'normal' chocolate too. I keep meaning to pick up Dannii's book - I really must!

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 09, 2018 at 3:40 pm

      These chocolate bars are delicious and so easy to make and yes, do get hold of a copy of Danni's book!

      Reply
  9. Melanie williams says

    February 09, 2018 at 1:52 pm

    Love the choc bars. Some of my top ingredients that I could not live without would be fruit and avocado x

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 09, 2018 at 3:43 pm

      So glad you love the chocolate bars. Yes I agree, fruit and avocados are always a hit in our house too!

      Reply
  10. Hannah denton says

    February 08, 2018 at 9:14 pm

    I’m a total chocolate addict, but I really need to stop! These recipes could save me (and help me fit into my wedding dress!)

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 09, 2018 at 3:58 pm

      We all love chocolate! I hope you enjoy these healthier chocolate bars - let me know how you get on.

      Reply
  11. Bethany says

    February 08, 2018 at 8:24 pm

    5 stars
    I mean, who doesn’t want to be healthy but also eat chocolate. This looks so scrummy I’m going to have to give this a go.

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 09, 2018 at 4:00 pm

      Nearly all of us love chocolate! Good to hear you're going to have a go at making these Healthier Chocolate Bars - let me know how it goes.

      Reply
  12. Mayah Camara says

    February 08, 2018 at 3:56 pm

    These look and sound amazing! I'll defo have to try this recipe and it looks so easy to make! Thanks for sharing xx

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 09, 2018 at 4:04 pm

      Thank you! These Healthier Chocolate Bars are really tasty and easy to make. Let me know how you get on!

      Reply
  13. Sian Ryan says

    February 02, 2018 at 4:37 am

    I love using honey as a sugar substitute in baking and also coconut flour too! I made some lovely healthy donuts the other day and was amazed at the ingredients list!

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 02, 2018 at 8:56 am

      They sound great!

      Reply
  14. Jacqui Odell says

    February 02, 2018 at 2:46 am

    I love chocolate! So the fact this is healthy makes it even better!! I need to get the stuff to do it.

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 03, 2018 at 10:30 pm

      Oh yes do give it a try. It's wonderful and makes loads so it lasts ages.

      Reply
  15. Amy Dong says

    February 02, 2018 at 2:29 am

    5 stars
    I'm so all about making healthy bars with dates and nuts!!! When we were on whole30 last year, this was basically what i made for treats all the time. Love this recipe!

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 03, 2018 at 10:13 pm

      Oh yes these are perfect for that kind of challenge.

      Reply
  16. Lisa Rios says

    February 01, 2018 at 11:46 pm

    I really enjoy a good chocolate bar. So glad to be able to find a healthy vegan recipe to indulge in once in a while!

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 03, 2018 at 10:32 pm

      Oh these are really indulgent and yummy - totally satisfy my chocolate cravings.

      Reply
  17. Luci says

    February 01, 2018 at 9:41 pm

    That looks super delicious. I just saw another recipe that uses dates to make a healthy snack. I'll have to try this one out soon.

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 03, 2018 at 10:12 pm

      Oh yes, dates are verrrry sweet so they great in desserts.

      Reply
  18. Elizabeth O says

    February 01, 2018 at 12:57 pm

    Oh YUM!! These look amazing. You had me at healthy + chocolate. I am so saving this recipe to try myself!

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 03, 2018 at 10:32 pm

      Oh yes, do! They're wonderful!

      Reply
  19. Candice says

    February 01, 2018 at 4:41 am

    These look awesome! Pinned for later. :-) Thank you so much for sharing!

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 01, 2018 at 10:49 am

      No problem, so glad you like them!

      Reply
  20. Alexine says

    February 01, 2018 at 1:59 am

    When I saw your first photo, It's with walnuts and almonds but hen I saw on your description it's with (pecan nuts) I was just happy to know that you added my fave nuts. Dates looks so good as well, it's actually my first time to hear this kind of chocolate bar. I find it really interesting and healthy. Would love to try it soon. thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 01, 2018 at 10:58 am

      Please do, I think you'll be really happy with the flavour and the texture of these kinds of bars :)

      Reply
  21. Emily Fata, www.EmulatingEmily.com says

    February 01, 2018 at 12:23 am

    Wow, these chocolate bars looks so incredibly delicious! I'll have to try making them one of these days. Maybe O'll try them out this weekend!

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      February 01, 2018 at 10:53 am

      Let me know how you found them if you do!

      Reply
  22. Dannii says

    January 30, 2018 at 2:49 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks so much for sharing Emily. I am glad you liked these, as they are one of my favourite recipes. I might need to go and make some now actually.

    Reply
    • Emily Leary says

      January 30, 2018 at 11:22 pm

      They're amazing. The kids are loving them and only need a tiny square to satisfy a sweet tooth. And they're keeping really well in the fridge so I still have plenty left. Winner all round!

      Reply

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