I co-hosted a party on the weekend with my sweetie to celebrate Spring and more importantly, his birthday! I made a bunch of snacks: beet goat cheese dip, navy bean basil dip, an organic veggie platter and an olive, cheese, grape platter with Mary's Brown Rice Crackers. And for dessert, I made my famous sexy balls, but turned them into squares and sprinkled unsulfured coco flakes on top. And if that wasn't enough, I also made the recipe I'm sharing with you today: Raspberry Chocolate Hemp Squares.
This recipe is from my friend Doug's new raw recipe book called: Eat Raw, Eat Well. These squares are gluten-free, vegan, raw, nutrient-dense and most importantly -- creamy, rich and deeeelicious!
There's a trick to these squares though. I only froze them for about 3-4 hours prior to my party and they needed longer. They tasted delicious scooped into a bowl and enjoyed like pudding. However, I left them in the freezer overnight and they were perfectly formed and incredibly rich and delicious the next day, a 10/10! They remind me of my travels in Italy last year while eating the richest, creamiest chocolate gelato.
Ingredients:
1.5 cups shelled hemp seeds* (soak for 30 minutes, discard water)
2 cups organic raspberries or strawberries (use what is in season if you can)
1/2 cup raw cacao
1/3 cup raw organic agave or maple syrup
1/4 cup filtered water
1/4 cup melted coconut oil (melt over low heat till liquid)
*There are many brands of shelled hemp seeds: Ruth's Soft Hemp, Mum's Original Hemp Hearts, Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts -- you can use any one of these. Shelled hemp seeds, soft hemp and hemp hearts are the same thing. The hard outer shell has been removed.
Method: In a blender or food processor, combine hemp seeds, raspberries, cacao powder, agave or maple syrup. Blend under smooth. Add water and coco oil and continue blending until smooth.
Transfer to a baking dish and refrigerate overnight. Sprinkle with raspberries. Cut into squares.
I actually just keep them in the freezer and eat them chilled. I had one for breakfast today, and why not, the good fats and protein in the hemp will keep your belly satisfied for hours. EnJOY!
Be joyous,
Joy
Excerpted from Eat Raw, Eat Well by Douglas McNish © 2012 Robert Rose Inc. www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.
These look gorgeous but one of my children doesnt eat raspberries - can I substitute strawberries?
ReplyYes definitely!
Simple, delicious ingredients - another winner!
ReplyThanks Liz!!
hemp seed is different from hemp hearts, right? hemp seeds are the ones with the shell?
ReplyHemp hearts or shelled hemp seeds are the same thing. Sorry I should be more specific. I will update the recipe!
Joy, I don't have any hemp seeds in my house at the moment but I do have hemp hearts - can I use those instead? And if I can, I assume I don't soak them as they don't have a shell like the hemp seeds. Thanks!!!
ReplyThat's perfect. Hemp hearts or shelled hemp seeds are the same thing. Sorry I should be more specific. I will update the recipe!
Hi Joy, this looks delicious.. Have you ever heard of hemp seeds causing digestive issues, i.e smelly flatuence? thanks mary
ReplyNo I haven't actually. Did you keep it refrigerated once you opened it?
Thanks so much, trying these today!
ReplyJust made these - sooo yummy. This is the best recipe I've tried with hemp seeds. Thank you so much! And I'll have to pick up Doug's book too! :)
ReplyAwesome, glad to hear it.
[...] dip, an organic veggie platter and an olive, cheese, …Go here to read the Original post: Raspberry Chocolate Hemp Squares | joyoushealth.ca 404 Not FoundNot FoundThe requested URL /link_files/TZH6Y4HF53C539H8JTPR-11367.hwe was not found on [...]
ReplyCan I use frozen berries? Does that change any of the recipe amounts?
ReplyYes definitely...
I AM SOOO making this tonight! I just received a bag of hemp hearts from manitoba harvest in the mail, i am doing a review and giveaway next week for them! i am going to mention your blog and recipe in my post! this looks so yummy! and all of the ingrediets fall into my paleo diet. New fan right here :)
ReplyWonderful! And thank you, I really appreciate the mention on your blog :)
Joy I love seeing you on TMS and this recipe looks amazing! If I have cocoa powder can I use instead of raw cacao? Also if I have the hemp hearts do I still need to soak?
ReplyDoug's recipe says to soak them, but I actually did not do this and the recipe still worked! So either way, you have a delicious healthy dessert :)Thanks for watching The Morning Show!
I made these and they weren't as smooth as in your picture. Not sure what I did wrong. They were kind of crunchy??
ReplyReally?? Did you soak the hemp seeds?
Also, did you food process/blend them?
These look incredible, I can't wait to try them!
Replymade these last night and had one with my breakfast - they're amazing! i am also going to try and make them in popsicles form for the summer - i think they would be perfect!
Replylove your site. can I use hemp protein powder instead of hemp seeds for the raspberry chocolate hemp squares.
ReplyHmmmm, I would say no because the texture if so different. But if you want to experiment, then do let me know!
Hеy therе! Wоuld уou mіnd if I share youг blog with my fаcebook gгouρ? There's a lot of people that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Thank you
ReplyNot at all, please do and thank you!
Gooԁ article. I wіll be facing a few of these issuеs аs well. .
ReplyIs it ok to keep these out of the fridge for a while? I was thinking of taking them to a picnic.
ReplyNot for very long... I would suggest you take out of the fridge/freezer shortly before serving.
These look great, thanks for sharing! I wonder if bananas would work for one of my kids who don't eat berries? I would totally eat this for breakfast too!
ReplyYou could give it a try!
I made these with strawberries on the weekend and I really like them but I find I have to keep them in the freezer. When I took one out and put it in the fridge, it melted into a pudding - not sure if I did something wrong while I was making them??
ReplyThis is a recipe that you have to eat it pretty much straight out of the fridge or freezer because the ingredients are very temperature sensitive. These gems tolerate heat a touch better and they are just as delicious! http://www.joyoushealth.com/blog/2014/07/14/strawberry-almond-butter-chocolate-cups/