Coconut Oil, Chocolate Movie Bonbons

Servings: 10 bonbons
Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 4 ounces dark chocolate or chocolate chips
• ice cream or sherbet, any flavor

Directions:

Cool a cookie sheet in the freezer for 15 minutes.

Melt the coconut oil in a saucepan over low heat, and then stir in chocolate until dissolved. It should barely be warm, not hot. The chocolate mixed with coconut oil will stay melted as it cools.

Remove cookie sheet when cold and layer with wax paper.

Use a small melon baller or round measuring teaspoon to make 20 small ice cream or sherbet balls. Place the balls on the wax paper covered cookie sheet and place back in the freezer for 15 minutes.

Use a toothpick to dip each ball in chocolate and place back on the cold cookie sheet. Store in the freezer or serve on a precooled plate.

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Coconut Oil, Chocolate, Banana Bonbons

Servings: 24 bonbons/8 servings
Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 large organic, sun-dried Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
• 1/2 cup filtered water
• 2/3 cup unrefined coconut oil
• 1 cup organic 100% cacao powder
• 6 ripe, organic bananas
• 1/2 cup coconut flakes

Equipment:

• 24 paper mini muffin or candy cup liners (1 1/2-inch)
• small pot
• 4 cup heat-proof glass measuring cup
• calibrated thermometer
• mini ice cream scoop (the one bigger than a melon baller but not as big as a traditional ice cream scooper)

Directions:

In a small bowl, soak dates with 1/2 cup water at room temperature for 24 hours. Drain and reserve 1/3 cup of the liquid. This is your date syrup. Use the date pieces and remaining date syrup (if any) in another recipe or smoothie.

Place glass measuring cup in a small pot. Fill pot halfway up the side of the glass measuring cup with water. Be sure not to get water in the glass. Heat until the water is 110 degrees F; use your thermometer to be sure. Maintain 110 degrees F.

Place coconut oil in the measuring cup and heat until completely liquid. Whisk in the date syrup. Whisk in the cacao powder 1/4 cup at a time. Be sure to whisk until smooth each time. Repeat until all of the cacao powder is incorporated; this is your chocolate.

Peel bananas. Lay each banana on its side onto a flat surface. Starting on one side, use the ice cream scoop and press down on the banana to make a full scoop. Wet your hand with water and press the cut piece of banana into the scoop to form the bonbon shape. Press the release lever and remove the formed bonbon into your hand. Place this flat side down in the center of a flattened muffin liner. Repeat with all of the bananas. You should be able to get 4 formed bonbons per banana and have left over trimmings.

Whisk chocolate again. Hold the papered bonbon in the palm of your hand. Gently cover the top of the bonbon with a small amount of chocolate. Allow it to run down the sides to completely cover the banana and slightly pool at the bottom. Push the paper cup sides down to allow the chocolate to cover part of the bottom of the banana. Use a flat cake spatula and gently remove the bonbon from the paper and transfer to a small sheet pan lined with waxed paper without touching the sides. The bonbon will slowly slide off the spatula when slightly tilted.

Pinch some of the shredded coconut onto the top of the bonbon. Scrape the excess chocolate off the paper back into the Pyrex, stir well, and wipe your cake spatula clean with a damp cloth. Repeat the above until all the bananas are covered in chocolate, transferred, and garnished. Next, place flat in the freezer for at least 3 hours to fully set. If serving right away, remove from the freezer, set for 5 minutes, gently remove, and serve. If serving later, remove from the pan and place in a sealed container in the freezer for up to 1 week.

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Coconut, Cacao, Almond Butter Cups

Servings: 8

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces organic cacao chips
• 1/3 cup  coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons cacao powder
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• pinch salt
• 1 cup almonds or walnuts
• 1 cup dried, unsweetened coconut
• 1/3 cups almond butter, as needed

Directions:

Slowly melt cacao chips, oil, and butter. Add cacao, honey, salt, and vanilla, stirring vigorously to temper the mixture. Add nuts and coconut.

Place small candy cups on a sheet tray. You may use larger ones but won’t have as many. Pour in chocolate mixture to cover bottom. Place 1/4–1/2 teaspoon almond butter on top of chocolate mixture. Cover with remaining chocolate mixture. Freeze for 15 minutes or longer. Keep in cool place such as refrigerator.

Recipe and photo submitted by Cheryl, OKC, OK.

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