Healthy Treats for Valentine's Day

It’s the season for chocolate! Ashley joined the team at Mass Appeal to share a healthier take on a classic candy bar that you can whip up at home!

WATCH THE CLIP HERE

Healthier Snickers Bar

Ingredients
1 13.5 oz. can coconut cream
½ cup tigernut flour or almond flour
½ cup almond butter or peanut butter
12-15 pitted dates, soaked
1 cup almonds, rough chopped
12 oz. dark chocolate chips
½ tsp. vanilla extract
Pinch salt

Instructions:
Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper and set aside. In a medium bowl mix together the tigernut flour, almond butter, vanilla extract and coconut cream. Stir until fully combined and the flour is incorporated. Spread the mixture in an even layer on the bottom of the baking dish. Freeze for 20-30 minutes. While the base freezes mix together the date caramel. In a food processor add the soaked dates, almonds and a little of the soaking water. Blend the mixture until it looks almost like a sticky paste.
Add the date caramel layer over the already frozen base. Freeze for 1 to 2 hours until solid. Once the two layers are frozen, Melt the chocolate in either a double boiler or in a microwave in 30 second intervals taking care not to burn the chocolate. Slice the base into 9-12 bars. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a fork to dip the bars into the chocolate and shake off any excess. Place on the baking sheet to harden. Once all the bars are dipped, place in the fridge for 20 minutes until the chocolate is fully set. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 1 week.

Chocolate Message Hearts

Ingredients:
4 oz. dark chocolate bar, chopped
4 oz. white chocolate bar, chopped
4 oz. milk chocolate bar, chopped
2 tsp. coconut oil, melted
Chocolate Message Heart Silicone Mold

Instructions:
Chop each bar into small chunks and place in 3 separate heat safe bowls with a little coconut oil. Heat in the microwave in 30 second intervals until melted or on a double boiler. Spray the silicone mold with cooking spray. Fill each heart with chocolate or choice or combination of the two. Place in the fridge for an hour or more. Gently push out of the silicone molds and serve. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

Dark Chocolate:
Subtle flavors of blackberry, cherry and mocha
The active ingredient in dark chocolate is good for your heart and brain
It contains fiber, minerals and antioxidants
You want 70% or higher dark chocolate

Percentages:
The percentages of a bar that come straight from the cocoa beans. A 70% bar would contain 70% of refined cocoa beans and 30% consists of all the other ingredients.