Cacao Chocolate Mousse with Coconut Whipped Cream
Dairy free, Soy free, Nut free and Gluten free!
This cacao mousse is so creamy and delicious, you’d never guess it’s made with avocados! It’s about as healthy as you can get while satisfying your desire for an after dinner (or anytime) dessert. A great make-ahead treat that you can serve for any holiday or special occasion.
Cacao Mousse
Ingredients:
2 Avocados (make sure they are ripe)
½ Cup Unsweetened Vanilla Coconut Milk
¼ Cup Cacao Powder
1/3 Cup Raw Coconut Nectar
Method:
Combine all ingredients into a food processor (or high speed blender) and mix until consistency is creamy, about 3-5 minutes. Be sure to stop and scrape the sides intermittently.
Scoop into individual desert cups, cover and refrigerate for at least four hours. This mousse will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
Coconut Whipped Cream
1 can Coconut milk (full fat, not light)
1 Tablespoon Raw Coconut Nectar
1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla
Method:
- Very important: The can of coconut milk must be refrigerated for at least 24 hours to allow the contents to separate.
Carefully remove the lid of the coconut milk after it has been refrigerated. Do not shake the can. With a spoon scoop out the thick cream into a medium mixing bowl. Save the liquid left in the can and use for smoothies!
Add remaining ingredients. With a hand mixer, or an electric one that has a whisk attachment, mix until the cream forms a stiff peak. About 2-3 minutes.
You can serve the coconut whipped cream immediately, or store in a glass container in the refrigerator, for up to a week, until you’re ready to use it.
Servings:
Cacao Mousse: 3 – 4 individual desert cups
Coconut Whipped Cream: Makes approximately 2 cups
ENJOY!
Nutritional Benefits:
Avocado:
Avocados are a staple in my home and they are packed with nutrients. They are an excellent source of potassium and have an assortment of vitamins such as: B-vitamins, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E. One of the key benefits the avocado provides is it contains the essential fatty acids necessary for brain function, as well as growth and development. Our body can’t make essential fatty acids so it’s imperative we get these good fats by making healthy food choices!
Cacao Powder:
The health benefits of the cacao bean are as follows:
- Contain magnesium which is a major mineral needed for many functions in our bodies, like muscle and nerve function.
- Contains fiber
- Contains Iron
Contains flavonoids, a type of anti-oxidant that promotes general health and can help you to lower your risk of several diseases.
Coconut Milk:
Coconuts contain a significant amount of fat, but the good kind that our bodies need. Coconuts contain medium chain fatty acids which the body can absorb better. They also contain lauric acid, which in the body gets converted to a highly beneficial compound called monolaurin, containing: antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. This is one of Mother Nature’s finest foods!
Raw Coconut Nectar:
I use the brand Coconut Secret (google the brand for more info) which can be found in the raw section at Whole Foods (not sure about other grocery stores). This natural sweetener comes from the sap of the coconut palm tree. It’s naturally sweet but the benefits are numerous. It’s a low-glycemic (much lower than agave). I prefer this brand over others because it’s raw, which means it contains living enzymes that are highly beneficial to our bodies. To boot this sweetener has beneficial nutrients, 17 amino acids, minerals, vitamin C and some broad-spectrum B vitamins.
I hope you enjoy this yummy dessert!
Pam