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Healthy Fudge Recipe to Help Curb Your Sweet Tooth

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Oh yeah…I said it. Today I present to you my healthy fudge recipe that will help curb the sweetest of sweet teeth. Trust me…it takes one to know one.

Can I get a woop, woop! Now, let me be quite clear about why I mean when I say “healthy”. It’s not like you’re about to eat a bag of carrots with hummus or an apple with natural peanut butter. No, I’m not a wizard. But, this is a fudge you can make that has no artificial sweeteners and no added sugar (other than what’s in the dried fruit). It’s also made with coconut oil, so you’re getting some “good fats” added to your diet, as well. So YAY…win!

HOWEVER…portion control is essential. And by portion I’m talking about a 2″ x 2″ block of this stuff PER DAY, so be wise when you eat it. Slow down. Enjoy it. Mmmmmmmm.

Okay, now that I’ve laid the groundwork for you…THIS FUDGE IS AMAZING.

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When I am on programs that limit sugar intake such as IGNITE or Hot Mama’s Body Smarts program, my sweet tooth goes INSANE. I’m a peanut butter cup fiend, so when my sugar is limited, I get a little cranky. My husband knows I’m about to get serious when he sees my healthy fudge recipe come out! He often backs away slowly away and leaves me alone for 4 or 5 days.

Sugar. It’s a real problem for me. So, I make this fudge recipe. The small block of fudge I get to savour is enough to tide me over so I don’t attack the Costco-sized back of Chipits (those are the devil) I hid in the back of my baking cupboard.

Alright…ready for the magic? Of course you are!

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Healthy Fudge Recipe

Ingredients:

12 dates, softened
1 ripened banana
1 tsp vanilla (or mint extract!)
1/2 cup coconut oil
2/3 cup cocoa powder

Instructions:

Soften dates by putting them in a bowl, covering them with water, then microwave them for about 1 minutes.
Throw the softened dates and ripened banana in a food processor.
On the stovetop melt the coconut oil in a pan on medium heat.
Whisk in cocoa powder.
Pour the melted chocolate mixture into the food processor.
Mix until smooth.
Add any nuts or dried fruit you like.
Place the fudge in the fridge or freezer to cool.
Enjoy (that’s the best part!)

I highly recommend you cut your fudge up into proper portions and store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer. This fudge cannot be left on the counter because 1) you’ll eat it all and 2) it will melt.

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NOMNOMNOM!!!!

 

Healthy Mighty Muffins

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I love back to school. I love it for many, many reasons, but mostly I love the routine of school. Sweet, sweet blessed routine!

Getting ready for school is also fun…the kids are excited, I’M excited and I do love the prep that goes into getting everything ready and organized so when we kick our kids’ butts out the door, we know they’re ready.

I also love hearing my Mama friends fret about what to put in lunches for afternoon snacks, because I always, ALWAYS have the solution! Go me!

Enter my Healthy Mighty Muffins. These muffins are super easy to make, they’re gluten and dairy-free and they are YUMMY! Even better, you can mix in any add-in ingredients you want to cater to your own family’s taste buds!

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Ingredients:

1 cup almond butter
12 dates, softened*
2 bananas
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cinnamon
3 eggs
1/4 cup chia seeds

Add-ins (choose as many or as few as you like, mix & match, the world is your oyster!)

1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup pepita seeds
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, pecans or almonds
1/2 cup any dried fruit (I always look for dried fruit sweetened with juice to avoid added sugar)
1/2 cup berries
1/2 cup chocolate chips
Whatever the heck else you want to throw in there!!

I usually choose 3-4 add-ins for my family, but we like really loaded and “busy” muffins.

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350F
Throw the first 7 ingredients into a food processor and blend until the dates are mixed through.
Stir in chia seeds and any add-ins you choose
Bake for 15-18 minutes
That’s IT!

These store in the fridge for about 5 days, or even better, throw them in the freezer and put one into your kid’s lunches. They’re thawed and ready to eat for afternoon snack and you KNOW they’re eating something that will help them finish their day strong!

ENJOY!

*Note: To soften dates put them in a microwave safe bowl, cover them with water and microwave for 50-55 seconds on medium power.