Heart Healthy Valentines Chocolates
Valentines Day is notorious for being about the chocolates and candy! And, to be frank, we’re not all the way opposed to that. Heck, I’m hoping my husband brings me some real chocolates on Thursday(or caramel- my first love). However, turning your kids focus to heart healthy activities and delicious healthy treats is a great way to show them you love them!
I first saw this recipe on a blog post by Dr. Fuhrman’s daughter, Talia. She called them Chocolate Goji Berry Stars! So, we took her idea, and had a little Valentines fun with them. These chocolates are the epitome of heart healthy, as they are made with only:
- Walnuts:The Vitamin E, specifically the form found in walnuts, have been shown to have significant heart protection. Further studies are showing walnuts are also protective from metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and other cardiovascular problems (source).
- Cocoa: Flavonoids in cocoa can help with cardiovascular health, aid in digestion, reduce tendency to form blood clots, and generally improves blood vessel function.
- and Dates! High in fiber, dates, help keep cholesterol levels normal!
So, let’s eat some walnuts, cocoa and dates for our hearts, shall we?
We first gathered the ingredients:
We gathered the ingredients: Walnuts, cocoa, dates, and dried fruit to decorate with. | Then, we took the walnuts and ground them up in a blender. Then, we added the powdered walnuts to a bowl, with the soft, medjool dates. |
Then, using our fingers, we mixed the two together until it was all incorporated. We added the cocoa last. | Then, using our favorite mini cookie cutters (metal fondant cutters or clay cutters found at craft stores), we pressed our dough into the heart shapes. |
Now, we did find some dried goji berries, but they were super expensive. So, we got a small single serving bag of freeze dried strawberries. These were perfect!! We shaved a bit of the freeze dried strawberry off with just our fingers, and got a pretty red powder to decorate our chocolates.
Then, we decorated our chocolates with both the goji berries and the freeze dried strawberries.
These are delicious if your family likes dark chocolate. My family is more used to sweeter chocolate, so my husband had the idea to add peanut butter! These were our favorite!
Then, we got crazy, and decided to make an assorted “box” of chocolates:
We added coconut and granola to the other ones!
The final recipe is below! Happy Valentines Day! Do you have any fun and healthy valentines traditions?
Heart Healthy Valentines Chocolates
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
- 8 medium dates, Medjool
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder, unsweetened
Instructions
- Blend walnuts in a high powered blender or food processor until a powder.
- Pit the dates, then add walnut powder to a bowl and the pitted dates. Using your hands mix the two ingredients together until the dates are completely incorporated.
- Add the cocoa. Shape into a mold.
- Top with dried fruit, coconut, granola, or peanut butter!
Nutrition
Natalie Monson
I'm a registered dietitian, mom of 4, avid lover of food and strong promoter of healthy habits. Here you will find lots of delicious recipes full of fruits and veggies, tips for getting your kids to eat better and become intuitive eaters and lots of resources for feeding your family.
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they look delicious. I really need to get a Vitamix! I think we’ll be making heart shaped muffins (use dry beans to form them)
Great idea! I’m going the less-homemade route and buying some Lara Bars and using my mini heart cookie cutter to just cut out the shapes 🙂 I won’t mind eating the leftovers either!
Where do you find dates? Are they fresh or dried?
These look wonderful!! Am I reading it right though- you DON’T chop the dates or anything, you leave them whole?
Amy and Natalie, thank you so much for regularly posting healthy and simple alternatives to the classic American over-indulgence. I have been a fan of your site for about a year, and though my husband and I don’t have kids yet, I am sure we will still be frequenting your website when we do!
I tend to fall off the healthy cliff about once a month and binge on brownies, today when I got that chocolate craving, I made these instead. I was surprised by how chocolatey they were! I thought they would taste more like a granola bar, but nope! I’ll definitely be making these again…
Sounds delicious! Yes- You need one!! I promise 🙂
Mmmmm… I have some favorite Larabars!
I get them in two places- Costco usually has them in their produce section. i also have a local store that sells them in their bulk bins. Also, check by the dried fruit (usually in your baking aisle)
Right!! I was surprised by this as well!! The dates were soft enough to mix with the nuts, without chopping them.
Thanks Claire!! I’m glad you liked these, and good luck with your future family 🙂
Can these be frozen? Thanks for the recipe!
We use good chocolate to start with, and then dip and swirl it to give it that finishing touch. You just dip it, let it set and then you’re ready to go.
can we use peanuts and rasains
Yes! that sounds great!
I attempted these but for some reason it’s dates covered in a powder mix. Was there something else I should of added? It’s not even close to looking like a “fudge”
Amanda- don’t use the dates covered in powder. See you if you can find some fresher ones. They should be soft and chewy and not coated with anything.
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We have a tree nut allergy in our house, do you think peanuts or sunflower seeds instead of the walnuts would be any good?
Would figs work as well as dates?
How cool! Not only do those chocolate hearts look delicious they are good for you too!
Carrie- I would try peanuts for sure! They would be a yummy peanut butter chocolate thing! Let me know how they taste!!
They are amazing!!!!! Delicious :)))) Thank you very much for recipe 🙂 I made a half of amount with cocoa and the second with carob. Both amazing 🙂 And I used much more dates (in dry version).
Here you’ve got our version of chocolates:
http://kreaturnakuchnia.blogspot.com/2014/02/walentynkowe-zdrowe-czekoladki.html
Best regards! 🙂
Love this recipe. So simple and fun even for adults. I enjoy finishing up my February cooking class with this perfect treat.