This dark chocolate bar recipe produces one of the healthiest chocolate treats you will find. It also tastes better than the commercial stuff you end up buying! This is one of the few chocolates that I make without any of the other healthy sugars and it is not for everyone. Only those who like very dark chocolate will appreciate the intense chocolate flavour.
I use healthy ingredients for all of my chocolate.
Dark Walnut Chocolate Bar Ingredients
Chocolate
Of course, the main ingredient is chocolate in this recipe. Chocolate is a favourite for many people and it can be a very healthy food for you. The good news is that there is research suggesting how healthy it is. It is a superfood. What you have to know is that it is chocolate that has not been sweetened that is being used in all of the research you see.
Here are a few of the benefits of unsweetened chocolate:
- It has anti-clotting, blood-thinning properties. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Chocolate eaters have lower stress levels. Live Science Stress Study Finds
- Learn more about how Chocolate Can Be Good for You.
This is the chocolate I use in my bars and in this dark chocolate bar.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil was once thought of as a heart disease-causing saturated fat that has now been proclaimed ‘the healthiest oil on earth.’ Discover how this transformation came about and the top 12 benefits of this newly declared Amazing SuperFood. These are the ingredient that gives the walnut dark chocolate bar a creaminess.
I always have some Kirkland Signature Cold Pressed Unrefined Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, 84 Ounce in my kitchen.
- Cold Pressed Unrefined Coconut Oil 84 FL OZ
- USDA Certified Organic
Stevia
As I don’t use sugar for my baking I often use stevia which is a healthy option. The stevia plant is incredibly sweet and also incredibly good for you. The leaf is 30 times sweeter than sugar while extracts are 300-400 times sweeter. The best stevia will, therefore, be the one that retains some whole-food value and is water-based. Liquid forms will be less processed. Go here to learn How to Get the Best Stevia Without the Bitterness.
Raisins are a healthy, tasty food when eaten in moderation. They are a good source of nutrients and add sweetness to desserts and snacks. According to Medical News Today, they have many health benefits. Raisins add that extra sweetness to this dark chocolate bar.
Raisins
Here are two organic raisins I recommend:
SunMaid California Sun-Dried Organic Raisins are USDA Organic, No Sugar Added
Walnuts
Walnuts add a good crunch to this dark chocolate bar. My mom loved to cook with them because they add flavour to any dessert. Now I know that walnuts are also highly nutritious, so much so that I consider them a superfood to make your dark chocolate bar. They are high in omega-3 fatty acids, a good source of protein, and are rich in minerals.
Walnut Dark Chocolate Bar
Ingredients
- 4 squares unsweetened baking chocolate (approx. 112gm)
- 1 Tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp light liquid stevia
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup walnuts chopped
- 1/2 cup raisins or sultanas
Instructions
- Combine chocolate and coconut oil in a double boiler or carefully in a saucepan.
- Heat until all the chocolate and coconut oil is melted.
- Add the stevia.
- Mix in the vanilla extract after removing from heat.
- Line an 8-inch square pan or bread tin with parchment paper.
- Evenly sprinkle the walnuts and raisins in the pan.
- Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the raisins and walnuts.
- Let it cool in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Once the chocolate has set, cut it into squares.
- Store the chocolate in a covered container. It can also be stored in a refrigerator or freezer if desired.
- Now enjoy your healthy walnut dark chocolate bar which is a healthy treat!
Notes
Here is another dark chocolate recipe that is a little less intensely dark!
Cherry Pecan Dark Chocolate Bar – This is a decadent chocolate that everyone loves that I gave samples to. This is just one of the recipes from the Chocolate Project where I carefully teach you how to make all the healthy chocolate you would ever want.
One More Chocolate Recipe
Yummy Chocolate Cherry Vegan Ice Cream is Delicious and Healthy – This vegan ice cream is delicious! Who doesn’t like chocolate cherry ice cream? This is a simple recipe and this vegan ice cream is so yummy and made with some of my favourite ingredients. And not filled with unhealthy sugar!
Give Healthy Chocolate as Gifts for Your Family and Friends.
Learn how to make an assortment of amazingly delicious chocolates that are healthy for you. Each of them uses small quantities of healthy sugars such as honey, coconut sugar, rice syrup or agave syrup.
I have been working on new recipes for ‘The Healthy Chocolate Project’ since 2011.
Check out the Healthy Chocolate Project
Perhaps you need to do carob rather than chocolate, here are two recipes for you.
Raw Carob Pudding – I was inspired to make this for my friend Edward; he eats 100% raw food and loves carob. The first try I made was good but not as good as I knew it could be so this second try is delicious.
Carob Banana Pudding with Peanut Butter is Yummy– This carob banana pudding is so simple and fast to make. It is a delicious dessert filled with the health benefits of carob, banana, and peanut butter. Like all my desserts, there is no refined sugar in it. This pudding is sweet because of the banana and the carob so it is a healthy dessert.
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Sounds great and thanks for using Stevia! Will give it a try!
What about using pure maple syrup instead of stevia?
Stevia is best as it is so sweet without having all the extreme sugar effects. Sorry Christina maple syrup will not work. 1 tsp of maple syrup is not as sweet as 1 tsp of stevia.
Darn..I’m not very big on stevia. Oh well guess I’ll have to use it anyway.
To have chocolate or to not have chocolate. That is the question.
Sometimes, I almost sympathize with the many who do not want to know.
How do we know that bakers chocolate is non GMO?
Thanks so much for this recipe. I want to try substituting goji berries for the raisins.
Goji berries sounds like a good idea. Let me know how it turns out.
What about using more of coconut sugar? Also for those who don’t like darker than 65 %, what about semi-sweet chocolate?
Doris, in the recipe above that will not work well. I have given a link to another sweeter recipe. See above as it is now there.
For Vegan milk chocolate there are recipes in the Healthy Chocolate Project. I spend literally hours testing and retesting to get the best recipes so you can be assured you will get good recipes there.
Is there another beneficial substitute for coconut oil?
Hi Sheila, Apologies for the late reply. You could use any other healthy oil (Almond, Sunflower, Avocado oil or Hemp seed oil). Also, you could try making it without the addition of oil. Let us know how it works for you.