Chocolate Mousse That’s Loaded With Healthy Fats
Anybody who’s been following a paleo diet for an extended period of time knows how important quality sources of dietary fats are. Along with protein, healthy fats generally make up the vast majority of your daily calories. The good news is that this chocolate mousse is packed with healthy fats in a dessert that also tastes incredible.
The chocolate flavoring in the mousse comes from the delectable mixture of dark chocolate and cacao powder. Not only is dark chocolate high in monounsaturated fats, it has specific bioactive compounds such as theobromine that help to protect your heart against cardiovascular disease. (1) On its own, dark chocolate doesn’t tend to be particularly sweet, however, as it has more of a rich and bitter flavor.
That’s where the cacao powder comes into play. Cacao powder perfectly offsets the dark chocolate and they combine to produce a deliciously dreamy chocolate flavor in the mousse. Best of all, cacao powder is also loaded with healthy nutrients, including essential vitamins, minerals, and an even higher antioxidant content than even blueberries possess. Cacao contains flavonols and methylxanthines in abundance. These components have a wide range of benefits for human health, including reducing blood pressure, improving sleep quality, and even boosting your mood. (2)
The coconut milk and coconut oil both provide plenty of health benefits as well. They each have their own fair share of vitamins and minerals, in addition to contributing to the overall flavor profile of the recipe. And contrary to what many people may think, the fats found in coconuts are medium-chain triglyceride fatty acids, which have been shown to help weight loss by being easily burned as energy rather than store as body fat. (3) Together, the coconut oil and coconut milk help round out this awesome mousse through their creamy components.
This chocolate mousse is the perfect balance of rich, creamy and bittersweet. Top it with some fresh raspberries, shaved chocolate, and mint leaves, and you have one sumptuous dessert. Don’t forget to chill it before serving.
If you’re looking for more great chocolate dessert recipes to try out, here are a few other great ones that are featured on the site:
Ingredients
- 4 oz paleo approved dark chocolate
- 2 tbsp melted coconut oil
- 2 tbsp cacao powder
- 1 (14 oz) can full fat coconut milk
Directions
- Melt the chocolate using the double boiler method.
- Place the coconut milk, melted chocolate, coconut oil and cacao powder in a food processor and process until smooth.
- Divide the mixture between 6 (3 oz) glasses.
- Refrigerate for minimum 1 hour before serving.
- Garnish with fresh berries and serve!