Hey everyone! It’s Tieghan again from Half Baked Harvest. I am so excited to be back on The Chriselle Factor today to share this healthy Valentine’s Day treat with you all. If you missed my last few posts, click here and here!
If there’s one month of the year to celebrate all things chocolate, it’s definitely February. I love any excuse to make sweet treats and splurge on a dozen or so fresh roses. Like a lot of you, I’m still working hard to stick to a pretty healthy lifestyle for 2018, and that includes keeping my eats (mostly) clean and healthy. The good news for us is that it’s possible to still enjoy sweets even when on a healthy eating plan. Enter this chocolate chia mousse.
This mousse is packed with so many good for us ingredients that it could almost be considered a Superfood…and in my mind it totally is.
Chia seeds are crazy little seeds that when added to liquid, they plump up and become soft and pudding like. They can even be used in place of eggs in most recipes. They’re truly one of the coolest and craziest ingredients. Chia seeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, antioxidants, iron, and calcium. A single serving of chia seeds contains 5.6 grams of protein, making this mousse a healthy dose of vegan protein.
The other Superfood ingredient today is cacao, which is the purest, rawest form of chocolate, and contains high amounts of antioxidants. Cacao also supplies the body with serotonin, which will help to combat stress and improve our mood by promoting feelings of happiness, relaxation, and well being. Perfect for us single girls who might need a happiness boost on Valentine’s Day!
And finally, one of the best parts about this recipe is just how easy it is to make. Just mix everything together, let the chia seeds soak for a bit, blend, chill the mousse, and then eat. It does take a little time to prepare because of all the chilling, so plan a little ahead when making this chocolate mousse.
Vegan Chocolate Chia Mousse
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes + 4 hours chill time
Serves: 6
3/4 cup chia seeds
2 1/4 cups nut milk
1/2 cup cacao powder, or unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup real maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon flakey sea salt
dried roses and cacao nibs, for serving (optional)
Coconut Cream
1 (14 ounce) can coconut cream, chilled
2 tablespoons real maple syrup or honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
In a bowl, whisk together the chia seeds, milk, cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla and salt. Cover and place in the fridge for 2 hours or up to overnight.
Transfer the chia seed mix to a blender and blend on high power until smooth and creamy. It’s helpful to scrape down the sides once or twice while blending to incorporate everything. Taste and add more maple if a sweeter mousse is desired. Spoon the mouse into 6 servings bowls. Cover and chill 2 hours or overnight.
To make the coconut cream, tip the coconut cream upside down and pour out the coconut water. Scoop out the coconut cream and add it to a mixing bowl with the maple syrup and vanilla. Using an electric mixer, whip the cream until combined.
Serve the mousse topped with coconut cream, and if desired, dried roses and cacao nibs.
To make the coconut cream hearts, line an 8×8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Spread the coconut cream into the prepared pan. Freeze 20-30 minutes. Using a heart cookie cutter, cut out hearts.
And there you have it! A totally guilt-free and vegan chocolate moose just in time for Valentine’s Day! Will you guys be making this for your boo? Leave a comment down below and have a great weekend!