Coconut-Crusted Cacao Nibs

When I first sampled these culinary coconut cacao nibs by Mum’s Original in Meghan Telpner’s kitchen, I immediately fell in love.

It doesn’t get much better than chocolate dipped in coconut sugar. And the best part? Raw cacao nibs are teeming with antioxidants and valuable minerals like magnesium and iron, so they’re a health-promoting treat I can feel good about.

Coconut culinary cacao nibs are pricey, but worth every penny. Since I’m not made of money, though, they’ve become my special occasion luxury treat. When something incredibly fabulous happens to me, I don’t buy a new pair of shoes or go for a manicure – I head straight for a bag of these babies.

Then I wondered, given the simplicity of the ingredient list, could I create my own?

My version is delicious, though not as sweet, and they didn’t have the consistency of store-bought version. They’re not an exact replica, but they disappeared into my belly just as quickly.

Give these a try, please. They’re chocolate coated with a nutrient-rich sweetener. Enough said.

(Looking for healthy dessert recipes, or tips for how to eat deliciously on a budget? Then check out my e-books here.)

Coconut-Crusted Cacao Nibs
gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, soy-free, egg-free, five ingredients or less

1/4 cup raw cacao nibs
2 1/2 tbsp coconut sugar, ground

Grind the coconut sugar in a spice grinder until it becomes a fine powder.

In a small pot, mix one tablespoon of the coconut sugar with one tablespoon of water. Gently heat the mixture until it becomes bubbly, then stir in the cacao nibs.

Put the remaining coconut sugar in a bowl, and add the cacao nibs. Toss well to make sure all the nibs get coated with the sugar.

Spread the nibs onto a piece of parchment and allow them to dry.