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Dairy-Free Ways to Get Your Chocolate Fix

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:29:20 PDT

If dairy products don't sit well with your belly or you choose to eat a vegan diet, then you can still satisfy your chocolate cravings. Although milk chocolate is made with dairy, many dark chocolate products are not. Just be sure to read the label before indulging in any chocolatey treat. I've done the legwork for you and gathered a list of my favorite dessert products and recipes that don't contain a drop of milk, butter, or cream.

Use vegan chocolate chips and whip up a batch of vegan chocolate mouse made with this simple three-ingredient recipe.
Endangered Species makes a few varieties of dairy-free dark chocolate including Dark Chocolate With Cranberries and Almonds, Dark Chocolate With Mint, Dark Chocolate With Blueberries, and Dark Chocolate With Espresso Beans.
Get baking and prepare these decadent vegan brownies made with a secret ingredient: spinach. Top with fresh fruit puree or enjoy it on its own.
If you prefer a crunchy cookie, then bake up a healthier, vegan version of Thin Mints.

See more dairy-free chocolate ideas after the break!

A Reader Recipe: Low-Cal French Silk Pie

Fit Community — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:44:07 PDT

FitSugar reader Connoisseur4TheCure shared this low-cal recipe for chocolate cream pie in our Healthy Recipe group.

This no-bake chocolate pie is fantastic! You won't know it's healthy while you are eating it! This recipe contains tofu, which is high in protein. One slice of this pie has about 230 calories, which is about half of the calories in a regular chocolate pie.

Chocolate is believed to have many health benefits from its antioxidant properties. Go here for more on the research of chocolate and its anti-cancer properties.

Learn more about the recipe after the break!

What 100 Calories Look Like: Easter Candy

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:14:08 PDT

Whether the Easter Bunny brings you marshmallow Peeps, Cadbury Creme Eggs, and jellybeans - or you go out and buy your own - like Halloween, this holiday surrounds us with delicious, crave-worthy candy. It's only one time of year, so don't hesitate to indulge, but before you do, check out how many nibbles of your favorite Easter goodies add up to 100 calories.

9 Festive Easter Chocolates For Vegans

Lizzie Fuhr — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:19:30 PDT

Spring is in full bloom, and Easter is just around the corner! If you've taken on a vegan diet, there's no need to feel nostalgic about chocolate bunny memories from the past. Generally, if you choose chocolate that is at least 65 percent cocoa, you're in the clear! Get hopping as you click through all of the vegan Easter chocolatey goodness.

Good News For Chocoholics: Study Says Chocolate May Help You Stay Slim

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:44:01 PDT

This good news couldn't come at a better time, especially with all the chocolate bunnies and cream-filled chocolate eggs hopping around. A study examining surveys from nearly 1,000 adult men and women published in the journal Archives of Medicine shows that people who eat chocolate frequently (more than twice a week) have a lower BMI (body mass index) compared to those who consume it less regularly. In fact, even though chocolate eaters in the study consumed more calories overall, they still had lower BMIs.

Researchers think there may be something in the chocolate that makes the calories consumed less likely to be deposited as fat. Chocolate contains polyphenols, which in animal studies have been known to increase the number of energy-burning mitochondria inside cells, as well as improve blood flow. Both of these factors could boost metabolism, which in turn would prevent weight gain. Some researchers, however, aren't convinced, because they feel in order for polyphenols to have this kind of effect on BMI, the chocolate consumed would need to contain high levels of polyphenols, such as that found in pure cocoa. Chances are the participants were eating processed chocolate with low levels of polyphenols.

Studies do show that indulging a little can curb cravings, preventing possible binges. This in turn prevents weight gain, which could also be a reason chocolate eaters have a lower BMI. Unfortunately, this recent chocolate research doesn't give you the green light to devour an entire chocolate bunny just yet. The researchers only found an association between eating chocolate and staying slim, and feel more detailed research needs to be done in order to confirm the connection.

Now we want to know: how often do you eat chocolate?

Close Out National Chocolate Week With 10 Luscious Treats

Sara Yoo — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:05:32 PDT

National Chocolate Week ends today, but it's not too late to honor this tempting ingredient. We've gathered up 10 of our richest and most beguiling recipes to whip up before this delectable holiday ends. Of course, we firmly believe in chocolate's culinary ubiquity, so feel free to enjoy these sweet treats in perpetuity!

Photos: Camilla Salem and Lauren Hendrickson

Baking With Color: Chocolate-Matcha Mochi Bundt Cake

Sara Yoo — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 05:45:57 PST

I love using color to brighten up my baked goods, but sometimes the idea of adding drop after drop of artificial food dye makes me cringe. So with St. Patrick's Day coming up, the hunt was on to find a natural coloring agent to turn my baked goods a lovely shade of green.

Historically used in Japanese tea ceremonies, matcha is finely milled green tea powder that today finds its way into mochi, soba noodles, ice cream, candy, and pastries to impart a light tea flavor and intense green hue. Although it's not a traditional Irish flavor, I thought I'd test the luck of the, well, Japanese and add it to my Springtime Bundt cake.

Taking the Asian influence a step further, I substituted mochi rice flour for the regular all-purpose flour, which made it denser than the fluffy Bundt cake of yore but a little chewy and texturally interesting. A layer of chocolate gives your palate more to mull over while you chew.

Ready for this different take on a Springtime cake? Just keep reading!

What Makes Dutch Process Cocoa Different?

Laura Marie Given — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 14:20:50 PST

Ever wondered how Dutch process cocoa differs from natural cocoa? We've got the answer: both types of cocoa powder are unsweetened, but Dutch process cocoa is treated with an alkalizing agent to neutralize its natural acidity.

Created by Dutch chocolate maker Coenraad Johannes van Houten, the process results in not only lower acidity but also a milder, less bitter taste and a darker color.

So how does this affect your recipes? Since Dutch process cocoa has a neutral pH, it doesn't react with baking soda. Instead, Dutch process cocoa should be mixed with baking powder for leavening. Although the two types of cocoa powder are certainly interchangeable in some recipes, the results will vary if you substitute one for the other.

What to remember: Dutch process cocoa is darker with a more complex flavor, while natural cocoa powder has a light color and a more fruity taste. Most recipes remove the guesswork, because directions typically state whether or not Dutch process cocoa is preferred.

Interested in baking with Dutch process cocoa? Here are a few recipes to try:

15 Vegan-Approved Ways to Enjoy Chocolate

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:07:13 PST

While giving up butter and milk is definitely an adjustment, vegans can still enjoy the splendors of chocolatey goodness as much as the next gal. Typically, any dark chocolate is usually vegan because it does not contain milk powder (this usually starts at 65 percent cocoa). The higher quality the chocolate, the higher the chance that it will have pure ingredients and no additives. All you've got to do is read the label. If you're a vegan in serious need of a yummy chocolate fix, these recipes will be right up your alley.

Here are 15 chocolatey-good recipes that both vegans and nonvegans can enjoy together in blissful dessert harmony.

Say Goodbye to the Reign of King-Size Candy Bars

Susannah Chen — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:12:05 PST

Mars Inc., candy-maker and Willy Wonka to your favorite checkout counter candy bars, has announced it will stop selling any candy over 250 calories by the end of 2013. This includes king-size editions of favorites, such as Snickers, Milky Way, Twix, M&M's, 3 Musketeers, Dove, Mars, and Galaxy.

Although there's speculation that this move is financially motivated, Mars maintains it's a movement towards a healthier eating effort: "Mars has a broad-based commitment to health and nutrition, and this includes a number of global initiatives," the company said.

It's hard to know whether this'll make a difference, considering studies show portion-controlled packs might actually make people eat more. Will you be stocking up on king-size candy?