I co-hosted a party on the weekend with my sweetie to celebrate Spring and more importantly, his birthday! I made a bunch of snacks: beet goat cheese dip, navy bean basil dip, an organic veggie platter and an olive, cheese, grape platter with Mary’s Brown Rice Crackers. And for dessert, I made my famous sexy balls, but turned them into squares and sprinkled unsulfured coco flakes on top. And if that wasn’t enough, I also made the recipe I’m sharing with you today: Raspberry Chocolate Hemp Squares.
This recipe is from my friend Doug’s new raw recipe book called: Eat Raw, Eat Well. These squares are gluten-free, vegan, raw, nutrient-dense and most importantly — creamy, rich and deeeelicious!
There’s a trick to these squares though. I only froze them for about 3-4 hours prior to my party and they needed longer. They tasted delicious scooped into a bowl and enjoyed like pudding. However, I left them in the freezer overnight and they were perfectly formed and incredibly rich and delicious the next day, a 10/10! They remind me of my travels in Italy last year while eating the richest, creamiest chocolate gelato.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 cups shelled hemp seeds* (soak for 30 minutes, discard water)
- 2 cups organic raspberries or strawberries (use what is in season if you can)
- 1/2 cup raw cacao
- 1/3 cup raw organic agave or maple syrup
- 1/4 cup filtered water
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil (melt over low heat till liquid)
*There are many brands of shelled hemp seeds: Ruth’s Soft Hemp, Mum’s Original Hemp Hearts, Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts — you can use any one of these. Shelled hemp seeds, soft hemp and hemp hearts are the same thing. The hard outer shell has been removed.
Method: In a blender or food processor, combine hemp seeds, raspberries, cacao powder, agave or maple syrup. Blend under smooth. Add water and coco oil and continue blending until smooth.
Transfer to a baking dish and refrigerate overnight. Sprinkle with raspberries. Cut into squares.
I actually just keep them in the freezer and eat them chilled. I had one for breakfast today, and why not, the good fats and protein in the hemp will keep your belly satisfied for hours. EnJOY!
Be joyous,
Joy
Upcoming:
Natural Beauty Makeover: June 16th.
Fall Eat Well Feel Well 6-wk nutrition + yoga class
Joy McCarthy, Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Health Coach of Joyous Health, loves to inspire others to eat well, live well and be happy.
Joy has clients from all over the world and consults via phone and Skype. Contact Joy today and take the first step.
Excerpted from Eat Raw, Eat Well by Douglas McNish © 2012 Robert Rose Inc. www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.
These look gorgeous but one of my children doesnt eat raspberries – can I substitute strawberries?
Yes definitely!
Simple, delicious ingredients – another winner!
Thanks Liz!!
hemp seed is different from hemp hearts, right?
hemp seeds are the ones with the shell?
Hemp hearts or shelled hemp seeds are the same thing. Sorry I should be more specific. I will update the recipe!
Joy, I don’t have any hemp seeds in my house at the moment but I do have hemp hearts – can I use those instead? And if I can, I assume I don’t soak them as they don’t have a shell like the hemp seeds. Thanks!!!
That’s perfect. Hemp hearts or shelled hemp seeds are the same thing. Sorry I should be more specific. I will update the recipe!
Hi Joy,
this looks delicious..
Have you ever heard of hemp seeds causing digestive issues, i.e smelly flatuence?
thanks mary
No I haven’t actually. Did you keep it refrigerated once you opened it?
yes, the hemp seeds are in the fridge?
thanks for taking the time to respond.
Yes.
Thanks so much, trying these today!
Just made these – sooo yummy. This is the best recipe I’ve tried with hemp seeds. Thank you so much! And I’ll have to pick up Doug’s book too!
Awesome, glad to hear it.
Can I use frozen berries? Does that change any of the recipe amounts?
Yes definitely…
I AM SOOO making this tonight! I just received a bag of hemp hearts from manitoba harvest in the mail, i am doing a review and giveaway next week for them! i am going to mention your blog and recipe in my post! this looks so yummy! and all of the ingrediets fall into my paleo diet.
New fan right here
Wonderful! And thank you, I really appreciate the mention on your blog
Joy I love seeing you on TMS and this recipe looks amazing! If I have cocoa powder can I use instead of raw cacao? Also if I have the hemp hearts do I still need to soak?
Doug’s recipe says to soak them, but I actually did not do this and the recipe still worked! So either way, you have a delicious healthy dessert
Thanks for watching The Morning Show!
I made these and they weren’t as smooth as in your picture. Not sure what I did wrong. They were kind of crunchy??
Really?? Did you soak the hemp seeds?
Also, did you food process/blend them?
Yes I soaked them and used a food processor. Do your hempseeds have little green pieces in them?
No, what brand did you use? Did you use hulled?
The brand is Rocky Mountain Grain Products and it says shelled hemp seeds.
These look incredible, I can’t wait to try them!
made these last night and had one with my breakfast – they’re amazing! i am also going to try and make them in popsicles form for the summer – i think they would be perfect!
love your site.
can I use hemp protein powder instead of hemp seeds for the raspberry chocolate hemp squares.
Hmmmm, I would say no because the texture if so different. But if you want to experiment, then do let me know!
Hеy therе! Wоuld уou mіnd if I share youг blog with
my fаcebook gгouρ? There’s a lot of people that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Thank you
Not at all, please do and thank you!
Gooԁ article. I wіll be facing a few of these issuеs аs well.
.
Is it ok to keep these out of the fridge for a while? I was thinking of taking them to a picnic.
Not for very long… I would suggest you take out of the fridge/freezer shortly before serving.
These look great, thanks for sharing! I wonder if bananas would work for one of my kids who don’t eat berries? I would totally eat this for breakfast too!
You could give it a try!