20 Easy Cacao Powder Recipes To Try ASAP

Chocolate lovers unite! These cacao powder recipes are crazy-delicious, possibly unexpected, and seriously chocolatey. 

And since cacao is a superfood, they’re even a little healthy!

Cacao is bursting with goodness, including flavonoids, magnesium, and other antioxidants. Plus, it’s been shown to reduce stress and inflammation, lower the chances of diabetes, and aid digestion.

So, these dreamy, chocolatey cacao powder recipes are basically medicinal…right? Either way, you’ll want to try them all!

1. Healthy Hot Chocolate

This delicious homemade hot chocolate is the perfect drink for a cold evening. It’s luxurious, chocolatey, and easy to prepare! 

You only need four ingredients: cacao powder, maple syrup, vanilla, and your milk of choice. Simply mix them together in a saucepan, simmer for a while, and serve! 

It’s healthy because both cacao and maple syrup contain many health benefits. Plus, maple syrup and cacao are a delicious flavor combo. 

2. Homemade Chocolate Bars

Sometimes you just need chocolate, amirite?

But, a run to the store can be inconvenient and expensive. So, save some money and make these sinfully decadent chocolate bars at home! 

You probably already have all of the ingredients in your pantry – coconut oil, cacao powder, and a natural sweetener are all you need. 

These are also super customizable, which means you can add nuts, dried fruit, rice cereal, extracts, and oils. The choice is yours! 

3. Chocolate Overnight Oats

Overnight oats are terrific for busy weekday mornings when you need something delicious, fast, and filling.

Since you make them the night before, you just have to grab and go.

These chocolate overnight oats are creamy with just the right amount of sweetness. Seriously, they’re so good; they taste like dessert.

But they’re actually pretty healthy, containing plenty of protein from chia seeds and yogurt.

4. Hearty Potato Stew

Chocolate…in a stew? I know what you’re thinking, but you just need to trust me on this!

It’s really delicious and totally savory. 

This vegan stew is chock-full of vegetables, herbs, and lentils. And yes, it has some chocolate!

Chocolate may not be the star of this stew, but it is very important. Believe it or not, it will add richness to the mix that some meat-free recipes are missing.

5. Fudgy Sweet Potato Brownies

Fudgy brownies are the best kind of brownies.

But healthy fudgy brownies are even better… because you can indulge twice as hard!

These brownies are refined sugar-free, full of good fats, and loaded with vitamin A.

They’re gluten-free and vegan, taste amazing, and are fabulously ooey-gooey. 

Sounds too good to be true, huh? Try them and see for yourself!

6. Fat Bombs (Vegan, Keto, No-bake)

Prepare to be blown away by these delicious rounds of fatty goodness.

These easy fat bombs are nutty, chocolatey, and silky smooth.

Make these any time with only three ingredients, which you probably already have.

All you need is cacao, nut butter, and coconut oil. I like almond butter, but you can use any kind.

I also like to use natural peanut butter with a bit of honey. Then they taste exactly like a peanut butter cup, but more chocolatey. 

7. Crunchy Cacao Granola

This vegan granola works for breakfast, snacking or even baking. You can add it to yogurt, smoothie bowls, or turn it into a delicious streusel topping. 

It’s nutty, chocolatey, and delightful.  

8. Cacao Smoothie Bowl

Smoothie bowls are super popular, and for good reason – they’re seriously pretty and brimming with nutrients. 

This cacao smoothie bowl is smooth, creamy, healthy, and de-licious!

Between the bananas, dates, cacao, almond milk, almond butter, and maple syrup, it’s pretty close to perfect. 

That said, feel free to customize the milk and use whatever nut butter you prefer. Or blend in more fruit if you feel like something even sweeter!

Plus, you can top it with any combination of granola, fruit, nuts, or seeds you like. Use cacao nibs for extra chocolatey goodness. 

9. Dark Chocolate Nice Cream

Four ingredients and four steps…it doesn’t get any easier than that!

This delicious dark chocolate “nice” cream is creamy, sweet, and, yes, very chocolatey. 

The best part is that it’s made with whole, all-natural ingredients. So, you can indulge without guilt.

I think this would be amazing alongside the sweet potato brownies from above. 

10. Vegan Chocolate Cookie Dough Fudge Cake

Chocolate… cookie dough… fudge… cake? Yes, please!

This magical dessert somehow looks and feels like a cheesecake, though it is entirely dairy-free.  

It’s rich, SO chocolatey, and every bite is balanced.

Oh, and it uses only eight ingredients, has zero refined sugar, and is loaded with raw food benefits. 

11. Chocolate Avocado Pudding

If you’re looking for a new way to sneak some nutrients into your family’s diet, you have to try this insanely good chocolate and avocado pudding.

It looks and tastes like a dessert, but it’s full of healthy goodness. 

You need a ripe avocado, cacao, maple syrup, salt, and vanilla. Then, just blend it all until smooth.

It tastes great, and it’s nutrient-dense. 

12. Healthy Almond Chocolate Truffles

It’s a good thing these truffles are healthy because they’re kind of addictive.

Their texture is fantastic- a little chewy and a little crunchy. AND they’re overwhelmingly chocolatey. 

You’ll go nuts for them after just one bite! 

13. Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

I might never go back to regular muffins after this.

These babies are protein-rich and refined sugar-free, but they taste like fudgy brownies.

They also have all of the health benefits of zucchini and cacao.

They’re sweet, moist, and full of chocolate. What more could you want?

14. No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars

The best duo since Sonny and Cher is back again and packed with protein.

These chocolate peanut butter bars are delicious and filling, nutty, salty, sweet, loaded with chocolate, and topped with more peanuts.

Phew, that’s quite a mouthful! 

Grab a bar for breakfast, lunch, a quick snack, or an after-workout boost. 

15. Chocolate Avocado Pudding

Yep. Another chocolate and avocado pudding recipe, only this one uses coconut milk to make it extra luxurious.

This version is even creamier and has a lovely, light coconut flavor. Delicious!

16. Fudgy Vegan Raspberry Almond Butter Brownies

In my professional opinion, brownies need to be three things: chewy, fudgy, and decadent.

These vegan raspberry brownies check all of those boxes. 

The raspberry is a fantastic contrast to the chocolate. It’s bright and a bit tart, so every bite is balanced. 

Did I mention that each brownie contains ⅓ of the calories of a typical brownie? I didn’t? Well, now you know… do with that information what you will. 

17. Raw Mexican Hot Chocolate Truffles

This luxurious treat combines two of my favorite things: truffles and Mexican hot chocolate.

Mexican hot chocolate is a spicy, cinnamony twist on the original, and it’s ah-mazing!

These truffles contain all of that glorious flavor in a bite-sized, chewy bonbon. Plus, they’re a guilt-free sweet treat I know you’ll love. 

This recipe uses cayenne pepper, but skip it and add extra cinnamon if you don’t like spicy food.

18. Gooey Paleo Pumpkin Brownies

If it’s got gooey in the name, it’s gonna be good, and these brownies are chocolatey, fudgy, and full of warm, fall flavors.

These would be especially great for Thanksgiving, but you’ll want them all of the time. 

Also, chocolate and pumpkin are a highly underrated combo. Try these, and you’ll see what I mean. 

19. Raw Cacao Butter Chocolate Bark

This chocolate bark is like the bougie, world-traveling cousin of a regular chocolate bar. 

It’s rich and luxurious, full of nuanced textures, and it’s dark and decadent to boot.

Plus, it’s completely customizable.

You can choose from various nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. Around the holidays, I like to use peppermint extract and crushed candy canes. 

20. Vegan Chocolate Sweet Potato Milkshake

Healthy and milkshake are not two words you’d normally put together. Yet, here we are.

And don’t worry, this chocolate milkshake is delicious and healthy! 

There is no ice cream in this shake, yet it is still creamy and indulgent. And it’s full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healthy fats. 

This milkshake features rich chocolate and warm spices, so it will satisfy your sweet tooth and help you stay full.