{recipe} raw dark chocolate almond butter cups

Today is the day that I bring you dark chocolate. Dark chocolate mixed with sinfully salty and sweet almond butter to make a grown up Reese's PB cup. That's right. No sharing allowed. You'll thank me later.

As a kid I was constantly reaching for the peanut butter and chocolate mixture when my sweet tooth wouldn't stop aching for some treats. I loved to mix peanut butter and chocolate sauce into vanilla ice-cream, absolutely adored Reese's Pieces, ate my weight in Reese's Eggs & Pumpkins during their respective holidays, and slathered peanut butter onto my Oreos (still a favorite of mine - YUM!). I don't know what it is about that magical combination of salty and sweet but I couldn't, and still can't, get enough! So, when I saw this recipe on my favorite vegan blog, Oh She Glows, I knew I had to try it!  Her blog is always my go-to when I feel like making a creative and yummy vegan dish. 

Not only are these delicious, but they are also a healthy, no-bake alternative to your favorite sinful sweet. They aren't quite as sweet as a PB cup, but that's why I love them! They are really quite easy to make, as long as you have a food processor. I don't have one in Spain, so I'm using my parents' as much as I can while I'm home. :)

These are best kept in the freezer because the chocolate layer starts to melt onto your fingertips as soon as they are out. But.... that's okay. That just means you have to eat them more quickly. No problem there!

Raw Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups

Adapted slightly from Oh She Glows

Yield: 8 regular sized cups or 1 dozen mini cups

Ingredients:

for the base:

• 3/4 cup raw almonds, ground into a meal
• 1/4 cup rolled oats, ground into a flour
• 2 tablespoons raw nut butter
• 1.5 tablespoons coconut oil, warmed if necessary
• 1.5 tablespoons agave nectar (or pure maple syrup)
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 
• pinch of fine grain sea salt, to taste

for the topping:

• 3 tablespoons coconut oil, warmed if necessary
• 2 tablespoons agave nectar (or 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup)
• 2 tablespoons dark cocoa powder
• pinch of fine grain sea salt, to taste

Directions:

1. Add almonds and oats into a high-speed blender and blend on high until a flour forms. Dump into a large bowl and break up any clumps with your fingers.
2. Add the nut butter, coconut oil, agave (or maple syrup), cinnamon, vanilla and salt into the bowl. Stir until thoroughly combined. The dough should be fairly sticky like cookie dough.
3. Line a regular muffin tin with paper liners. Portion the dough into each muffin cup and press down until even and smooth.
4. To make chocolate sauce: Whisk together the coconut oil, sweetner, cocoa powder, and salt until no clumps remain. Spoon the sauce over top each of the cups, distributing evenly.
5. Place in the freezer in a flat area for 30-45 minutes, until firm. These are best consumed straight from the freezer.

Enjoy!

PS. I'm guest blogging over at my sorority sister's blog, MC Squared, while she's on vacation in the Florida Keys. Go check it out. :)

xx, Jen