22 Easy Cacao Powder Recipes You Need To Try ASAP

Sometimes, all you need is chocolate. It’s comforting, it’s tasty, and there are so many things you can do with it. But most of the time, chocolate isn’t very healthy, and it’s quite easy to feel guilty for indulging in it. 

But have you heard of cacao? It comes from the same plant as cocoa, but it’s minimally processed and retains more nutritional value and more antioxidants.

You can think of cacao as the healthy version of chocolate that still tastes good! 

Cacao powder is easy to get a hold of and you can make so many recipes using it. If you are in the mood for something chocolatey, read on to learn about 22 easy cacao powder recipes that you need to try as soon as possible! 

1. Raw Cacao Butter Chocolate Bark

Kicking off this list we have a recipe for raw cacao butter chocolate bark. This recipe is incredibly rich and it has quite a luxurious vibe about it! 

This dessert is filled with incredible textures and the dark chocolate tastes absolutely divine. The beauty of this recipe is that it’s completely customizable, so you can add in pretty much whatever extra ingredients you want. 

2. Gooey Paleo Pumpkin Brownies

You can’t really make a good batch of brownies without them being gooey, and this recipe is as gooey as they come! Chocolate and pumpkin are one of those combinations that gets overlooked a lot, but it deserves so much more recognition. 

The warm spices of the pumpkin complement the richness of the cacao to give these brownies a unique flavor that you won’t be able to get enough of. 

3. Raw Mexican Hot Chocolate Truffles

This recipe is especially good because it will have you making truffles that are way better than any you’ve tried before! Mexican hot chocolate is one of the main ingredients in this recipe and it is basically hot chocolate with a spicy, cinnamon twist!

Now imagine that inside a gooey, delicious truffle! You won’t be able to get enough of this recipe once you’ve tried it for yourself!  

4. Chocolate Coconut Smoothie

If you’d prefer to have your cacao powder in a smoothie, then this is a recipe you are going to love. Coconut is one of those ingredients that goes with almost anything, especially sweet stuff, and chocolate/cacao is absolutely no exception. 

This smoothie tastes delicious and it has no added sugar and it is completely dairy free too! 

5. Double Chocolate Macadamia Ice Cream

If you love ice cream then you are going to love this double chocolate macadamia ice cream! It’s incredibly chocolatey and the surprise twist with this recipe is that you won’t be using any dairy to make it! 

Instead, you’ll be using coconut milk, which actually adds to the overall flavor! 

6. Chocolate Pecan Tart

If you’re more of a tart lover, then this chocolate pecan tart is going to absolutely blow your mind. You’ll be using almond flour in the crust and filling it with delicious cacao powder, before topping it with tasty pecans. 

This is a super easy recipe to make, so if you want something more indulgent, this is a great recipe to try. 

7. Peppermint Hot Chocolate

It doesn’t get more festive than peppermint hot chocolate! This hot chocolate is super creamy and thick and the perfect comforter during the colder months.

You wont be using any dairy for this recipe, and it’s also completely vegan and keto friendly too! 

8. Chocolate Orange Chia Pudding

Two things that really go together well are of course chocolate and orange! This chai pudding is absolutely delicious and because you’ll be using cacao powder, it’s incredibly rich. 

This is actually quite a healthy pudding choice overall, so you can enjoy it completely guilt-free! It works especially well as a dessert, but you can also make it for breakfast and feel full until lunch! 

9. Chocolate Cranberry Muffins

These chocolate cranberry muffins are absolutely bursting with flavor. The cacao powder blends perfectly well with the bits of cranberries to make an incredibly rich and tasty treat. 

The two flavors are quite a contrast, but surprisingly, they work super well together. Once you’ve tried these muffins, you’ll find yourself using cacao and cranberry as a combination a lot more in the future. 

10. Fudgy Vegan Raspberry Almond Butter Brownies

The beauty of cacao is that it’s usually vegan, so this opens so many doors as to what you can make with it.

These fudgy vegan brownies are absolutely delicious and they pair tart raspberries with rich cacao to create some of the best brownies you will ever taste! 

11. Chocolate Avocado Pudding

If you’ve never tried chocolate and avocado together before, then this is a sign that you need to! You’ll also be using coconut milk in this recipe which gives the whole pudding a subtle coconuty flavor that you will absolutely love! 

12. No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars

This is a great cacao recipe to make if you’re looking for a snack that will provide you with some protein. 

These protein bars are absolutely filled with nuts and they pair with the cacao powder super well. They work great as a quick snack or something to give you a boost before the gym. 

13. Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

These muffins are rich in protein and they are also refined sugar-free, so they are one of the more healthy options on this list. 

Just because they are healthy though, that doesn’t mean they aren’t delicious! They are rich and moist and you wont be able to get enough of them! 

14. Almond Chocolate Truffles

Here’s another recipe for chocolate truffles you need to try. They are both a little chewy and a little crunchy and they are rich in cacao flavor. 

These truffles are actually quite healthy as well, which is great because you won’t be able to stop eating them! You can enjoy these truffles completely guilt-free and you don’t need many ingredients to make them. 

15. Vegan Chocolate Cookie Dough Fudge Cake

This recipe tastes as good as the title makes it sound! This is the perfect recipe to make if you want something chocolatey that you can indulge in. It perfectly combines cookie dough with cake to create an absolutely delicious dessert. 

On top of that, it’s also completely vegan, so if you have a lot of people to feed, this is a great option for you to try. 

16. Dark Chocolate Nice Cream

Everybody loves ice cream, but this recipe really takes it to the next level because it is completely dairy-free! It tastes just as good as regular ice cream and you won’t be able to get enough of it! 

What makes this recipe even better is that you only need 4 ingredients to make it and it’s super easy to make!

17. Cacao Smoothie Bowl

If you’re in the mood for a smoothie but you want something a little different, give this cacao smoothie bowl a try! 

Smoothie bowls are great because they are really filling and they are super versatile, so you can customize them however you want.

This smoothie bowl is filled with bananas, dates, cacao, almond milk, almond butter, and maple syrup, so you know it’s going to be delicious! 

18. Crunchy Cacao Granola

Granola works so well with cacao and you can enjoy it as a snack or for breakfast. This cacao granola is super crunchy and super tasty. You can enjoy it with practically anything as well.

Some of the best accompaniments for this crunchy cacao granola include yogurt and smoothie bowls, and you can even use it as a topping for cake! 

19. Chocolate Overnight Oats

Overnight oats are great because they taste amazing and they are designed to be made the night before so you are all set for the next day! 

This recipe is super creamy and because you will be using cacao powder, they are super chocolatey as well. You will also be using yogurt and chai seeds to really make this recipe amazing. 

You won’t have any issues following this recipe either. It’s super straightforward and you will have some delicious overnight oats ready in no time at all. 

20. Fudgy Sweet Potato Brownies

If you have never used sweet potatoes in desserts before, then this is a sign that you absolutely need to try it! These brownies are super fudgy and super gooey, and the inclusion of sweet potatoes really takes this recipe to the next level. 

These brownies just get even better as well because they are actually pretty healthy. They are free of refined sugars, loaded with vitamin A, and have lots of healthy fats in them!

The recipe is also really easy to follow! There is absolutely no downside to this recipe, so as soon as you get the chance, you should try them for yourself. 

21. Fat Bombs

These fat bombs are absolutely amazing. They are incredibly smooth, and nutty, and thanks to the cacao powder, they are incredibly chocolatey! 

On top of tasting absolutely amazing, they are also super easy to make. You only need three ingredients to make these tasty treats and you probably already have them in your kitchen! 

The three ingredients you will need come in the form of  cacao, nut butter, and coconut oil. You can use different kinds of butter as well, depending on what sort of taste you want to go for. 

22. Homemade Chocolate Bars

Sometimes, all you need is chocolate, so why not make your own?

Homemade chocolate might seem like it’s really complicated to make if you’ve never made it before, but this recipe is super easy to follow and the results are absolutely delicious. 

You will of course be using cacao powder as your main ingredient, which actually makes this chocolate a bit more healthy than your standard cocoa variety. 

All you need to make this homemade chocolate for yourself is coconut oil, cacao powder, and a natural sweetener! You will be enjoying this recipe in absolutely no time at all. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Can You Do With Cacao Powder?

Cacao powder is extremely versatile, so there are plenty of things you can do with it. Some examples include adding it to smoothies, using it in chili, making hot chocolate with it, and more.

It tastes like rich dark chocolate, so you can use it for whatever you’d use milk chocolate or dark chocolate for. 

Is It OK To Have Cacao Powder Every Day?

While it is fine to have cacao powder every day, you have to watch how much you are consuming. very powerful on the central nervous system and consuming large quantities can interfere with calcium retention.

If you are going to have it every day, make sure you don’t consume more than 40 grams (or four to six heaped teaspoons) of raw cacao a day.

Does Cacao Have Side Effects?

Cacao does have side effects, but you will only really notice them if you consume too much in a day.

Side effects are usually similar to caffeine-related side effects such as nervousness, increased urination, sleeplessness, and fast heartbeat.

Conclusion

Cacao powder is a great ingredient to use, especially if you love chocolate! It’s a lot more healthy than regular chocolate and there are so many things you can make with it! 

Give some of these recipes a try and see which ones are your favorites!