It’s no secret that chocolate is my favorite food. It’s considered a food group, right? 🍫 🍪 Well, it should be. Who do I call about that?
And ever since I rented out a house with a fig tree in the yard a few years ago, I’ve been obsessed with fresh figs. When I combine these two loves together, what do I get?
🎉🎊🏆😂❤️👍🎉
These Dark Chocolate Dipped Figs are so easy to make. They make a great snack or dessert, only contain a handful of ingredients, and they’re vegan! Win/win/win. They’re incredibly sweet and juicy, with chocolately goodness and a hint of saltiness.
Despite being incredibly tasty, fresh figs have numerous health benefits. Here are a few:
- good source of potassium, which helps lower blood pressure
- full of dietary fiber, which has a positive effect on weight management
- source of the trace mineral manganese
- fig leaves contain anti-diabetic properties and lower the level of triglycerides, and can possibly inhibit the growth of some cancer cells
Fig season is just about over, so if your local store still has them in stock (or if you’re lucky enough to have access to a fig tree), grab some and make this delicious and healthy treat!
The first time I made this recipe, I made a batch using fresh figs from the neighbor’s tree. The second time, I bought the above figs from Central Market and made a batch of 5.
To make these beauties you will also need a high quality coconut oil (I used the Nutiva brand), cocoa powder, your sweetener of choice, and espresso sea salt as an optional ingredient.
Take a small bowl and add about 1 tbsp of melted coconut oil. Slowly mix in 1 tsp of cocoa powder at a time, stopping when you have the consistency you want. I ended up using approximately 1/4 to 1/3 cup cocoa powder. I recommend making it on the thicker side so it coats the fig better.
For the sweetener, I pulsed 1/4 cup coconut sugar in a coffee grinder and combined it with my chocolate mixture. You’ll notice in the photos above that the chocolate looks grainy – that’s the sugar. I personally just wanted them to taste good, so I didn’t mind. But if you’re serving these at a party or gathering, or giving them as a gift and you want them to have a smooth appearance, then I would recommend using stevia powder. You won’t need very much because it’s so concentrated, so add in teensy weensy amounts at a time, tasting it as you go along.
Hold the fig by the stem and dip them into the chocolate. You might need to tip the bowl a little and rotate the fig to get the mixture to coat evenly. Place the figs on a flat surface (plate or cutting board) that is covered with parchment paper. Put in the fridge for at least 20 minutes to let the chocolate harden, then take them out and dip into the chocolate for a second coating.
I bought this espresso sea salt at Central Market from their bulk foods section, in the aisle with all the seasonings. I got maybe 1 teaspoon and it only cost me 16 cents! After I dipped the figs into the chocolate a second time, I lightly pressed 3-4 pieces of the salt into the bottom of the fig. It just adds a little extra kick when you bite into it. Sea salt flakes would also work is you don’t have access to espresso sea salt or don’t like the espresso flavor.
Place back in the fridge for another 20 minutes or until hardened. They’re ready to eat at this point. You can store extras in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-3 days. If you have any extra chocolate leftover, I recommend stirring in sunflower seeds, spreading out on parchment paper and placing in fridge – you’ve got another yummy treat – chocolate covered sunflower seeds! Other ideas: nuts, raisins, banana slices, etc. Just note that this chocolate is rather fragile and will melt easily at room temperature, especially in the summer.
- 5 fresh figs, any variety
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- ¼ to ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ cup coconut sugar or granulated sugar, very fine (or stevia powder)
- optional: espresso sea salt or regular sea salt flakes
- Take a small bowl and add about 1 tbsp of melted coconut oil. Slowly mix in 1 tsp of cocoa powder at a time, stopping when you have the consistency you want. Make it on the thicker side so it coats the fig better.
- For the sweetener, pulsed ¼ cup coconut sugar in a coffee grinder and combine it with chocolate mixture. It may give the chocolate a grainy texture so if you're serving these at a party or gathering, or giving them as a gift and you want them to have a smooth appearance, then I recommend using stevia powder. You won't need very much because it's so concentrated, so add in teensy weensy amounts at a time, tasting it as you go along.
- Hold the fig by the stem and dip into the chocolate. You might need to tip the bowl a little and rotate the fig to get the mixture to coat evenly. Place the figs on a flat surface (plate or cutting board) that is covered with parchment paper. Put in the fridge for at least 20 minutes to let the chocolate harden, then take them out and dip into the chocolate for a second coating.
- Lightly pressed 3-4 pieces of the salt into the bottom of the fig. Place back in the fridge for another 20 minutes or until hardened. They're ready to eat at this point. You can store extras in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
- If you have any extra chocolate leftover, I recommend stirring in sunflower seeds, spreading out on parchment paper and placing in fridge - you've got another yummy treat - chocolate covered sunflower seeds! Other ideas: nuts, raisins, banana slices, etc. Just note that this chocolate is rather fragile and will melt easily at room temperature, especially in the summer.
Enjoy! I’ve got some hearty fall recipes in the queue for the coming weeks. All vegan, all gluten free, all freaking delicious! 🍴 Plus blog posts about my recent travels around Texas, as well as a visit to a cattle ranch turned vegan farm animal sanctuary, so stay tuned!
Jillian ♥
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