Raw Cacao Macaroons: Superfood for the Soul

A couple things have been going on with me as of recently.  Not necessarily good or bad or otherwise, but nonetheless, things.

First, nutritionally, I've been exploring more raw foods.  You may know since I've mentioned it here and here and here, for example.  I believe, a well rounded life, is constantly evolving.  If we're not always looking to improve ourselves, we'll miss out on so many epiphanies, enlightenments, deliciouses (I made that last one up of course).  Raw foods are suiting me really well in these last few months.  With the weather warming they are cooling, energizing, enzymatic...  Good stuff for the summer months!

Second, I'm in a serious transition phase of my life (I'll divulge more soon I promise, but it's not a pregnancy, so don't get nervous;)).  And while I adapt to change well mentally, I find that physically my body needs a bit more nurturing.  Today my yoga teacher, the amazingly bright and sensitive Flo Cabre Andrews, noticed immediately that something was going on, that I was "leaking energy", that I needed some strength and stability.  Unfortunately, when we are at weak points, often our bodies crave comfort, not strength, not building which is what we really need.  I personally crave sweets.  I think it's the gods throwing a wrench in my inner workings.  It's a test.  Sugar will only weaken me further, but oh how I'm drawn...

So all that said, last week Avital had an end of year pot luck party in her classroom.  I was tempted to make a big batch of brownies, but I knew having the leftovers around the house would be dangerous!  So I decided to make a raw version with virgin coconut oil and butter, raw cacao, lucuma, and whatever sweet, raw, superfoods I could squeeze in.  Basically, as much nutrients I could pack into one little bite.

Turns out they were a mini hit at the party and I'll be keeping the recipe around in case of emergency;).

Here's how I made them:

1. I preheated my oven to dehydrate (apx. 120 degrees)
2. In the bowl of a mixer I combined:
   • 2 1/2 cups raw, dehydrated, unsweetened coconut flakes
   • 1 1/2 cups raw cacao powder
   • 1 cup raw agave
   • 1/3 cup raw coconut oil (I used butter, but I'd use oil next time to get that melty thing going on)
   • 2 tsp organic vanilla extract
   • 2 tblsp lucuma powder
   • 1/2 tsp sea salt
3. Then I scooped cookie sized balls onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.
4. I put them into the oven to dehydrate overnight (apx. 12 hrs).  You can take them out whenever they re the consistency you like.  I liked mine crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside.  If you dehydrate for shorter you can get them more melty or longer will make them more crunchy.  Experiment!