A nutrient powerhouse, cacao powder is clearly a must-have superfood in any healthy eater’s pantry. Commonly used as a healthy alternative to cocoa powder in baking and deserts, today we’ve put together 5 new and surprising uses for this ancient superfood. These may not have occurred to you before, but we guarantee they’re such fun and simple ways to boost your daily intake of magnesium, copper, protein, and flavonoids.

Mocha

A mocha is a delightful drink, a favourite in many coffee shops due to the irresistible combination of coffee and chocolate. With our high-quality, organic cacao powder, you can add a smooth chocolatey touch to your regular coffee by simply adding two or three teaspoons.

This mocha is not like one you might find in a regular coffee shop however, as it also provides a boost of antioxidants. Your coffee will not only taste delicious but now provide a mix of flavonoids, iron, magnesium, copper, potassium, and fibre making for the perfect start to the day.

Bolognese

Rich and bold, Bolognese is the definition of comfort food. With the simple addition of ingredients such as carrots, mushrooms, onions, and walnuts, a hearty and nutritious Bolognese is easily turned into a plant-based masterpiece.

Better yet, one special ingredient can take yours to the next level – cacao powder. You may have heard of people adding a piece of dark chocolate into their Bolognese because it adds a depth of flavour to the dish, making it rich. Cacao can be used to create the same flavour-enhancing effect. It adds body and colour, whilst also helping to balance out the acidity caused by the tinned tomatoes.

Face scrub

Take chocolate indulgence to a whole new level by applying it to your face! Other than smelling incredible, which is probably a good enough reason on its own, Cacao can also provide your skin with great nourishment. Thanks to its abundance of antioxidants, including catechins, polyphenols, and flavanols, Cacao helps to prevent oxidative stress and reduce the free radicals in your skin. Cacao also helps to fight stress, a main cause of collagen breakdown and wrinkles.

With the following 3 ingredients you can create a nourishing face scrub:

• 1 tbsp Naturya Cacao Powder
• 2 tsp Naturya Coconut Oil
• 1 tbsp Naturya Coconut Sugar

Use this scrub to help exfoliate your skin, remove dead cells, as well as toxins. 

Mug cake

Mug cakes are great fun! Easy to make, they can be whipped up in 5 minutes without the need for an oven. Just mix all the ingredients in a mug and pop it into the microwave for a healthy vegan chocolate cake.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons Naturya Cacao Powder
• 2-3 tablespoons Naturya Coconut Sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon Naturya Coconut Oil
• 3 tablespoons plant-based milk
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoons Naturya Cacao Nibs

 Method:

• Add the cacao powder, coconut sugar, salt, flour, and baking powder to a mug. Mix together.
• Pour in the coconut oil, milk and vanilla into the mug with the dry ingredients and stir well. Sprinkle the cacao nibs on top.
• Cook in the microwave for 40 seconds. This leaves a soft, gooey inside, however, if you would like it slightly firmer, put it back in for 10-20 seconds. 
• Serve immediately. 

Just one mug cake provides you with your recommended daily intake of copper which energises your body and helps support a normal functioning immune system.

Pancakes

Although perhaps not quite the most innovative way to use cacao powder, with Pancake Day on the horizon, it’s worth mentioning an underrated and under-utilised use of the superfood.

Pancakes aren’t traditionally viewed as the healthiest food, however with the addition of cacao powder they quickly become a source of vitamins and minerals. Your pancakes now provide potassium which contributes to maintenance of normal blood pressure, as well as protein, contributing to the growth of lean muscle.

For example, you could quite easily add a serving (25g) or more to our Blueberry and Acai Pancake recipe. Or take our Chocolate Banana Pancakes to another chocolatey and nutritional dimension with cacao powder.