We know that there is a food holiday for practically everything but on December 16th, there’s one we can really get behind – National Chocolate Covered Anything Day. That’s right – to celebrate this holiday, you can cover anything and everything in chocolate! That means you can have a day of chocolate breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Whoever came up with this holiday, we say, “thank you!”
Lots of foods can be made more delicious with chocolate and even better, dark chocolate is a superfood! Flavanols, which are more prevalent in dark chocolate, have antioxidant effects that reduce cell damage implicated in heart disease. Dark chocolate has been shown to lower blood pressure and improve vascular function, possibly reducing the risks of diabetes, stroke, and heart attack. To read more about the health benefits of dark chocolate, seeChocolate Isn’t Just Good for Your Heart — It Also Improves Your Gut … Here’s Why,Food Face-Off: Health Benefits of Milk vs. Dark Chocolate, andChoose Dark Chocolate for Heart Health.
The list of foods we can cover is endless – fruit, bread, cookies, ice cream, and even vegetables! So let’s dive in and indulge in these 20 delicious chocolate-covered recipes that are really worth celebrating.
1. Homemade Chocolate Covered Blueberries
These Homemade Chocolate-Covered Blueberries are the perfect snack. Blueberries are so healthy with all their antioxidants and then they’re covered with good-for-you dark chocolate so you can feel really good about eating the whole batch.
2. Chocolate-Coated Pineapple Pops
Here’s a good way to get anyone to eat fruit – cover it in chocolate! Use the described two toppings in these Chocolate Coated Pineapple Pops or use your imagination. You can opt for different nuts, carob nibs, crushed espresso beans, freeze dried fruit, coconut butter or almond butter, whatever sounds good.
3. Mexican-Spiced Chocolate Covered Cashews
Let’s face it – indulgent desserts are great, but sometimes you just want a little snack to satisfy that chocolate craving. These Mexican Spiced Chocolate Covered Cashews will crush that sweet tooth without being overly decadent. This chocolatey snack is spiced with cinnamon and just a hint of chili powder, giving it depth of flavor without adding heat
4. Chocolate-Covered Cheesecake Bites
Chocolate and cheesecake are natural besties, which makes the invention of Chocolate Covered Cheesecake Bites a no brainer. These are creamy and rich on the inside, sweet and decadent on the outside and all without a bit of dairy. Plus, they come together so easily that the only challenge is eating just one!
5. Chocolate-Covered Nut Bars
It’s super-simple to make your own raw chocolate and it’s healthy for you too! Then take that homemade chocolate and use it to make these Chocolate-Covered Nut Bars. The really fun part is decorating them with whatever garnishes you choose like dried fruit, fleur de sel, chile flakes or edible flowers.
6. Peanut Butter Filled Chocolate Covered Strawberries
What could possibly be better than chocolate-covered strawberries? Chocolate-covered strawberries filled with peanut butter, that’s what! These Peanut Butter Filled Chocolate Covered Strawberries are definitely the way to anyone’s heart. Put them in a box and they make a beautiful gift … if you don’t eat them all yourself.
7. Dark Chocolate Coconut Yogurt Cake Bites
Cake bites are a fun way to eat yummy cake and these Dark Chocolate Coconut Yogurt Cake Bites are extra-delicious. The rich filling of these irresistibly dreamy cake bites is coated with a dark chocolate shell. And they’re sweetened naturally!
8. Chocolate-Covered Black Bean Brownie Pops
Food is always more fun to eat when it’s on a stick. These Chocolate Covered Brownie Pops are no exception. And even better – they’re secretly healthy because they’re made with black beans. They’re also no-bake, nut-free, oil-free, seriously fudgy and drenched in creamy melted chocolate.
9. Peanut Butter Pretzel Truffles
You are only five ingredients away from these Peanut Butter Pretzel Truffles. They have it all: they’re sweet and salty, soft and crunchy, and they’re covered in chocolate! Keep a bunch in your freezer for easy snacking but hide them behind the ice trays so no one else sees them!
10. Chocolate Coated Flapjacks
These Chocolate Covered Flapjacks taste incredible. Each bite is sweet, chewy, and tastes like heaven. They’re filled with all healthy ingredients so you can have chocolate for breakfast guilt-free.
11. Raw Peppermint Oreos Dipped in Dark Chocolate
You’re probably already drooling over the photo of these Raw Peppermint Oreos Dipped in Dark Chocolate. Well, they taste as good as they look. Chewy chocolate cookies sandwich a peppermint vanilla coconut creme filling. Then all the cookies are dipped in chocolate, making them double chocolate. Can life get any better? Yes, because these are also really good for you and easy to make. Okay, now life can’t get any better.
12. Chocolate Dipped Maple Meringues
These Chocolate Dipped Maple Meringues are brought to you courtesy of the magic of aquafaba. These light and delicious meringues are made with maple syrup in place of icing sugar. Then they get dipped in dark chocolate and more magic happens as they disappear before your eyes.
13. Mexican Hot Chocolate Covered Strawberries
These Mexican Hot Chocolate Covered Strawberries are just the thing to spice up your night. The combination of sweet strawberries, creamy chocolate, and a tiny kick of cayenne creates the ultimate trifecta of deliciousness.
14. Chocolate Covered Raisins
Are chocolate-covered raisins your favorite treat at the movies? These Chocolate-Covered Raisins put a sweet spin on the typical Raisinets, as the coconut oil and clove spices give it a unique flavor. These are a delicious and healthy treat.
15. Chocolate Covered Banana Pops
It doesn’t have to be summer to enjoy these Chocolate Covered Frozen Banana Pops. They are super-delicious and refreshing, and will indulge your sweet cravings in a healthy way. Kids will love them and so will their grown-ups!!
16. Dark Chocolate Banana Bonbon Bites
Dark chocolate, banana, and almonds make for an incredible taste combination, especially in these mouthwatering Chocolate Banana Bonbon Bites. The sensation of cracking chocolate followed by the sweet taste of banana ice cream makes these irresistible!
17. Hot Chocolate Nutella French Toast
All your wildest dreams are going to come true with this super-indulgent and crazy delicious weekend brunch recipe of Hot Chocolate Nutella French Toast. Or have this for dinner if you want. It tastes the way great hot chocolate should – thick and luxurious, extra chocolatey, bittersweet. It’s totally irresistible.
18. Whole Grain Banana Chocolate Cake With Chocolate Syrup
This Whole Grain Banana Chocolate Cake is dense, moist and fudge-y thanks to the addition of mashed banana. It has the amazing flavor of real banana and chocolate infused in every crumb. The chocolate syrup is an added indulgence. The melted coconut oil, cacao, and maple syrup combo over the top elevates this cake from tea-time to me-time!
19. Pumpkin Breakfast Loaf with Chocolate Drizzle
Pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices make this PumpkinBreakfast Loaf a delicious seasonal morning meal or midday snack. The chocolate drizzle makes it mouthwateringly irresistible. You’ll bounce out of bed knowing this is waiting for you.
20. Eat Chocolate for Breakfast! Try This Yummy Chocolate Granola
Chocolate Granola is a yummy way to eat chocolate for breakfast! It turns your milk into chocolate milk and is naturally sweetened with a small amount maple syrup. It is high in fiber and protein from almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds and it is naturally vegan, dairy free and gluten free.
Is there anything that wouldn’t taste better covered in chocolate? Maybe, but we can’t think of anything at the moment. What will you cover in chocolate to celebrate the day? Tell us in the comments.
Lead image source: Peanut Butter Pretzel Truffles
