Looking for a healthier but tasty chocolate? These homemade chocolate lollipops are it! With a wonderful rich flavor & soft center, they're easy to make and are the perfect sweet treat for a holiday, special occasion or just because. Paleo and dairy free.
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A couple months ago my elder son and I had a conversation about Easter and he was asking about hunting for eggs again. Our previous years' hunt (where I made my beefed up shakshuka for the grown ups) has clearly stuck. Somewhere along the way chocolate was mentioned.
I suggested that we could maybe make some chocolate eggs to take in to his friends at school. Unsurprisingly the idea went down well and he kept reminding me about getting moulds for weeks.
However when I went to look for some I didn’t see any particularly great-looking ones, but did find some cute popsicle/lollipop moulds that included a flower and spiral shape. I thought some homemade chocolate popsicles would be a great alternative. The best bit is these are secretly relatively healthy, but they taste so, so good.
The growing sweet tooth
We managed to stave off a sweet tooth for a while, but these days my eldest has definitely discovered that he likes candy and chocolate. I think he just about understands it’s not something to eat too much off, but he probably would if he could. I try to fend him off with healthier options like fruit. If that doesn't cut it or to at least feel like a treat, then something like my healthy apple oatmeal cookies or carrot cake energy bites.
He loves baked goods like scones and chocolate orange cinnamon rolls too (although not all are as healthy). Otherwise I admit I can be that slightly mean parent who limits candy, but now and then it's nice to have a treat. And I admit I’ve wanted to make some moulded chocolates for a while and Easter seemed like the perfect excuse.
How they're made
These homemade chocolate lollipops have a couple options to them. You can use bought chocolate and just melt it, but I would highly recommend you make my slightly healthier version from scratch. It's basically the coating I used for my healthy strawberry truffles with a truffle-like filling made by mixing in some coconut cream.
The flavor of the maple syrup is just there enough, and the soft filling and rich dark chocolate works so well. You'd never believe it was made from relatively healthy ingredients. I’ve used a little white chocolate for contrast, but without it these are paleo, dairy free and refined sugar free.
I admit these have lost the odd corner and are not quite as 'clean' as they could be. I was rushing a little, but believe me they taste great and the kids devoured them. So much so there's only one left for me. But I do also have these lovely roses my son asked to get me while I was away last weekend at a conference. I was so touched by his sweetness.
It just added to the great time I'd had away. Big thanks go to Mediavine for putting together a great line up of speakers that have given me lots of things to think on and get on and do. They really covered most of the big things I'd been wanting to know more on to help improve this blog, with a range of perspectives, and such lovely people there too. Plus it was in beautiful Charleston, so bonus.
Back to these homemade chocolate lollipops, though. You really need to give these a go whether it's like me, to hand out to the kids, or just because. I for one know I'll be making these again. Find your excuse and give them a try!
Try these other chocolate ideas:
- Raspberry blueberry chocolate bark
- Cranberry truffles
- Plus get more snack recipes, sweet and savory, in the archives.
Homemade chocolate lollipops
Ingredients
- 1 oz white chocolate 30g, optional
- 5 tbsp coconut oil
- 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp coconut cream
Instructions
- If using white chocolate for contrast, melt this first and put a little in the cavity of the moulds, if they have one. Smooth off with a flat edge eg the base of a knife (I used the end of some unused chopsticks) so you get the raised part of the mould coming through. Allow to set before adding next layer - you can speed up by refrigerating.
- In all cases, melt the coconut oil and mix in the cocoa powder and maple syrup until smooth and well mixed. Pour a little into the bottom of each mould to make a layer covering the bottom but still with plenty room for filling. Refrigerate to set.
- Meanwhile take 3 tbsp of the chocolate mixture and add the coconut cream to it. Mash the coconut cream into it so it's smooth. Once base is set, put a spoonful of this coconut cream chocolate in the middle of each mould. It doesn't matter if it goes to the edge, but try to keep more to the middle.
- Put the popsicle sticks in at this point, gently pressing into the middle of the mould. Top up each mould to the top with the remaining chocolate mixture (without the coconut cream). Refrigerate to set then remove from moulds.
- Note - as far as I can tell, this type of chocolate melts at a lower temperature than regular chocolate so is best kept refrigerated until you need it.
Notes
Nutrition
See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store.
This week, thirteen bloggers are sharing 46 recipes and tips to help you serve up deliciousness this Easter. See today's recipes (and search #EasterRecipes for more):
Friday
- Carrot Cupcakes with Bailey's Frosting by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
- Easter Egg Blondies by Cooking With Carlee
- Easter M&M Thumbprint Cookies by Family Around The Table
- Frosted M&M Blondies by Palatable Pastime
- Ham & Cheese Omelette Roll by Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids
- Old Fashioned Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting by Jolene's Recipe Journal
- Quick and Easy Garlic Knots by A Day in the Life on the Farm
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Amanda
YUM! Perfect for Valentine's Day!
Caroline's Cooking
Absolutely!
Lesli Schwartz
These are so pretty! I love the molds you used. I best these are deliciously sweet!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, the moulds are great, I really should use them more!
Wendy Klik
I love that you made your own chocolate instead of using melts. Kudos to being a great mom.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks so much Wendy, it's actually pretty easy and the flavor is so good!