If you didn’t love me before, these ‘things’, will win you over. I don’t really know what to call them because they aren’t really chocolate. What they are really is amazing. Really amazing. They have all my fave things including vanilla bean and the ever so decadent cocoa butter. So let’s call them vanilla cacao bliss bites.
See, what’s confusing here is that the vanilla bean is what gave them that brown on top (not cacao powder), but in traditional confectionery vanilla is always shown as a ‘white’ flavour. Why is that when the bean is so clearly black as night?
The outer layer is tough, like a bark and inside is where the goodness lies. So if vanilla beans are black – why is vanilla ice cream white?
I searched and searched and couldn’t determine how vanilla came to be known as a flavour that was white in colour. Really makes no sense at all. White chocolate, on the other hand, does make some sense. I used to think white chocolate was just regular vanilla chocolate – not really thinking that each were their own distinct foods with their own distinct textures, colours and tastes. Are you following me here?
Interesting factoid alert: vanilla is the second most expensive spice, second only to saffron. Also interesting – the bean grows really fast but takes a full ten months to be mature enough to harvest for use. Each bean ripens at its own time, which requires a daily harvest. To ensure the finest flavour from every bean, each individual pod must be picked by hand just as it begins to split on the end.
And vanilla is an aphrodisiac. Show me the love!
Aaaaand one more thing – you can get fresh beans right here in St. Lucia. See! You totally should have come away with me.
Now that we’ve sorted all of that out, here is the recipe for vanilla cacao bliss bites.
Vanilla Cacao Bliss Bites
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 12–16 1x
Description
A lovely treat featuring delicious vanilla.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cacao butter, grated
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 2 tsp coconut syrup, maple syrup or raw honey
- 1 Tbsp vanilla bean powder
- 1/4 cup lucuma powder
- 2 Tbsp cacao nibs
- 1 tsp maca powder
- Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- In a double boiler, melt together cacao butter, coconut oil and sweetener of choice.
- Once melted together, remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients until well blended.
- Spoon about 1 1/2 Tbsp mixture into your favourite candy/chocolate mold or ice cube tray.
- Allow to chill in the freezer for about 30 minutes. As they chill, the beautiful colour layer is formed.
- Pop them out and enjoy.
- Store in your fridge or freezer.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
Keywords: vanilla, vanilla bon bons, bliss bites, vanilla cacao, vanilla cacao bliss bites
Question of the Day: Which do you prefer – chocolate or vanilla?
20 responses to “Vanilla Cacao Bliss Bites”
Where would you find cocoa butter?
Meghantelpner.com soon. For now- Navitas has, as does upaya naturals.
I think vanilla is visualized as white because you really don’t use enough of it in a product to color it — vanilla ice cream made with real vanilla is still white (just little flecks of black seeds) vanilla extract in buttercream frosting still leaves it ivory colored.
I just never understood why raspberry flavor is “blue.”
What? Raspberry ice cream is blue?
You know, “blue raspberry”? It’s a candy/popsicle/slushie flavour. I know, not exactly standard Meghan Telpner fare, but it’s a pretty common flavour.
I never got it either.
According to chef Michael Smith, ‘blue” is naturally associated with poison and that’s why no foods are naturally blue (even blueberries are more purple-y).
Samantha – Blue Mountain Organics has a good one, but many companies are now selling food grade online. Natural food stores also carry it.
Meghan – congrats on all of your success!!! I will have to make it on one of those trips one day. I bookmarked this recipe before I even looked at it … I could tell from the title it would be love at first sight.
these look and sound amazing!!
Ooooo Upaya also sells Lucuma as well as the cocoa butter, how excellent!
Mmm, I want! I love both chocolate and vanilla – just depends on my mood. Growing up, I used to think my best friend was weird b/c she always chose vanilla ice-cream over flavors like chocolate chip mint or cookies ‘n cream. However, now I think she was onto something as there is nothing like a bowl of coconut milk ice-cream made with real vanilla beans. :)
omg those look divine…
Is there anything missing in this recipe? Love all the ingredients but it turned out much too buttery as it is asking for almost a cup of butter and not much else.
Found similar recipe that has cashews: Hot raw cacao bliss balls with cayenne and maca.
By butter- you mean cacao butter right? It should harden when you put it in the freezer.
I used 1/2 cup Cacao Butter plus 1/3 cup Coconut Oil for total of 5/6 cup of butter/oil. I think my Cacao Nibs where too big and I used wrong vanilla – vanilla sugar powder, not vanilla bean powder so I did not see separation of colour. It turned out not very sweet, kind of peppery actually so may be I’ll use more honey next time.
I have no idea what vanilla sugar powder is but definitely different from the bean. You do need to freeze the mix when it is done so it will harden. I have tested the recipe twice over and worked both times. They are creamy and melt in the mouth buttery… like chocolate.
I made these and they did not turn out anything like what I was expecting. Is the vanilla bean powder supposed to be white and powdery? This is what I bought in Kensington market when I asked for vanilla bean powder.
What was supposed to make the bites brown? The only brown ingredient was the cacao nibs, which did not melt so they looked like scant crumbs on the bottom of mine. What I ended up with were cafe au lait coloured bits that tasted slightly burnt. I thought I followed the recipe exactly.
Vanilla bean powder should be brown- that’s what made the bottoms brown. So sad this didn’t work for you!
Where would I get vanilla bean powder? Is it crushed vanilla bean (with or without the seeds)?
It is the inside of a vanilla bean. You can get it “Ultimate Superfoods” or Organic Traditions. You could also vanilla extract if you just want the flavour. Lastly- you can order vanilla bean online from Upaya Naturals (I have a link down below in the left column to them)
Looking for a sweet treat? Vanilla cacao bliss bites hit the spot for sure! http://t.co/6AuYAXeH
Looking for a sweet treat? Vanilla cacao bliss bites hit the spot for sure! http://j.mp/n77R26