How To Make Healthy Sugar-Free Chocolate & Sauce (Nutritionist Approved)

Emma Lisa
Feb 22, 2023
9 min read

Updated: Jul 26

Love chocolate but not the sugar crash? Learn how to make healthy, sugar-free chocolate and sauce using clean, wholefood ingredients. These easy recipes are low-carb, diabetic-friendly, and perfect for weight balance, and no guilt, just glow!

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How To Make Healthy Sugar-Free Chocolate & Sauce (Nutritionist Approved) — SUGAR-FREE: How To Make Healthy Sugar-Free Chocolate & Sauce | Eat Nourish Glow

Chocolate is a wonderful treat, dessert, and part of a healthy, otherwise well-balanced diet. The trick in making chocolate healthy is to prepare it yourself at home, or be super choosy with the brands you buy at the shops. Personally, as a Nutritionist, I do enjoy making chocolate treats fully from scratch with my youngest daughter. You'd be surprised just how super easy this actually is!

How Do You Make Chocolate Healthy?

Healthy chocolate requires you to remember a few basic rules. Firstly, the percentage of cocoa in the chocolate should be high, ideally above 70%. I prefer to use raw cacao which is an even richer source of nutrients and flavour. Its an excellent source of magnesium which is an essential nutrient in hundreds of or bodily processes. I use it for chocolate lollies but also in my daily café mocha or if the kids want hot chocolate.

Secondly, the chocolate you use, whether cocoa or the raw cacao form, should be consumed in moderation, as even healthy homemade chocolate can be high in calories. Finally, it is important to choose chocolate that is minimally processed and does not contain added sugars or artificial ingredients. By keeping these things in mind, chocolate can be enjoyed as a part of a healthy diet.

Keep in mind to consume healthy chocolate:

choose chocolate made from wholefood-based ingredients or make your own
avoid chocolate with sugar, added flavours, fillings or dried fruit (nuts are ok)
remember to enjoy in moderation; a few pieces to savour but not every day
raw, dark chocolate contains the most beneficial flavonoids and antioxidants
be aware chocolate can contain caffeine; avoid in the evenings if affected

Having a healthy relationship with all foods, and that includes desserts like chocolate, will has a significantly positive impact on your overall health and can help support natural weight loss.

What Goes Ingredients Go In Chocolate?

Milk chocolate is created by blending fermented, roasted and ground cocoa beans with cocoa butter, sugar, and whole milk or milk solids. Dark chocolate, on the other hand, is known for its bitter taste and is often sweetened with additional sugars. It can also be made without any dairy products. White chocolate is a different variety altogether and is typically made using cocoa butter, milk powder, vanilla extract, and sugar.

If you are diabetic like me, or want a low carb, sugar-free option, you can make a healthy chocolate dessert from combing wholefood ingredients such as coconut oil (which is rich in nutrients and helps create a solid mass), with raw cacao power, vanilla extract and a sugar-free sweetener like stevia. Try it with my Best Healthy Homemade Chocolate Biscuits recipe.

My Raw Chocolate Sauce Recipe for Sundaes or Pancakes is my family's favourite way to enjoy a chochy as a treat. It tastes like the real thing and is chockablock full of nutrients. Click the link (above) to grab the free dessert recipe and tell me what you think in the comments. It is one of my most requested wholefood recipes!

How To Make Healthy Chocolate

(Quick & Easy No Sugar Method)

Making your own homemade, sugar-free chocolate is surprisingly easy. By using wholefood ingredients that are affordable, you can create delicious chocolate and desserts in just a few minutes. The best part? They taste so good, you won't even believe they're healthy!

Key Ingredients Used

My healthy chocolate recipe contains no sugar making it perfectly safe for diabetics and those on a low carb menu to rebalance body weight. And the best part is, you'll only need 4 simple ingredients:

coconut oil: this oil is nutrient-rich and contains medium-chain fatty acids that can stimulate fat loss, especially the abdominal fat around your middle and also helps to boost the body's metabolism. It is nutritious but is high in saturated fats. I like using Aldi's Oh So Natural or Chef's Choice Certified Organic, two clean brands.
raw cacao powder: is a popular superfood and is chocolate at its purest form. The powder is made from the cacao pod right from the bean. Raw cacao is unroasted and relatively unprocessed which keeps most of the nutritional value intact. The powder is a super rich source of antioxidants, iron, calcium and is high in magnesium. Try a brand like Chef's Choice Raw Organic Cacao or Oh So Natural Raw Cacao by Aldi.
stevia sweetener: is a natural sugar substitute made from the leaves of the stevia plant. It is a much sweeter alternative to traditional table sugar, but without any of the associated carbohydrates, calories, or artificial ingredients. In fact, it is estimated to be up to 300 times sweeter than table sugar. Stevia is a great option for those looking for a natural, low-calorie sweetener.
vanilla extract: is used to help flavour the recipe and creates a delicious dessert-like flavour with some health benefits.

Combining these four simple ingredients makes a surprisingly delicious chocolate recipe suitable for those who love chocolate but still want to rebalance body weight with healthier food options.

Healthy Variations

I encourage you to play with my chocolate dessert recipes and make your own chocolate treats by mixing up the main ingredients and toppings. I love making a coconut oil-based sauce (see below) and pouring it onto a baking sheet to harden. I then add superfood toppings just before putting it in the fridge to set. Use them sparingly, but the following gives chocolate biscuits or chocolate bark a wonderful range of flavours.

citrus peel: whether is the grated peel or if its been cured, citrus is a delicious paring with homemade chocolate.
fresh berries: finely chopped, smashed or sliced, berries make a nice fruit pairing while providing extra fibre.
goji berries and pumpkin seeds: goji berries are high in antioxidants and beta-carotene, with crunchy pumpkins seeds are a lovely combo. Try these organic ones from Aldi's Oh So Natural range.
nut butter drizzle: add a drizzle of runny nut butter over the top before you freeze the chocolates. My favourite brand for this is Mayver's nut butter range for its clean ingredients. What also works well is a little plain Greek yoghurt mixed with a splash of vanilla extract and coconut oil as a drizzle.
roasted coconut flakes, almond slivers and rock salt: one of my go-to flavours, just sprinkle these ingredients over the top the wet chocolate before freezing for a salted chocolate treat.
rose, calendula or lavender blossoms: yes you can eat some flowers and these three add a beautiful touch and subtle flavour as a topping. Check out Mr Fothergill's seedhouse for their safe adn delicious range of edible blossoms.

No matter which toppings, textures, or flavour additions you love, these suggestions are a delicious way to make delicious and nutritious homemade chocolate. Whether you're in the mood for something crunchy, fruity, or a little salty-sweet, you can mix and match to keep each batch exciting and satisfy those chocolate cravings. Just a few simple ingredients can turn your homemade chocolate into a gourmet treat, one that is perfect for curbing cravings, impressing guests, or treating yourself with zero guilt!

My Favourite Ingredients

Sugar-free Chocolate Sauce Recipe

You are going to delight in my healthy chocolate dipping sauce. Packed with superfood ingredients and naturally sweetened, all you need are a few simple staples to whip up this nutritious and delicious treat. This sugar-free dipping sauce recipe is so versatile you can use it as a drizzle sauce, hard top coating on ice cream hard or chia pots, a chocolate base for covered berries and nuts, and just about anywhere recipes call for a delicious chocolate sauce.

Chocolate Dipping Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup coconut oil, organic
3 tbsp raw cacao powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon, ground
4-6 drop stevia liquid (adjust to taste)
1 pinch of rock salt

Method

To make, first add the oil to a bowl and melt the coconut oil in the microwave. Once melted, add the remaining ingredients and stir well to combine. As long as the sauce mixture is warm, the coconut oil will remain runny. Taste test and adjust the sweetness to your preferences using stevia. To use the sauce, simply reheat and pour over your favourite dessert recipes.

Batch Cook & Meal Prep

Double or triple the recipe to easily batch cook and always have a delicious chocolate sauce on hand. Be sure to store unused sauce in a tightly, sealed plastic tub, and keep in the fridge or freezer. To thaw from the freezer, leave in the fridge overnight, and then portion what you need to a microwave-safe dish. Melt for 30 seconds to liquify for a chocolatey drizzle, or hot top sauce on ice cream and desserts. Use as a chocolate coating for other desserts such as covering bliss balls, or homemade protein chocolate bars. Just remember, at room temperature, the coconut oil will start to soften and may melt. For this reason, the sauce is best stored in the fridge or freezer until you need it.

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Sugar-free Chocolate Bark Recipe

The secret ingredient to making this healthy, sugar-free recipe is the coconut oil; it naturally solidifies in cooler temperatures, acting as a nutritious binder to create a stable, solid chocolate bark. You can add just about any wholefood ingredients to flavour your bark or enjoy it plain like a piece of healthy chocolate.

Sugar-free Chocolate Bark Recipe

Ingredients

1/3 cup melted coconut oil, organic
3 tbsp raw cacao powder, organic
3 tbsp raw or toasted almonds, skin on
3 tbsp pistachios nuts
2 tbsp walnuts nuts
1 tsp vanilla extract, pure
1 pinch rock or sea salt (optional)

Method

In a bowl, add and whisk all the ingredients while the chocolate and oil is still melted. If using the Raw Cacao Option, taste-test for sweetness as cacao powder can be quite bitter; adjust the stevia as needed. Pour the mixture into a lined baking tray and scatter the nuts evenly over the top. Pop in the fridge or freezer for 1 hour to set. To serve, simply break off bite-sized pieces to enjoy.

Recipe Note

WARNING: just because this recipe is "healthy" and sugar-free, doesn't mean you can go crazy on serving portions. One or two bite-sized pieces is a proper portion, although I will warn you, this recipe it so good it may be a struggle just to stick to only small piece!

Chocolate Bark Variations

This healthy, sugar-free recipe is very versatile and can be flavoured in any number of ways to many other healthy and wholefood ingredients such as:

dried or fresh fruit: dates are a good source of iron and other dried fruits provide additional nutrients; try blueberries, cranberries, dates, mandarin orange, strawberries or raspberries.
mix in wholegrains: add to the fibre content and hep control blood sugar levels with high fibre grains such as puffed brown rice, quinoa puffs, rolled oats or other wholegrains.
nuts and seeds: add crunch and nutrients with chia, flax, pumpkin and sunflower seeds or nutrient-dense nuts choices such as almond, cashew, pecans, and walnuts.
swap chocolate for yoghurt: bonus, make this same recipe by swapping out the oil and chocolate for plain, unsweetened Greek yoghurt. Add a scoop of sugar-free protein powder for an equally delicious dessert or treat.

As you can see, this healthy sugar-free recipe can be easily prepared with nutritious additions for extra nutrition, fibre and crunch. Each of these options provided added nutrients while keeping the recipe low in sugar and still satisfying on taste.

Nutritionist Note

Making your own healthy chocolate at home allows you to choose high-quality ingredients and avoid unwanted additives or hidden sugars often found in commercially produced chocolate. While this sugar-free dipping sauce recipe and chocolate bark are healthier than store-bought chocolate, it's still important to practice mindful consumption. Chocolate, even the healthy versions, contain calories and fat. Enjoy a sensible serving to satisfy your sweet tooth without going overboard.