Loaded Mocha Chocolate Parfait

Packed with nutrients, including a healthy dose of protein and fiber, these parfait pots can be a healthy dessert, snack, or even breakfast!

You will need (for 4 servings)

For the mocha cream:

• ½ cup almond milk
• ½ cup raw cashews
• ⅓ cup espresso
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the chocolate sauce:

• 4 tbsp coconut oil, melted
• 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the other layers:

• 1 banana, sliced
• 1 cup granola, no added sugar

Garnish (optional): 3 coffee beans per serving

Note about the maple syrup: since its viscosity is similar to the overall viscosity of the mocha cream and chocolate sauce, you can adjust this per your tastes, without affecting the composition of the dish much besides sweetness (and sugar content). If you don’t like sweetness, the maple syrup be reduced or even omitted entirely (your writer here is known for her enjoyment of very strong bitter flavors and rarely wants anything sweeter than a banana); if you prefer more sweetness than the recipe called for, that’s your choice too.

Method

(we suggest you read everything at least once before doing anything)

1) Blend all the mocha cream ingredients. If you have time, doing this in advance and keeping it in the fridge for a few hours (or even up to a week) will make the flavor richer. But if you don’t have time, that’s fine too.

2) Stir all the chocolate sauce ingredients together in a small bowl, and set it aside. This one should definitely not be refrigerated, or else the coconut oil will solidify and separate itself.

3) Gently swirl the the mocha cream and chocolate sauce together. You want a marble effect, not a full mixing. Omit this step if you want clearer layers.

4) Assemble in dessert glasses, alternating layers of banana, mocha chocolate marble mixture (or the two parts, if you didn’t swirl them together), and granola.

5) Add the coffee-bean garnish, if using, and serve!

Enjoy!

Want to learn more?

For those interested in some of the science of what we have going on today:

• Enjoy Bitter Foods For Your Heart & Brain
• The Bitter Truth About Coffee (Or Is It?)
• Which Sugars Are Healthier, And Which Are Just The Same?
• Cashew Nuts vs Coconut – Which is Healthier?

Take care!