Happy 2012!
Instead of creating 52 Sweet recipes this year, I’m going to focus on Sweets that can be made for $5.20 or so. My goal is to create something that includes at least 4 servings and, as always, is gluten- and dairy-free.
The first Sweet this year is one you might remember from last year: Chocomole. This perfectly sweet mousse is made from avocado, dates, chocolate, agave nectar, coconut oil and a little vanilla. I’ve modified the recipe from this version I shared last year to make it a bit more economical.
Here’s a little tip for serving chocomole. If you serve it in avocado shells, less adventurous eaters might choose to pass on this one. But if you put it in a pretty dessert dish, they may be none the wiser to the ingredients. It tastes nothing like guacamole with chocolate sprinkled on top.
Chocomole (Makes 4 servings)
2 ripe avocados
1 T. coconut oil
20 dates
2 T. cocoa powder
2 T. agave nectar
1 t. vanilla bean paste
In food processor, place 20 dates and process until finely chopped. They will turn into a mooshy ball in the food processor.
Slice the avocados in half carefully. Remove the pit and spoon out the fruit. Place the fruit into the bowl of the food processor. If you carefully clean out the shells, you can hang on to them and use them as serving bowls for the chocomole.
Add the cocoa powder, coconut oil, agave nectar and vanilla bean paste to the food processor. Process until smooth, at least a few minutes.
Spoon into avocado shells or other serving bowls and refrigerate. I piped the filling this time and really like how it looks. Refrigerate this for at least a couple of hours before eating. Enjoy!
Ingredient Cost
My ingredients were purchased at the local grocer and Trader Joe’s. Here’s the breakdown:
Two avocados on sale at Price Chopper: $0.69 each, $1.38 total
2/3 of a bag of Dole dates ($2.29 per bag) $1.53
Coconut Oil $0.37
Trader Joe’s cocoa powder $0.08
Agave Nectar $0.34
Vanilla Bean Paste $0.50 (WOW! I knew it was pricey, but the per teaspoon price really got me on this one.)
Total: $4.20 plus $0.19 sales tax (I live in Missouri and pay 4.6% sales tax on food), $4.39 for four servings!
Love the name. I've made a chocolate avocado pudding before which was very similar and loved it. You definitely can't tell it's made with avocado.
@Kalinda Thanks, Kalinda! I credit Jason Mraz with the name, that's where I first heard of this. I'm trying some Brazilian avocado-based recipes soon, such a surprise in Sweets!
Beautiful, Johnna! I actually love this dessert, having made a version from Maggie (She Let Them Eat Cake) before. Your presentation is so lovely. Ironically, I was thinking about this very dessert today! Specifically, I was thinking how folks think that a pudding/mousse made out of avocados is strange, but they don't think twice about eating something made from a box with ingredients they can't pronounce and have no idea what they are. Crazy, huh? I know I'm going to love your gf/df $5.20 sweets, dear! Love that this is paleo/primal, too. 🙂
Shirley
@gfe–gluten free easily
Thanks, Shirley! That is so true about folks eating food from a box. I'd rather have an avocado any ol' day, even without the chocolate. 🙂
Very interesting! I'll have to share this with some of my foodie friends!
Hi Johnna,
What a fantastic recipe! We would love to have you share this great recipe on our new Blog Hop: Allergy-Free Wednesdays. If you're interested, hop on over today, we're live. Each week the five AFW hostesses will feature the three most popular posts, as well our personal favorites. (Your post must contain a back link to Allergy-Free Wednesdays to be featured.) 🙂
Hope to see you there!
Hugs,
–Amber
AFW link: http://www.thetastyalternative.com/2012/01/allergy-free-wednesdays-blog-hop-week-2.html
That sound so good! Question, where did you get those cute ice cream dishes??
I bought them last Summer at Crate & Barrel. They sure do have cute dishes there!
Thanks 🙂 I have been looking for some cute ones like this. I will check out Crate & Barrel. Maybe I can find some similar!