Shoulder Season Sweet Treats: Chocolate-Seed Clusters
Ah, March. Depending on where you find yourself in Canada – and from one day to the next – March can bring blooms, blizzards, sun, fog … you name it. For that “is it spring, is it winter” time of year, we have a sweet yet healthy-ish no-bake dessert that is sure to keep you smiling, regardless of the weather.
Chocolate-seed clusters
Tailor these chocolate-seed clusters to your taste with the chocolate of your choice. We’re opting for 70% dark chocolate, but you can easily swap it out for milk chocolate, 100% dark chocolate, or anything in between.
Photo credit: Amy Schwartz
Ingredients
• 3 ounces (85 g) chocolate – we recommend 70% dark chocolate
• 1 1/4 cup (130 g) seeds – a combination of your favourite seeds – pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, hemp or other
• 1 teaspoon (5 mL) olive or coconut oil
• Sea salt, to taste (optional)
Photo credit: Amy Schwartz
How to prepare
1. Mix seeds in a small bowl. We recommend using at least half pumpkin seeds.
2. Melt chocolate in a bain-marie on the stove, or in the microwave by warming it in bursts of 20-30 seconds.
3. Stir in oil.
4. Once chocolate is fully melted, fold in your seeds, making sure they are well coated.
5. On a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, scoop small balls (approximately 1 tablespoon or 15 mL) of the chocolate-seed mix, making sure to leave space between each cluster.
6. Top with a pinch of sea salt, if using.
7. Put cookie sheet in freezer for 15 minutes, or until chocolate has hardened and clusters are solid.
8. Remove from freezer and enjoy!
Find more trail snack suggestions, trail tales from across Canada and more at tctrail.ca/stories.
Photo credit: Amy Schwartz
About Trans Canada Trail
Stretching nearly 30,000 kilometres across every province and territory, the Trans Canada Trail is cared for locally by trail and community groups. As a charity, Trans Canada Trail advocates for and stewards this nationwide system, helping ensure people can keep finding moments in nature that support their wellbeing.
Recipe adapted from:
https://www.theconsciousplantkitchen.com/healthy-seed-clusters/
Main photo credit: Amy Schwartz
