In those moments, when a sweet treat craving is calling, who could resist a chocolate crepe?

These gluten-free chocolate crepes with summer berries will cure any craving while still being healthy and guilt-free!

The recipe is really easy and quick to make, and there are so many different ways to serve them – pears slices caramelized in honey, cinnamon and orange juice or whipped coconut cream and raw chocolate sauce or berry chia jam. The options are endless. . .

If you are interested to learn more about why berries are such a great choice, check out our Chia Berry Slice Recipe.

Is there a difference between Cocoa and Cacao?

Raw cacao is made by cold-pressing raw un-roasted cacao beans. This process ensures the living enzymes remain active in the cacao and removes the cacao butter.

Cocoa, on the other hand, looks the same but there is a big difference. Cocoa powder is raw cacao that’s been roasted at high temperatures. Unfortunately, roasting changes the molecular structure of the cacao bean, this reduces the enzyme content as well as reduces the overall nutritional value.

Raw cacao beans are known as superfoods and for good reason.

Here are just a few reasons to love Raw Cacao:

Antioxidant effects – Cacao is fully loaded with phenolic phytochemicals and flavonoids, these incredible properties protect your cells against damage from free radicals. Oxidative damage can cause premature aging, plus many modern health conditions faced today.
Boosts your mood and cognitive performance – Epicatechin, the main flavonoid in cacao, is known to improve aspects of cognition, preserve cognitive abilities during aging, and yes it can even put you in a better mood.
Lowers blood pressure – Recent studies found that flavanols can lower blood pressure as well as increase blood vessel flexibility.
Protects your heart – Researchers have found that flavanols and procyanidins found in cacao increased antioxidant capacity in blood plasma, this resulted in reduced platelet reactivity, resulting in a healthier heart.
Regulates insulin levels – The flavanol Epicatechin in cacao activates key proteins and aid in regulating glucose production, even among diabetics.

Cacao beans are also rich in nutrients like:

magnesium
iron
potassium
calcium
zinc
copper
manganese

In fact, cacao is actually thought to be one of the richest food sources of magnesium around.

Here’s why that Difference really Matters:

The heavier processing which is when the heating processes are at a higher temperature. That changes the cacao to cocoa. As we mentioned above, this heat actually affects the beans on a molecular level which means it changes their structure and degrades their nutrients.

In actual fact, that means that cacao, which is less processed, contains more powerful antioxidant effects and health benefits. Just 100 grams of raw cacao powder has an ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) of 95,500, this represents its antioxidant capacity. However, this number drops to 62,100 for cacao nibs, and even more dramatically for cocoa powder at 26,000.

But don’t worry it’s not that cocoa is in general bad for you, it just means that cacao is more beneficial as it contains a higher level of nutrients.

Can Cacao really enhance my Mood?

If you are naturally a chocolate lover, you will probably understand the mood-boosting benefits of cacao firsthand. A lot of it is because it tastes delightful, but cacao also contains a few compounds that really could actually boost our mood.

3 Compounds in Cacao to boost your mood:

Phenylethylamine – also known as the ‘love drug’ this makes us feel more alert and improves our feelings of overall well-being. When we eat cacao it can cause the brain to release endorphins which leaves us feeling happier.
Serotonin – this activates the pleasure center in our brain. So, cacao doesn’t contain enough serotonin to totally reverse a bad mood, but it definitely can contribute the feelings of happiness and appetite regulation.
Anandamide – known as the “messenger molecule”, it is known to play a role in pain tolerance, depression, appetite, memory, and fertility. And yes, it could very well be responsible for those blissed-out feelings you get when you bite into a piece of chocolate after a long day.

We hope you enjoy these deliciously healthy Gluten Free Chocolate Crepes, it will be a winner for the whole family. Enjoy!

Gluten Free Chocolate Crepes w/ Summer Berries (Gut Healing)

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Category: Light Meal

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

3 free-range eggs, room temperature
4 tablespoon melted butter or coconut oil
1 teaspoon honey (or sweetener of your choice – erythritol or xylitol)
½ teaspoon Himalayan salt
¾ cup cassava flour
2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
2 cups almond/coconut milk
additional butter or coconut oil for frying

Instructions

Beat eggs on medium-high until pale yellow and fluffy.
Add butter or coconut oil, honey, Himalayan salt, and cassava flour and beat on low speed to combine.
Add almond milk, one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition, and beat until smooth.
Heat a lightly buttered stainless steel over medium heat.
Pour ¼ cup of the batter onto the pan and tilt it with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly.
Cook the crêpe for about a minute, until the bottom is light brown and can easily be loosened with a thin metal spatula.
Turn the crêpe and cook the other side.
Serve with your favourite seasonal berries and a drizzle of honey.

Gluten Free Chocolate Crepes