Celebrating the Month of Love with Essential Oils

With the month of love upon us, why limit it to celebrating just one day? There are so many ways to show you care. Grab some essential oils for a couple’s massage or practice self-love by getting yourself and your galentines a massage! What else is on every store shelf in February?…Chocolate! I personally don’t mind a little chocolate for Valentine’s Day and I love making treats to share with my loved ones so I have gathered a few of my favorite chocolate treats to share.
“There is nothing better than a friend. Unless it is a friend with chocolate.” ― Linda Grayson

Chocolate Raspberry Truffles

Healthier than your big piece of chocolate cake, this recipe uses Wild Orange Essential oil which helps support digestive health and a healthy immune function which is an added benefit during the cold winter months.
Ingredients
125 grams dark chocolate (65 percent cocoa)
4 tablespoons almond milk
1 teaspoon coconut oil, refined
2 tablespoons maple syrup
½ teaspoon almond extract
1 drop Wild Orange oil
Freeze-dried raspberries (or freeze-dried raspberry powder)Instructions
  1. Combine almond milk, coconut oil, maple syrup, and almond extract in a small saucepan on low heat.
  2. Stir until ingredients are combined, but do not boil.
  3. Break up chocolate into a glass mixing bowl and pour hot ingredients over chocolate.
  4. Stir until smooth, then add Wild Orange oil to taste. Place your mixture in the refrigerator and let cool for 3 hours, or until the mixture is firm enough to hold shape.
  5. Using a spoon, form chocolate into balls and roll over crushed dried raspberries. Place back in refrigerator for another 30 minutes, then remove and enjoy.
Tips: The dried raspberries covering the truffles are beautiful, but feel free to experiment with dried coconut flakes, crushed nuts, and (for real dark chocolate lovers) cocoa powder!

Chocolate Peppermint Brownies

These are so easy to make when you are short on time. Just add a couple drops of Peppermint essential oil to your favorite box of brownie mix. Bake like normal and your friends will enjoy the added minty flavor and think they are from some gourmet bakery!

Black Bean Fudge

Black beans may seem like a strange combination but you can enjoy both the fudge and avoid the guilt! Black beans add a creamy texture to the fudge and your friends may not even know that they are in there!
Ingredients
3 ½ cups cooked black beans
¾ cup coconut oil (not Fractionated Coconut Oil)
¾ cup cocoa powder
½ cup white sugar
½ cup honey
½ teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon salt
4-6 drops Wild Orange oil**Instructions
  1. Leaving out the essential oil for now, blend all other ingredients in high-powered blender or food processor until smooth. Adjust sweetener to taste.
  2. Add Wild Orange oil and mix briefly.
  3. Spread mixture in 8×8 pan, pressing down firmly.
  4. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Slice into squares and serve.
  5. Store in refrigerator.
**Alternately, you can substitute the Wild Orange oil for PeppermintCinnamon Bark, or Spearmint oil.
Burrr, it’s cold outside!  Show your grand-kids you love them by making them their favorite chocolaty drink.

Hot Cocoa

Homemade hot cocoa is surprisingly easy to make. Flavor yours with a drop or two of your favorite internal use essential oil for a fun new cocoa flavor.

Ingredients
1 cup water
5 teaspoons cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon liquid stevia or 1 ½ teaspoon powdered stevia (amount of sweetener can be adjusted to taste)
1–2 tablespoons sugar or agave (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or ¼ teaspoon almond extract
3 cups almond milk

Recommended Essential Oils:
Cinnamon BarkLavenderWild Orange, or Peppermint oil
Instructions
  1. Heat water, cocoa powder, and sweetener on stove until ingredients are smooth.
  2. Add vanilla and milk and bring to a simmer. Pour into your favorite mug.
  3. Introduce flavor by swirling a toothpick dipped in your favorite essential oil.
Tip: For extra creamy cocoa, replace the water with equal parts milk or almond milk.
I hope you enjoy celebrating the month of love and all the chocolaty goodness!  Which recipe are you going to try first? Let me know in the comments.