Dark chocolate mendiants are the healthy way to do dessert ~ these melt in your mouth medallions are made with anti-oxidant rich dark chocolate topped with colorful dried fruits, nuts, and seeds ~ they’re just as pretty as they are delicious!
dark chocolate mendiants are a healthy homemade candy
I’m pretty liberal with my definition of healthy— I think if a food is delicious and whole (that is, unprocessed or minimally processed,) it deserves a spot on my table.
I’m not judgmental about eating animal protein as long as the animals are raised humanely. I’m down with healthy fats and yes, even a little sugar. But in the interest of keeping a healthy weight, I say no to dessert most of the time. The problem is that even after a good dinner, I’m sometimes left with a gnawing urge for a little something sweet. I’m sure it’s purely psychological, but I can’t ignore it…I’ll scrounge around and eventually open a bag of chocolate chips, if I can’t find anything else ๐
what are chocolate mendiants?
Mendiants are simply round ‘medallions’ or ‘coins’ of chocolate, topped with various fruits and nuts. They’re a French Christmas tradition, and super easy to make at home. Mine are made with heart healthy extra dark chocolate, with lots of colorful little super foods (dried fruit, nuts, and seeds) sprinkled on top for fun. If you’re a white chocolate fan, check out my White chocolate Energy Bites, which are a variation on the same theme. The concept can also be applied to easy-to-make nut-butter cups, like these Detox Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups ~ the possibilities are endless!
topping ideas for chocolate mendiants
- dried blueberries
- dried cranberries
- goji berries
- figs
- pineapple
- mango
- raisins
- papaya
- walnuts
- pistachios
- pecans
- almonds
- hemp seeds
- pepitas
- flax seeds
- poppy seeds
- coconut
I collected them for color as well as flavor, and all of them have health giving properties, so these little dark chocolate medallions are not only guilt free, you’d be remiss not to include them in your diet!
how much dark chocolate is should you eat?
Medical experts agree that 1-2 ounces of dark chocolate a day is not only ok, it’s good for you. Just make sure you’re eating actual dark chocolate, with at least 70% cocoa solids. The flavanols in cocoa have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, with wide reaching benefits for your heart. Just be sure you aren’t eating too much chocolate, because in this case, more isn’t better!
Each one of these bites is about 1/3 of an ounce of dark chocolate, so 3 of them would equal a 1 ounce daily dose of heart healthy flavonoids. Cool, huh?
vary these candies according to your taste
If you’re not into the exotic variety here, just use chopped nuts, or raisins, they’ll be great, and just as healthy.
think of this as an experiment in mindful snacking…
It starts by appreciating the blobs of glossy molten chocolate as they find their unique shapes on the parchment paper. Then focus on the random patterns of colorful fruits, nuts, and seeds as they’ve sunk into the warm surface.
Your enjoyment of each crunchy, chewy, chocolatey bite will be heightened even further by the knowledge that you’ve embraced dessert as a powerful friend and ally, rather than as an enemy…
tips for making chocolate medallions
Good quality bar chocolate is the best base for these chocolate coins. The darker the better! Read your labels, the higher percentage of cacao, the healthier it will be. Try to find a minimum of 70%.
This helps the chocolate melt quickly, with the least amount of heat. Too much heat can cause chocolate to seize.
Yes, I’ve done that. Ghirardelli makes good bittersweet chips. Chocolate chips melt to a slightly thicker consistency than bar chocolate, but they can be used. They’re convenient because there’s no chopping necessary.
Nuts, seeds, and dried fruit do not last forever in the back of your pantry, so be sure to check that they’re fresh before topping your chocolate. Better yet, invest in fresh ingredients for this special treat.
Your chocolates will last up to 3 weeks at room temperature, or in the fridge. You can freeze them as well for longer storage.
Just melt your favorite keto chocolate bar for a low carb version.
more chocolate…
- Grandma Kathyโs Homemade Turtle Candy Recipe
- Amish White Cashew Clusters
- Spanish Peanut Clusters Recipe
- Jewel Box Truffles
- Peppermint Mocha Bark
- Easy Nutcracker Bark (with printable recipe tags!)
Dark Chocolate Mendiants
Equipment
- parchment paper
Ingredients
- 8 ounces dark chocolate, I used Trader Joe’s 73% Super Dark chocolate bars (the higher the percentage of cacao the better)
- assorted dried fruits, chopped in small pieces
- chopped nuts such as almonds, walnuts, pistachios, pecans
- seeds like sesame, poppy, hemp, flax, etc.
Instructions
- Lay out a piece of parchment paper, or waxed paper, or foil.
- Chop the chocolate into small pieces and put in a microwave safe glass bowl or measuring cup. Microwave for 60 seconds, and then stir. Microwave for another 30 seconds, and then stir again to completely melt the chocolate. If there are still lumps, microwave for another short burst and stir again.
- Use a spoon to drop small rounds of chocolate onto the parchment paper. Let the chocolate fall from the spoon and it will naturally form a more or less round shape. You can nudge it with your spoon if you like. Work with one at a time, and sprinkle each round of chocolate with an assortment of your healthy add-ins while the chocolate is still hot. Make them whatever size you like, but mine were about 2 to 2 1/2 inches in diameter.
- Let the chocolate set at room temperature, or put the bites in the refrigerator to speed things up. If you plan to refrigerate the medallions it helps to put the parchment right on a baking sheet or tray so you can transfer it straight to the fridge.
- Store the mendiants at room temperature, or in the fridge. They'll last for at least 3 weeks. You can also freeze them.
Can these be kept out? As i plan to make givaways packed .
Yes, they can be kept at cool room temperature.
Oh my goodness!! (Literally!) I cannot wait to try these – they look absolutely awesome!!!
Wow, these are just so pretty, and I can just imagine all the combinations you could make! Such a great way to use up leftover amounts of dried fruit and nuts, too!
How to store them, in which type of container? I think they would taste better with a bit of a crunch. I dont want them to soften while storing.
You can store them at room temperature, or in the fridge. They shouldn’t soften unless your kitchen is very warm.
Hi! Love the blog! One thing though. All animals, whether they’re treated badly from the beginning, or later in life, all end up at the same place. Which is The slaughter house. No animals want to die. Humane is a myth.
What a fantastic idea. I look forward to making some.
They look really lovely, but I couldn’t help but laugh at the name. You’ve made a classical French sweet – mediants. Add a few buzzwords and all of a sudden it’s a paleo superfood. Great marketing ?
Yes, the name was definitely meant partly in jest ~ but you have to agree, the whole package is pretty healthy!
Hi. I plan on giving these as gifts and I was just wondering, if you take them out of the fridge/freezer, will these melt quickly once they leave the fridge/freezer? Thank you
They won’t melt, Cheska, but they do need to be kept at a relatively cool temperature or they will become soft-ish. Regular room temperature is fine.
Hi Sue, I really love your idea about this heavenly bites Dark chocolates detox. Sounds new and looks so yummy to me. Thanks I found your blog. Can’t wait to try and this nice for a holiday presents.
Hope you enjoy them!
I can’t wait to try these, and looks like they’ll make perfect gifts around the holidays too. Love how you’ve incorporated all those colors – as they say, eat the rainbow!
Let us know what you think, Jean ๐
I made these! They were so yummi! I used dried pineapple, papayas and bananas! However, I live in Costa Rica and it’s humid and warm most of the time and they melted in the hand of everyone that grabbed one! It was so sad! What can I add to the chocolate to make it stay hard outside the fridge?
Unfortunately Paola, chocolate tends to melt in warm temperatures. I can only suggest serving it straight from the refrigerator if you live in a very warm climate. You can temper your chocolate which will help to keep it solid at a slightly higher temperature, but that is fairly difficult to do, here are directions: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/how-to-temper-chocolate-356869
Could you not add melted copha to it like choc crackles?
Hi Janelle, I had to ‘google’ copha because I haven’t heard of it! Since I’ve never used it I’m afraid I can’t help you, but please let us know if you try, and how it works out.