Chocolate Avocado Mousse {Dairy-Free}

Served here with frozen blueberries (what I had on hand), but fresh strawberries are AMAZING...

At a vegan dinner party this past week, one of the ladies made this, and it was literally finger-licking good.  Not only did we finish it all, but swiped the rest from the bowl with our fingers and licked the spoon clean!  This is an incredibly simple dessert with a "wow" factor: it's made from avocados, and it's dairy-free!  My version uses local honey, and I enjoyed the consistency with gooey honey....but make it completely vegan by using agave or maple syrup instead.  Seriously, your friends, kids, mom or co-workers will NEVER know it's made with avocado...until you tell them. Dr. Oz has this recipe posted...but uses egg whites and sugar (certainly not necessary). I apologize for the bad photo quality - my camera was left at my sisters house last week. :)  ENJOY! <3

Chocolate Avocado Mousse

Ingredients: 



1 c cocoa powder
2 large ripe avocado
1/2 c almond milk (or coconut, or water even)
3/4 c agave syrup or honey
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 pinch sea salt

Directions: 

Whiz in a food processor, scraping the sides and bottom occasionally until nice and thick.  Serve with fresh fruit, biscotti, or just eat it plain.

Banana-Avocado Smoothie

Learned this one in an Argentinian Bakery in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica.  I saw it on the menu and had to have it.  It's a perfectly tropical, nourishing breakfast.  YUM.

1 ripe avocado
1 ripe banana
1 - 1 1/2 c milk (regular, soy, rice, coconut - I'm sure they all work well)
1 tbsp honey**
1 pinch sea salt
1/2 c ice
(Optional) 1 handful of washed, prepped greens (spinach, kale, chard collards, etc.)

**NOTE:  Use real honey.  This is an old post, before I found that most of the store-bought honey (especially in cute little bears) is  NOT real honey, but a concoction based on corn syrup.  I now buy honey from a farm market or at least make sure it is a local source of real honey.

Blend & enjoy!

Nutrition:

Calories: 345
Fat: 20g
Carb: 39g
Protein: 8g