Few things in life satisfy a craving like chocolate can. Except, maybe, cannabis, which is why this is my favorite chocolate recipe.

With cacao referred to as the Food of the Gods and cannabis touted a ‘miracle’ in symptom relief for many, these ingredients are an obvious pairing that blend perfectly.

The herbaceous, fruity, earthy, and hoppy flavors in cannabis pair perfectly with the rich, complex, and bitter flavors of dark chocolate.

Both cannabis and cacao have been used in ceremony and for their medicinal properties for thousands of years. These powerhouse ingredients contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can positively effect mood and cognition. Cannabis can be effective at managing stress, sleep, nausea, and pain, and chocolate is a mineral rich food that contains methylxanthines, theobromine, and caffeine, which can have positive effects on mood and cognition.

In addition to the flavor profile and sweet satisfaction chocolate provides, cannabis and chocolate are a perfect chemical pairing too, releasing anandamide in our bodies when we consume them. Anandamide is referred to as the ‘bliss molecule’ and is a neurotransmitter naturally found in cannabis and cacao that binds to receptor sites in our endocannabinoid, or endogenous cannabinoid system.

Editor’s Note: The following recipe is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen.

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Cannabis Chocolate

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces dark chocolate; solid chocolate or chocolate chips
• 1/8 cup of infused coconut oil; made from flower or FECO, recipe below
• Silicon or plastic chocolate molds or parchment-lined baking dish

Directions:

• Create a double boiler by placing a medium-sized stainless or a glass bowl over a small pot filled with several inches of water over medium-high heat
• Add chocolate chips or chopped chocolate to the bowl
• When chocolate starts to melt, lower the heat to medium-low
• Stirring occasionally until chocolate is fully melted
• Keeping the pot over medium-low heat, add infused coconut oil to the bowl of melted chocolate
• Stir until the coconut oil has melted and combined evenly with the chocolate
• Let cool for about 10 minutes until temperature is closer to 80-85 degrees
• Stir chocolate again to ensure even distribution of coconut oil
• Pour chocolate into molds or parchment-lined dish
• Place molds in the refrigerator to set
• Remove from molds and wrap in parchment
• Store at temperature cooler than 75 degrees

This chocolate recipe calls for infused coconut oil. Try this recipe for Cannabis Coconut Oil.

Getting the right dose takes some practice and will vary based on the individual, and the symptom being treated. Since the chocolate is potent, it is intended to be consumed in small amounts.

Start with a small piece the size of a chocolate chip. A typical serving size ranges from the size of a chocolate chip to a Hershey kiss – or two.

After eating this chocolate some folks will feel lasting effects throughout the entire day. You may want to try it out for the first time at night. Typically, cannabinoids have the most potent effects 4-6 hours after use, with benefits of symptom reduction lasting for up to 24-hours after a single dose.

Acute symptoms will require different treatment than chronic symptoms. Before you introduce cannabis into your routine, speak with your physician. Cannabis isn’t right for everyone, but for those that find relief with it, this infused chocolate may be a perfect way to take a measured dose of cannabis.

By allowing the cannabis chocolate to melt in your mouth before swallowing it, the cannabis is absorbed through the mucosal membranes, providing a slightly different effect, and faster onset, than when the cannabinoids are processed through the liver.

The effects of edibles can come on suddenly. To prevent feeling over-medicated, it is best to wait at least 6 hours after your last dose before enjoying another dose. Waiting to eat chocolate this delicious might feel challenging, but trust me, you’ll want to go slow with edibles this tasty.

Happy chocolate-making!

Kathryn Cannon is an experienced Plant Medicine Integration Specialist, Cannabis Coach, and community herbalist. She founded Terra Uma LLC to empower clients to optimize performance, mental health, and overall wellness with cannabis, and other plants and fungi. Kathryn is also the founder of a lifestyle medicine center and urban farm in Portland, Oregon, and a cannabis collective and coaching practice in Washington, DC.

This recipe was not written or edited by Hearst. The authors are solely responsible for the content.