Every year, around Christmas time, I would help my mom make homemade chocolates for gifts. These days, my kids now stand on stools and we all hover around the counter and chocolates together. We love these raspberry filled chocolates because they are incredibly delicious and super easy to make! You will need 3 ingredients. Chia seeds mixed with raspberries make the squishy jam center, and are covered with dark chocolate chips (just like homemade Bounty bars) to make the perfect raspberry bites!
Why you are gonna love this recipe
- Super quick to make, I'm a huge fan of all no-bake treats, because like these healthy raspberry-filled chocolates, they're fast to make and usually more nutrient-dense, just like homemade coconut macaroons!
- Raspberries are nourishing to the body (more about that below). If you are a raspberry fan like me, try this raspberry cherry smoothie!
- No added sugars, this raspberry chocolate recipe is only sweetened from the fresh raspberries and dark chocolate, a classic combo!
Jump to:
- Why you are gonna love this recipe
- 3-ingredient raspberry chocolates
- Danika's nutrition insights
- Instructions & tips
- Using frozen raspberries to make chocolates
- Substitution and variations
- Where do you buy chia seeds?
- Can I use raspberry jam instead of the raspberry-chia mixture?
- Storage and freezing
- Other no bake treats & snacks
- Raspberry Chocolate Bites
- Danika Vanderpyl, C.H.N
3-ingredient raspberry chocolates
- Raspberries: To make the jam bites middle, you can use fresh raspberries or frozen raspberries. Use organic berries if possible to reduce eating any sprays or pesticides left on the berries.
- Chia Seeds: These seeds will make the raspberries thick like a jam consistency.
- Dark Chocolate Chips: We cover the frozen raspberry chia jam in melted chocolate to make these. I use 70% dark chocolate chips. Keep in mind the higher percentage, the more beneficial the chocolate will be (less sugar, fewer additives, and more minerals!).
- Optional - Sea Salt: I like to sprinkle chunky Maldon sea salt on top because it makes these chocolates so pretty.
See recipe card below for exact quantities.
Danika's nutrition insights
As I am a Certified Holistic Nutritional Consultant, I like to share nutritional insight about the recipes I create. Let's chat about the ingredients in these raspberry-filled chocolates!
Chia Seeds: These little black seeds are a powerhouse of energy. They offer fiber, which supports the digestive system. Chia seeds' key nutrients include protein, healthy fats, calcium, and iron.
Raspberries: These red berries are an antioxidant (reducing free radical damage in the body). Raspberries are full of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, folate, phosphorus, and iron.
Dark Chocolate: It is known to be a mood enhancer and increases serotonin levels. Note that eating chocolate consistently and excessively increases levels of phenylethylamine acid and oxalic acid, inhibiting calcium absorption in the body. Enjoy chocolate in moderation!
This information comes from Prescription for Dietary Wellness by Phyllis A. Balch and The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia by Rebecca Wood.
Instructions & tips
Follow these step-by-step photos from my kitchen to make these easy raspberry chocolate bites. After testing this delicious and healthy dessert/snack, I have some tips to share! If you are using frozen raspberries, read the notes below.
Wash Raspberries: Place the fresh berries in a colander and let cool water run over them; let them dry on a tea towel. Place the raspberries in a bowl and mash them with a fork.
Raspberry chia jam: Add the chia seeds to the mashed raspberries to make a thick jam. Let this mixture sit for 15 minutes to fully thicken.
Little Mounds + Freeze: When the raspberry chia jam is thick, drop little mounds on a silicone mat or parchment paper. Place them in the freezer and wait until the raspberry mounds are completely frozen, about 15 minutes.
Melt Chocolate Slowly: You can melt chocolate chips over low heat on the stove while constantly stirring, OR in the microwave 20-30 seconds at a time with stirring in between. *Heating the chocolate too quickly will make the chocolate seize, becoming too hard to work with. Use low heat!
Dip with a fork: Dip fully frozen raspberry chia bites into the melted chocolate using a fork. Tap it on the side of the bowl to remove any excess chocolate.
Sprinkle with salt & freeze: Before the chocolate firms up, I like to sprinkle each chocolate jam bite with a little flaky sea salt. I love to use Maldon sea salt for treats like this. Place raspberry bites in the freezer for 10 minutes or until ready to eat them.
Using frozen raspberries to make chocolates
If you are using frozen raspberries for this chocolate raspberry treat, let the berries fully thaw and drain any liquid. They will thaw at room temperature for a few hours or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
When using thawed raspberries, they are more wet, so we need to increase the chia seeds. Use 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons of chia seeds in total. Then let the raspberries and chia seeds sit for 15 minutes to thicken and become jam.
Substitution and variations
This vegan dessert is dairy-free (if using dairy-free chocolate), gluten-free, and kid-friendly. However, I want to share how you can adjust this chocolate-covered raspberry chia bites recipe for your needs and preferences:
- Other berries: Instead of raspberries, try this recipe with blueberries, blackberries or strawberries to make berry-filled chocolates!
- Milk chocolate or white chocolate: Use different kinds of chocolate instead of dark chocolate, but note will be a lot sweeter.
- Add yogurt: Make raspberry yogurt chocolate bites by swirling ½ cup of yogurt into the raspberry mix before freezing it!
- Add peanut butter or almond butter: Drizzle the raspberry mounds with nut butter before freezing them, then cover the whole thing in chocolate!
- Make them sweeter: Raspberries can be tart. Add 1 teaspoon of honey, pure maple syrup, or agave to the mashed raspberries.
- Make sugar-free chocolates: Use Lilly's sugar-free chocolate chips!
- Make them shiny: If you want your chocolates to be shiny, add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil to your melted chocolate.
- Make them into hearts! Use a heart-shaped silicone mold to make this a healthy Valentine's treat or a healthy dessert recipe!
Where do you buy chia seeds?
You can buy chia seeds in the health food aisle of the grocery store. They are often in a bag. If your grocery store doesn't have a healthy aisle, check in the cereal and oats section.
Can I use raspberry jam instead of the raspberry-chia mixture?
Yes! To make raspberry jam bites, you can use raspberry jam instead of frozen or fresh raspberries. Note that the jam will be sweeter.
If the raspberry jam is thin, you will need to add chia seeds. Add 1 teaspoon at a time, let them sit for 10 minutes. If the jam is still runny, add another 1 teaspoon of chia seeds. You need the jam to be somewhat thick to make little raspberry-filled chocolates.
Storage and freezing
These healthy raspberry bites will be the freshest if kept in the freezer in an airtight container. They can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To thaw, remove them from the freezer and let them sit at room temperature for about 5-10 minutes before serving.
Other no bake treats & snacks
This food blog is purely about healthy snacks and treat recipes I make for my family! If you like healthy chocolate recipes, try these Bounty bars (coconut covered with chocolate)! For raspberry fans, try your next snack should be a healthy raspberry smoothie and these raspberry protein balls!
🍓Did you make these easy raspberry bites? I wanna know what you think! Please take 10 seconds to leave a comment below the recipe and a star rating. It totally makes my day, and it helps others find this recipe!
Raspberry Chocolate Bites
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup fresh raspberries or 2 cups frozen raspberries
- 2 ¼ tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 cup chocolate chips (I use dark chocolate chips to make the perfect sweetness)
Optional:
Instructions
- Using Frozen Raspberries: Thaw the raspberries by letting them sit out for 1-2 hours or by microwaving them slowly, and drain any liquid. Mash the raspberries, then add chia seeds so they thicken. Let them sit for 15 minutes.Using Fresh Raspberries: Wash the berries by placing the fresh berries in a colander and letting cool water run over them, then let them dry on a tea towel. Place the raspberries in a bowl and mash them with a fork. Add the chia seeds to the mashed raspberries. Let them sit for 15 minutes until they make a thick jam.
- Little Mounds + Freeze: Using a tablespoon measuring spoon, drop little mounds of raspberry jam on parchment paper. Place them in the freezer and wait until the raspberry filling is completely frozen, about 15 minutes.
- Melt Chocolate Slowly: You can melt chocolate over low heat on the stove while constantly stirring, OR melt the chocolate chips in the microwave 20-30 seconds at a time with stirring in between. *Heat slowly so the chocolate does not seize. Dip with a fork: Dip fully frozen raspberry chia bites into the melted chocolate using a fork. Tap it on the side of the bowl to remove any excess chocolate.
- Freeze: Before the chocolate firms up, sprinkle with a little sea salt if desired. Place chocolates in the freezer for 10 minutes or until ready to eat them. Let them sit out 5-10 minutes before serving them.
Notes
Nutrition
Danika Vanderpyl, C.H.N
I create snack recipes with healthy ingredients that are mostly already in your kitchen. I'm certified in Holistic Nutrition and I care about giving my kids real food. Let me share my nutrient-dense easy snacks with you.
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