This easy chocolate tahini spread is so quick to make, rich in dark chocolate flavor and just perfectly sweet. Makes for the perfect nut-free chocolate sauce to serve over toast, ice cream, oatmeal, pancakes and to flavor drinks! 100% vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free.
There are so many store-bought chocolate spreads on the market, but most of them are packed with oils, refined sugar and preservatives.
But did you know that you can make your own chocolate tahini spread right at home using only 4 simple ingredients? This cocoa tahini is so easy, can be whipped up within 5 minutes, is all made with whole foods and is ultra-versatile.
I like to keep these chickpea chocolate truffles in the freezer ready to go or whip up a batch of chocolate cashew mousse when we crave chocolate, but this nut-free chocolate spread is another DIY chocolate treat perfect to dip in fruit (especially strawberries) for the last-minute sweet bite.
We loved its very chocolatey flavor and dark color, plus the tahini paste carries a lovely nutty flavor that adds a unique twist that's pretty addictive.
You can easily customize it to your preferences and it can be used in so many ways, such as a spread over toast or as a sauce to drizzle over ice cream, cakes, drinks and oatmeal.
Let me know if you give it a try! ❤️
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❤️ Why you will love this recipe
- Very easy and fast recipe
- Great to meal-prep ahead and to keep as a pantry staple
- Nutrient-dense dip: tahini (paste 100% made out of sesame seeds) is rich in healthy fats, cacao powder packs a whole lot of antioxidants (flavonoids) and this dip is sweetened using maple syrup.
- Amazing flavor profile with a deep dark chocolate flavor and a nutty + earthy sesame taste.
- Great for spreading over toast in the morning, drizzling on ice cream or dipping in fruits or pretzels for a quick snack.
- Vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free and nut-free
🗒 Ingredient notes (+ substitutions)
- Tahini: tahini is a paste made by grinding sesame seeds. There are many different types of tahini you can find in groceries with each their own consistency and flavor: some are thick like peanut butter vs some are more drippy and some are more bitter than others. I like this tahini from the brand 365 as it is very smooth in flavor and has a pourable consistency that works great for making sauces.
- Cacao powder: you can use cacao powder or cocoa powder, whatever you have will be fine. I prefer raw cacao powder as it is less processed (meaning that it retains more antioxidants during the grinding process) and it has a strong chocolate flavor.
- Maple syrup: adds amazing flavor and helps to create a smooth texture. You can also use agave nectar, but I do not recommend swapping for granulated sugar.
⭐️ Full list of ingredients with quantities down below in the recipe card!
📝 Variations
- Stronger flavor: you can add some instant coffee powder for a boost in chocolate taste!
- Flavoring ingredients: feel free to add a pinch of cinnamon or other spices like pumpkin spice mix if desired.
- Sweet and salty: add some sea salt if you love sweet and salty mix in flavor or garnish the dip/spread with coarse salt when serving for a yummy salty crunch.
- Ultra creamy: instead of using water to reach the desired consistency, you can use full-fat coconut milk! This will add a delicious coconut-y taste on top of more creaminess.
🍽 How to make chocolate tahini spread
Step 1: Add the tahini, maple syrup, vanilla extract and cacao powder to a bowl.
Step 2: And whisk to combine. The mixture will be thick and gritty at this point.
Step 3: Add a small amount of water (3-4 tablespoons to start).
Step 4: Then whisk again. Keep adding water, small amounts at a time (about 1-2 tbsp) + whisk, until it reaches the desired consistency.
⭐️ Find the detailed recipe down below in the recipe card!
💡 Helpful tips
- Tahini paste varies widely depending on the brand. If yours is thick like peanut butter, then you will need to add more water to reach a smooth and spreadable consistency. Also, some brands of tahini taste more bitter, which you can adjust by adding more maple syrup if this is your case. If you are new to tahini, I encourage you to try out different brands to find your favorite!
- It is important to stir in the jar of tahini before measuring since the oil tends to separate while the container is sitting in the pantry.
- Add water, then whisk, until you have a perfect texture. This might take a few minutes! Add only small amounts of water at a time: you can always add more!
❗️ Storage tips
This is an amazing recipe to make ahead! Transfer the chocolate tahini spread in a sealed glass jar and keep it in the pantry for about 5-7 days. For longer storage, then keep it in the fridge (for up to 1 month).
The tahini spread will thicken as it cools down and rests, which you can adjust by adding more water if needed.
➡️ Serving suggestions
There are so many ways you can serve this chocolate tahini spread! Depending on what you are looking for, you may want to keep the spread thicker or thin it out further by adding more water.
- Oatmeal or overnight oats: you can add a little extra water and drizzle some over oatmeal or layer in your overnight oats.
- Morning toast: perfect spread for toast (we love it especially over this easy no-knead sourdough bread or this no yeast easy buckwheat bread). You can add slices of strawberries or peaches over, one of my favorite breakfasts!
- Drinks: add a spoonful of this tahini chocolate spread to your morning coffee, fruit smoothies or oat milk lattes to add a ton of flavor and boost its nutrient content.
- Pancakes: making a batch of silken tofu protein pancakes or buckwheat banana pancakes? Make sure to spread or drizzle some yummy tahini chocolate ganache over when serving!
- Dip: also makes for a great dip for pretzels or fruits, such as bananas, strawberries, apples or pineapple.
- Ice cream and yogurt: thin out the spread enough so it is drizzle-able and add over ice cream or yogurt for a boost in flavor and healthy fats.
❓ FAQs
Sesame seeds are naturally a little bitter, but some brands of tahini are more bitter than others. If yours is too bitter for your taste, then add more maple syrup to help balance the flavors.
This can depend on your tahini (some are thick like peanut butter). Also, raw cacao powder is pretty dry and will make the spread very thick. You will need to adjust the consistency until it is smooth and spreadable by adding water!
Yes! This spread is high in healthy fats (thanks to tahini), antioxidant (thanks to cacao powder) and low in refined sugar (thanks to using maple syrup instead of white sugar).
Tahini is made entirely from grinding sesame seeds into a paste. It can be thick like peanut butter or thinner, almost like syrup. You can find tahini in most grocery stores in the nut butter aisle or sometimes in the international aisle.
🌱 More vegan chocolate recipes you might like
I hope you enjoyed this chocolate tahini spread recipe! If you have any questions, please leave them in the comment section below. Your feedback is so helpful!
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📖 Recipe
Chocolate Tahini Spread
Equipment
- Medium bowl
- Whisk
Ingredients
- ½ cup tahini
- 4-5 tbsp maple syrup - or to taste
- 3 tbsp raw cacao powder
- water - to thin out until desired consistency
Instructions
- To a medium bowl, add the tahini, maple syrup, cacao powder and vanilla extract. Whisk until combined (the mixture will be thick and gritty at this point).
- Add 3-4 tablespoons of water and whisk again. Keep adding more water small amounts at a time until it reaches the desired consistency. Taste and adjust the flavor to your preferences, then serve over toast, in oatmeal or overnight oats, over ice cream or as a dip for fruits.
Video
Notes
- Tahini paste varies widely depending on the brand. If yours is thick like peanut butter, then you will need to add more water to reach a smooth and spreadable consistency. Also, some brands of tahini taste more bitter, which you can adjust by adding more maple syrup if this is your case. If you are new to tahini, I encourage you to try out different brands to find your favorite.
- It is important to stir in the jar of tahini before measuring since the oil tends to separate while the container is sitting in the pantry.
- Add water, then whisk, until you have a perfect texture. This might take a few minutes! Add only small amounts of water at a time: you can always add more!
- Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.
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