If you’ve never had dark chocolate hummus before, you will be amazed by how easy it is to turn chickpeas into a delicious, filling, and satisfying dessert hummus. It basically tastes like brownie batter, but nutrient-dense and safe to eat raw. It’s the perfect healthy dip to pair with fruit, crackers, bagels, and more!
I’m usually not one to sneak vegetables or beans into my desserts, however, when I tell you this chocolate hummus tastes NOTHING like chickpeas, I mean it! Chickpeas very quickly take on the flavor of what they’re combined with, meaning this hummus tastes like a thick chocolate spread.
This is also a great treat to bring on-the-go, not to mention it’s a super fun recipe! And best part? Whether you pair this dark chocolate hummus recipe with fruit (fresh strawberries are my favorite), a slice of sourdough, or a side of animal crackers, it will instantly jazz up any snack.
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WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
Easy to Make – This sweet hummus recipe tastes like brownie batter, but is even easier to make! Simply add all the ingredients to a food processor or high powered blender and blend until smooth.
Healthy & Filling – The main ingredient in this dark chocolate hummus is chickpeas! Chickpeas are great sources of fiber, vitamins and minerals, and are also super filling. This spread makes the perfect satisfying, healthy treat to enjoy when craving something sweet.
Great for Meal Prep – This is a great spread to prep on a Sunday and enjoy throughout the week. You can have it on toast, with a bagel, to dip fruit in, and more! It’s a delicious and easy way to satisfy a late night chocolate craving.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED (WITH SUBSTITUTIONS)
To make this vegan dessert hummus, you will need the following ingredients. If you’re curious about any substitutions make sure to keep reading below.
DRY INGREDIENTS
Chickpeas – The main ingredient in this recipe is chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans). I prefer to use canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained, because they’re easy. However, if you are looking for a super smooth texture, you can read the FAQ section on how to get really smooth hummus through heating your chickpeas. You can also use a can of black beans in this recipe, but I recommend increasing the sweetness slightly.
Cocoa Powder – To get the delicious chocolate flavor we are using cocoa powder. You can also use cacao powder which is the raw, unprocessed version of cocoa powder. Either works! Using a good quality, rich cocoa powder is key to getting the best chocolate flavor.
Brown Sugar – Adding brown sugar adds sweetness to this recipe. While I prefer the flavor brown sugar adds, you can sub coconut sugar or white sugar as well.
Dates – Dates add an additional bit of sweetness while also adding a mild, but rich caramel flavor.
Sea Salt – In my opinion every chocolate recipe can benefit from a pinch of salt. You can even top this dark chocolate hummus with a pinch of flaky sea salt for the ultimate sweet and salty combo.
Cinnamon – A bit of cinnamon adds a hint of sweetness and a bit of extra depth and flavor.
Dark Chocolate Chips – Optional, but recommended. I love topping this hummus with chocolate chips as it literally tastes exactly like brownie batter hummus! You can find vegan chocolate chips at your local grocery store, Enjoy Life and the Kirkland Costco brand are my personal favorites.
WET INGREDIENTS
Vanilla Extract – Vanilla balances the chocolate flavor by offsetting the bitterness and acidity of the cocoa powder.
Coconut Oil – Melted coconut oil helps create a creamy, rich flavor while also making this hummus a bit smoother. Typically tahini is used in most hummus recipes, but this chocolate hummus is made without tahini and with coconut oil instead to provide a sweeter, richer flavor.
Non-Dairy Milk – Plant milk is used to thin out the hummus to your ideal texture. You can add as little or as much as you want. Any non-dairy milk works – oat milk, almond milk, soy milk, etc!
HOW TO MAKE
Making this homemade chocolate hummus is extremely easy! While this dip looks super fancy, it comes together in just 5 minutes. All you need are the above ingredients and a food processor or blender.
A food processor is my first choice for hummus as I find it easier to get creamy and smooth hummus, but a high-speed blender will also work. You just may need to scrape down the sides a few times during the blending process.
Step 1: Add all of the ingredients to a food processor except for the melted coconut oil and non-dairy milk. Blend/pulse until relatively smooth (it’s okay if a few chunks remain).
Step 2: While blending, slowly add in the melted coconut oil and keep blending until the hummus is completely smooth.
Step 3: Add in a tablespoon of non-dairy milk a little bit at a time until you reach your desired consistency. If you want the dark chocolate hummus to be on the thicker side you can omit the plant milk from the recipe.
Step 4: Add to a bowl and top with chocolate chips. And optionally a bit of flaky sea salt as well!
DARK CHOCOLATE HUMMUS VARIATIONS / ADD INS
Want to jazz up this recipe? Here’s some creative ways to make this chocolate hummus recipe completely your own!
Peanut Butter – Adding peanut butter to this hummus not only adds creaminess, but it adds an underlaying nutty flavor of course. If you love chocolate peanut butter desserts, you’ll love this combination. Start by adding a tablespoon and gradually increasing until your happy with the flavor.
Peppermint Extract – If you’re a fan of thin mints or peppermint patties you can add a drop of peppermint extract to this recipe. Just note – a little goes a LONG way. Start with a small drop (I’m talking less than 1/8 of a teaspoon) and go from there.
Espresso Powder / Instant Coffee – Adding a teaspoon of espresso powder/instant coffee makes this recipe extra rich.
Chocolate Protein Powder – Make this chocolate hummus a high-protein snack by adding in a tablespoon or two of your favorite protein powder. While chocolate protein powder makes this hummus extra chocolate-y, vanilla and/or peanut butter protein powder also works.
WHAT TO EAT WITH CHOCOLATE HUMMUS
You can eat this hummus with just about anything you’d pair with chocolate! Below are some of my favorite ways to enjoy this dip.
English Muffins / Bagels – One of my personal favorite ways to enjoy this hummus is by slathering it on a bagel or english muffin and topping it with banana slices. Yum!
Fresh Fruit – This chocolate spread makes a great fruit dip. While it pairs well with almost all fruits, my favorite ones to pair with it are bananas, apples, strawberries, and oranges!
Rice Cakes – For a healthy sweet snack top a rice cake with some hummus! You can also top with it fruit and/or a drizzle of peanut butter.
Toast – Similar to a bagel, you can use this chocolate hummus as a spread and enjoy it with a piece of toast in the morning.
Pretzels – For the ultimate sweet and savory snack you can dip pretzels into this dark chocolate hummus for a combination of chocolate and saltiness that is sure to hit all your cravings!
Cookies & Crackers – You can also dip cookies and/or crackers into this dip. Whether it’s animal crackers, graham crackers, or vanilla cookies it’s guaranteed to be delicious.
STORAGE & REHEATING
For best results, store this chocolate hummus in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. It makes a great addition to work (or school) snacks, as well as desserts!
Hummus is meant to be enjoyed cold, so you can enjoy it straight out of the fridge.
You can also freeze this hummus for 2-3 months. To do so, add the hummus to a freezer-safe container. When ready to enjoy, let thaw in the fridge overnight. After thawing, don’t re-freeze. If you don’t plan on enjoying it all at once, you can freeze in small batches in separate containers.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is chocolate hummus a healthy snack?
Definitely! It’s filled with good-for-you ingredients and is a great snack paired alongside some fruit. It also makes a delicious healthy dessert.
Is chocolate hummus healthier than Nutella?
While this dark chocolate hummus is healthier for you than Nutella, I don’t think of the two as super comparable. To me this hummus is like a thick brownie batter, whereas Nutella is a bit thinner and sweeter. If you are looking for a healthy Nutella like spread, my chocolate cashew butter will be right up your alley.
How can I make this hummus have an extra creamy texture?
You can make this hummus smoother by heating the chickpeas with a bit of baking soda. Rinse and drain the chickpeas and add to a bowl. Cover with water and add 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda. Heat for 2-3 minutes (either on the stovetop on medium heat or in the microwave). Drain the chickpeas and rinse in cool water a few times to remove any baking soda residue.
At this point, you can peel the skins off the chickpeas which is a great way to create super duper smooth hummus (but is a bit time consuming) or you can just use as is! The baking soda and hot water combination makes the chickpeas extra soft and yields a delicious creamy hummus.
You can also simply toss the chickpeas in the food processor and skip the above steps and it’s equally as delicious (but slightly less smooth).
OTHER HEALTHY DESSERTS YOU’LL LOVE
If you decide to try this recipe out, let me know! I love seeing your recreations tagged on Instagram @nourishedwithnatalie.
Easy and Healthy Dark Chocolate Hummus
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained*
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ cup brown sugar**
- 2 medium dates, pitted
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- 4 tbsp melted coconut oil
- 1-2 tbsp non-dairy milk
- ⅓ cup chocolate chips optional, but recommended!
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except the coconut oil and non-dairy milk to a food processor or blender. Puree until relatively smooth.
- While blending, add in the melted coconut oil and puree until smooth.
- Lastly, add in the non-dairy milk one tablespoon at a time until you reach desired consistency.
- Top with chocolate chips and enjoy!
Such a fun and healthy recipe. One wouldn’t think chocolate hummus would hit the spot but this sure does! Thanks for sharing!
This was amazing and such a treat! Thank you! Everyone in my family loved it.
Aww yay so happy to hear that!
This dark chocolate hummus looks and sounds fabulous! I am definitely trying this ASAP!
Woo, keep me posted when you try it!
Oh wow, I never heard of dark chocolate hummus, will surely give it a shot and let you know!!
My kids absolutely loved this! Thanks so much for the great recipe!
Makes me so happy to hear your kids enjoyed it!!