An amazing Vegan chocolate mousse, a great tip for Valentine’s day!

2 tbsp. kuzu starch
2 cups chocolate almond milk
1/4 cup arrowroot powder
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. cayenne
small pinch of salt
6 tbsp. agave nectar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups coconut whipped cream (recipe below)

Mix the kuzu with 2 tbsp. of almond milk until dissolved in a small bowl and set aside. Mix the arrowroot powder, cocoa powder, spices, and salt together in a medium-size saucepan. Make sure there are not lumps. Add about 1 cup of almond milk and agave nectar, and mix until thoroughly combined with no lumps. Stir in the rest of the almond milk and simmer over medium heat, stirring continuously. Add the kuzu mixture and blend until thickened. This will happen quickly, so keep your eye on it. Take it off of the heat and add in the vanilla. It should be very thick. Stir together and set in the fridge overnight. When ready to serve, take the set pudding out of the fridge, pour off any liquid that separated on top, and then pour the pudding it into a large bowl. Fold one third of the coconut whipped cream into the chocolate mixture, then fold in the remainder of the cream just until incorporated, but don’t overdo it or the mousse will lose volume. Transfer the mousse to a serving bowl or divide into serving dishes and enjoy. Makes one quart.

Coconut Whipped Cream
1 15-oz. can full-fat coconut milk
1 tbsp. agave nectar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Set the can in the fridge overnight so that the coconut fat solids separate from the coconut water. Open the can and carefully pour out the thick coconut cream. With an electric whisk, beat the cream, agave, and vanilla extract on very stiff until peaks form, about 5 to 7 minutes. You need it very stiff so it can support the pudding. Makes 2 cups.

Courtesy of Claire Thomas, The Kitchey Kitchen

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