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Chocolate-Raspberry Sauce

Chocolate or Vanilla?

The subject of today’s post is once again chocolate. You didn’t think I’d ignore it two days in a row, did you?

chocolate syrup

Above, on top of my Voluminous Ice Cream.

The sauce is actually not my recipe; it’s Barleans Essential Woman chocolate-raspberry swirl. I discovered this healthy chocolate sauce while shopping at my local health food store. Don’t ask me why, but they were giving out free samples. Yes, on a spoon. Weird, right?

Or maybe not so weird… I certainly never would’ve bought it on my own. But as soon as I read it was vegan, I was all over those free samples.

essentialWomanSwirl_lg

Barleans Essential Woman Chocolate-Raspberry Swirl

Oh my chocolate cream pie, this stuff is good. And—bonus—it’s rich in Omega-3s, 6s and 9s! I’m a big believer in only eating foods that taste good, regardless of their health benefits. If it doesn’t taste good, I’m not eating it. (So keep that wheatgrass away from me, thanks.)

This healthy chocolate syrup, while packing a nutritional punch, manages to taste like real chocolate syrup. It’s also sugar free. (Side note: The info on their website is outdated; this sauce is, in fact, vegan.)

Question of the Day:

Chocolate or Vanilla?

You know where my loyalties lie! Just in case, here’s a clue.

Published on June 16, 2011

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ABC's 5 O’Clock News. Her favorite food is chocolate, and she believes in eating dessert every single day.

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85 Comments

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  1. Val says

    I prefer chocolate, unless it’s ice cream then defs vanilla. As much as I love chocolate I really don’t like chocolate ice cream that much

  2. Qi Ting @ Misadventures of Fat free Baking says

    CHOCOLATE!!! But I’m beginning to appreciate vanilla too! To me, vanilla used to always be the “plain flavour”, the “default” flavour, but for some odd reason, starting this year, I’ve started to like vanilla too for being unique itself! 😀
    Your Chocolate-Rasberry sauce looks perfect as a glaze for a batch of freshly baked cinnamon rolls! MMMmmmm….

  3. Katy sparrow says

    When given a choice for ice cream, vanilla! but I’m def gonna look for that lovely sauce to top my vanilla ice creams with! I’m still a chocolate fan through and through, esp. the hard stuff and straight up nibs. i’m going to my fav independent movie theater today and i recall that they have endangered species bars and I have no idea wha flava i’ll get but i’m stoked 🙂

  4. The Teenage Taste says

    I’m pretty impartial to both vanilla and chocolate. If I eat too much chocolate I crave vanilla and if I eat lots of vanilla flavored foods I crave chocolate.
    PS – Congrats on your highest traffic day! I love it when that happens! 😀

  5. Jennifer JCD says

    I’m a vanilla girl, but my husband… you read about his favourite ice cream yesterday so you know he’s almost your twin. Don’t worry, I still like chocolate, just in smaller doses. 🙂

  6. Jenny says

    Chocolate, all. the. way.

    I have to admit, though, I prefer vanilla ice cream to go alongside chocolate cake, or a chocolate chip cookie cake. 😀 I’ve been a chocolate girl since I was little, even though my family is made up of vanilla-lovers.

    I first discovered that delicious syrup back in January! It’s pretty delicious, eh? Their other flavours are good too! 🙂

  7. Joanna says

    Don’t make me pick sides! Seriously, I love vanilla ice cream, frosting and cake, but can’t imagine life without dark chocolate, chocolate chips or brownies.

    FYI, I wanted to give you a head’s up that your Faves link appears not to be working. When I click on it, I get a 404 error message.

  8. Kim says

    As much as I LOVE good chocolate, good vanilla is hard to beat, and since vanilla is often an essential ingredient in chocolate I have to say I love both and usually at the same time! See? No need to choose!

    I checked out Barlean’s site and they have a distributor in Vancouver! That’s pretty close to me so there’s a chance that it’s available here. If I had seen it at the store without first reading your rave review I would have thought, “yeah right,” and passed it by. Will definitely have to look for it now 🙂

  9. Lisa says

    i LOVE that barleans stuff! I eat it every morning with my breakfast! I think it tastes just like chocolate syrup, and the people in my house wont touch it bc I tell them its fish oil. HA! I love being sneaky 😉

    QOTD- chocolate for lifeeeeeeee. I remember hating vanilla ice cream when I was younger because I said it tasted “blumpy”. aka, it had the vanilla beans in it! hahaha dont get me wrong, I love vanilla ice ceam now, but ill always be a chocolate person!

    • Lo says

      Even when I have vanilla things covered in chocolate, I’m wishing it were something CHOCOLATE covered in chocolate ;).

  10. Alexandra (Veggin' Out in the Kitchen) says

    Omg that sauce looks AMAZING!! I hope they have it at my Whole Foods! 🙂

    Chocolate. Definitely chocolate. Although I do very much enjoy a good vanilla treat (as long as it’s VERY vanilla-y… or french vanilla ice cream, LOVE that stuff! 😀 ) But if it comes down to chocolate or vanilla, I always end up with chocolate 😉 I think I get that from my grandma. She always says, “I never met a chocolate that I didn’t like.” I have had a few chocolates that just don’t taste good to me, but for the most part, my grandma and I are on the same page. 😀

    Have a wonderful rest of the week, Katie!

    <3 <3

  11. Emily @ Glitz Glam Granola says

    Ohh that vanilla ice cream yesterday looked fantastic! But unfortunately I don’t have a vitamix, so I don’t know if mine will turn out as creamy as yours! And I’m a total chocolate girl- all the way. Vanilla I can take or leave, but chocolate always sounds appealing! And that sauce is cool! How random that they would give samples on a spoon? They should have put it on a little ice cream and I bet even more people would have bought it!

  12. Hannah says

    chocolate, hands down. although your vanilla ice cream from yesterday does look delicious…especially on top of the CHOCOLATE chip cookie pie! 😉

  13. Katherine says

    I’m totally a vanilla girl. I add vanilla to everything! Though I also like wheatgrass, so maybe I’m just weird like that.

  14. katie @KatieDid says

    such a toss up for me honestly. I love vanilla based ice creams so much better than chocolate. But dark chocolate bars are my absolute favorite treat, and I even like unsweetened chocolate a lot too. So both!

  15. Jackie @ Baking Charms says

    I really need to attempt the ice cream from yesterday… it doesn’t get much healthier or easier than your recipe! Amazing

    PS: Your skin is gorgeous you don’t need makeup 🙂

  16. Emma (Sweet Tooth Runner) says

    CHOCOLATE ALL THE WAY BABY!! I think you knew that too 😉

    That sauce sounds AMAZING!! And it’s vegan?! I’m definitely looking out for it when go to the States in a month! 😀

    P.S. “Oh my chocolate cream pies”?! WAY better than Oh My Muppets if you ask me 😛

  17. Lauren says

    I love CHOCOLATE! Katie – That Chocolate Raspberry Sauce looks amazing! Will there be a future Copy-Cat Recipe?!

  18. Holly @ The Runny Egg says

    I love that it is called “essential woman” — it should be “essential FOR women” 🙂

    I love chocolate and vanilla, although I probably prefer vanilla a little more.

  19. Hannah says

    I much prefer chocolate in general, but I usually prefer vanilla ice cream to go with other things. Actually, probably one of the best things is something rich and chocolatey with vanilla ice cream.

  20. Elle says

    That sauce looks delicious! I go through phases with chocolate and vanilla. Right now, I love vanilla. I’m sure it won’t be too long until I’m back to chocolate though 🙂

  21. Tori (Fresh Fruition) says

    Chocolate yes yes yes! I love it. I’ve seen that swirl stuff in stores, but never tried it!

  22. Lauren @ What Lauren Likes says

    I cannot pick!! they both just taste amazing together!!! add a little strawberry in their too and I am one happyhappy camper!! ( or peanut butter or mint…) haha so many flavour loves to choose from 🙂

  23. kaila @ healthy helper! says

    I am totally a vanilla lover so that post yesterday was one of my faves for sure! I actually have mine in

  24. Sarahishealthy says

    You could be their spokesmodel. You’re so gorgeous! 🙂
    And I think you convinced me to buy some!

  25. Nathalie says

    I actually have never been the biggest fan of many fruit + chocolate combos. I tend to find the natural tart-sweetness of fruit clashes with the natural bitterness of chocolate. Of course, that’s not the case with bananas, and I will admit I tend to like many combos more when I actually TASTE them than I think I will when I’m considering them.

    Anywho, I completely get you on liking it when people challenge your point of view. My sister and I would often debate topics with each other with great vigor. So much so that our parents or our friends would try to “break up the fight.” The minute they started trying to “defuse” us, we’d look at them like they were off their rockers and say, “We’re not *fighting*, we’re *debating*.” There was never any malice in it X3.

    And my vote…. uh… man that’s a hard choice. I love chocolate, but I also love vanilla’s versatility. For example, I always buy vanilla flavored protein powder because then I can use in everything, and if I want chocolate I only need to add cocoa powder =D. So I guess I’m on the fence! Hahah.

  26. Ragnhild says

    Beautiful photoes!
    For me, nothing beats chocolate! I love vanilla, but Chocolate and I have a really special relationship- and nothing can tear us apart!!

  27. Mary @ Bites and Bliss says

    I definitely want to try making my own ice cream this summer..and better with that sauce, too! Between chocolate and vanilla, I honestly like the swirl haha. That way you don’t have to choose!

  28. Katherine says

    Ummm, strawberry…or well any fruit.
    Nah, probably vanilla.

    O, I forgot to tell you. I got some amazing chocolate in Guatemala. It is 100%, and then a 78%. One more than is 100% but has like added cinnamon and something else to put in hot water/milk as a drink. Soooo good.

  29. Alex@Spoonful of Sugar Free says

    I used to like vanilla everything, but strangely, I started loving chocolate so much more after I gave up sugar!!! Weird, huh? Yet, I LOVE it dark, bitter, and unsweetened!

  30. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says

    Chocolate or Vanilla?
    That is so hard

    Vanilla lattes, vanilla frosting on choc cake, vanilla extract infused anything

    Chocolate brownies, chocolate chips in cookies, chocolate just to eat

    They both have their place. I cannot choose. B/c the *right* vanilla thing can be just as good as chocolate 🙂

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      LOL that’s my fro-co recipe 😉
      But it didn’t get nearly as much as the vanilla one! (In its defense, I posted that recipe a few months ago… so maybe it was just a timing thing. Or maybe people just like vanilla better because it’s so much more versatile!)

  31. Serena says

    Chocolate all the way. 🙂 Actually, I really only like chocolate when it’s very rich and very dark (ie. molten lava cakes, dark chocolate bars, thick “tsokolate” with ground peanuts). I love to eat vanilla ice cream (especially with real vanilla beans!) on the side of/ on top of warm apple pies, other warm baked goods, etc.

  32. Sarah says

    I’m honestly more of a vanilla girl!! However.. chocolate on top of any vanilla recipe makes for a completely balanced meal 😉

  33. Alina says

    Vanilla by far. It’s my # 1 on my list, coconut is # 2, chocolate… not sure if it is within the first 10 most yummiest :). but i do dig on the cacao beans in the raw- in all their bitter glory

  34. Adam says

    have to go with vanilla..

    don’t get me wrong, i loveee chocolate, but more so as an accent.. like as a sauce, or a mix-in or add-in, as opposed to the main flavor.. unless of course we’re talking brownies, that’s an exception 😉

  35. BroccoliHut says

    I’m a chocolate girl too! I have to say that it bugs me that both my dad and my boyfriend are plain Jane vanilla people–whenever we get frozen yogurt, they never add any toppings! Just straight up vanilla. Harumph.

  36. Anna says

    I love quality chocolate but when it comes to ice cream I usually stick with a vanilla base and add to that depending on my mood 🙂

  37. Vogelstar says

    It’s incredible what they come up with in the health food world. Back when i first became vegetarian, there were so few items to choose from, there was basically a bad veggie burger or a bad veggie hot dog and only one company made them. Now here we are with healthy chocolate sauce. It’s almost overwhelming with all the products but so very exciting. Ps, chocolate all the way

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Oh my gosh, I know! We are SO spoiled! My friends ask me how I can be vegan and give up things like ice cream… I answer that I really don’t have to! They even make vegan mozarella sticks now. Probably not the healthiest thing lol… but hey, they exist!

  38. Marissa says

    My nutritionist gave me a sample of that stuff! It was pretty good. I was expecting it to taste all oily and nasty… but it was really just like chocolate sauce (which I’ve never been that big of a fan of anyways–gets kinda sickly after a while!)

  39. Dina S says

    How do you manage to take such gorgeous pictures especially mid-pouring? Also, how do you always have different bowls and layout materials, where do you keep them? Who takes the pictures of you?

    • Chocolate Covered Katie says

      It’s hard! I usually use a tripod for pouring photos, but even still I take a lot before getting one good shot. Right now I don’t have a lot of bowls/plates, as I just moved. In my old home, I had them all in a closet with shelves. And usually my friends take the photos, but now that I have an iphone I sometimes try and be coordinated enough to take my own. It doesn’t always work ;).

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