No-Bake Pumpkin Seed Cacao Macaroons

August 29, 2020

Sweet & Satisfying Anti-Stress Snack 

I wanted to create a snack that was relaxing and mood stabilizing, and at the same time delicious, satiating and energizing. Combining pumpkin seeds, cacao and coconut, all which give a boost of magnesium and other stress relieving nutrients, did the trick.

These Raw Pumpkin Seed Cacao Macaroons whip up super quickly and require no baking.

Why Magnesium?

Magnesium is known as the Anti-Stress Mineral!

It is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and is necessary in over 300 biochemical processes! Almost everyone is deficient in magnesium due to the nutrient depletion of our soil producing nutrient depleted food.

How Does Magnesium Help With Stress?

  • It’s a natural muscle relaxer
  • It’s a nervous system relaxant, which reduces the feeling of irritability, fear and restlessness
  • It’s a mood stabilizer that promotes an overall feeling of calm
  • It can enhance sleep quality, which helps us deal better with stress

Key Ingredients &  How They Help With Stress

Pumpkin Seeds

Let’s call them pepitas, because it’s cuter. These little guys contain 38% of the recommended daily value of magnesium in just one ounce.

They also contain tryptophan, an essential amino acid that is a precursor to melatonin and serotonin, hormones that are involved in your sleep-wake cycle and in controlling your stress response. Tryptophan has calming effects, helps to curb anxiety and can help improve sleep.

Cacao

Raw cacao is high in magnesium, calming nerves and relaxing muscles. Cacao is an amazing mood enhancer and produces the same chemistry in the brain that happens when we fall in love, but without all the insecurity and self doubt. 😉 

Besides having a high magnesium level, raw cacoa floods our bodies with bliss-inducing chemicals and neurotransmitters like serotonin, phenylethylamine, tryptophan, anandamide and tyrosine. These elements are all associated with providing a euphoric happy buzz.

Coconut

Besides giving a boost of magnesium, coconut helps us to deal with stress by feeding our nervous system (which includes our brain) with good fats. 

Our brains need fat to function and a well functioning brain allows clearer, focused thinking and a better mood. Coconut also has blood sugar balancing properties which help stabilize our spirits, lowering the instances of anxiety, mood swings and poor focus. 

I hope you love this recipe as much as I love the word 'pepita'.

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Raw Pumpkin Seed Cacao Macaroons

Servings 12 macaroons

Ingredients

  • 1 cup finely shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds, chopped or coarsely ground
  • 1/3 cup raw cacao powder
  • 1/4 cup almond meal or almond flour
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey
  • 1 1/2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
  • 1/4 tsp Himalayan or sea salt

Instructions

  1. Chop the pumpkin seeds or pulse a few times in a food processor until they are coarsely ground.

  2. Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl and stir together.

  3. Using a tablespoon, scoop mixture and pack firmly, then drop each formed macaroon onto a dish. Continue until all of the mixture has been used. 

  4. Refrigerate macaroons for about an hour before eating.