The conclusion of this study states:

Right now is an incredibly important time to be healthy, decrease stress levels and do things that bring you comfort, nourishment and joy. Amazing to think that chocolate, in moderation :) functions to do all this.

Just a few baking suggestions to make the home smell good, provide a healthy treat, and bring down cortisol levels in this stressful moment in time.

My favourite chocolate recipes

Guinness Brownies

 ½ cup Guinness beer- possibly a leftover from St. Paddy’s Day
1 ½ cup dark chocolate chopped
¾ cup unsalted butter OR coconut oil
¾ cup coconut sugar (can use other sugars)
3 eggs
½ tsp vanilla
¾ cup ground oats- whole oats ground up into flour
¼ cup cocoa powder
pinch of salt

Oven at 350F/180C
Oil/line a 8x8 inch square baking pan.
In a small saucepan, bring the Guinness to a boil for 5 minutes until the liquid volume is halved. The plan is to make a 1/3 cup of reduced syrup. Let cool.
Mix the ground oats (I use a coffee grinder to do this) with the cocoa powder. Add a pinch of salt.
On a double boiler, melt ½ cup of chopped dark chocolate and the ¾ cup of unsalted butter or coconut oil. Let cool.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk ¾ cup coconut sugar with 3 eggs and the ½ tsp vanilla.
Add melted chocolate and the reduced Guinness. Whisk to combine.
Stir in the cocoa and oats until the mixture is smooth.
Pour brownies into a tin and bake for 30-35 minutes.

Oats- are used to build and tonify your qi and to support digestion.

Tahini Chocolate Banana Bread

 2 large overripe bananas mashed (or 3 medium-sized)
1/3 cup tahini
¼ cup maple syrup
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup almond flour/1 cup gluten-free flour (I always use Bob’s Red Mill blend)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
½ cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
Line/oil loaf pan.
In a large bowl mix mashed bananas, tahini, maple syrup, eggs and vanilla.
Stir in almond flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt until combined.
Fold in chocolate chips
Bake for 45-50 minutes.

tahini- ground sesames have been used for thousands of years to boost the yin. Overall, it is a tonic to boost deficient conditions, like a weak constitution or poor immunity.

A more classic recipe version- adapted from Nigella Lawson, the domestic goddess

2 large overripe bananas mashed (or 3 medium-sized)
¼ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup tahini
1 large egg
1/3 cup sugar
¼ cup dark brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup rice flour. You can use regular flour if you don’t need a g-f option.
¼ cup cocoa powder
¼ tsp salt
½ baking soda
100 g chocolate chips

Oven to 170C/325F.
Oil/line loaf pan.
Mash the bananas, then beat in the tahini, followed by the oil, egg, sugars and vanilla.
Mix together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt- slowly beat into the batter. Fold in the chocolate chips.
Bake for 45-50 minutes.

The Best, My GO-TO Vegan, Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

1 1/2 cup oats (not instant)
1 cup gluten-free flour (Bob’s Red Mill blend works best)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/c cup oil ( I use safflower or light olive)
1/4 cup brown rice syrup AND 1/4 cup maple syrup
6 TBSP cold water
1 tsp vanilla

Mix wet and dry.
Add 1 cup chocolate chip and 1 cup toasted, chopped walnuts (toasting is the secret here).
Let sit for 15-20 minutes before you scoop them into cookies.

Oven at 350F/180C- bake for 10-12 minutes.

Walnuts are one of the main foods to boost your kidneys in Chinese Medicine. Your kidneys are your vitality and strength. A traditional remedy for coughs is to grind walnuts into a meal and mix with honey, then take 2 TBSP/day until your cough is gone.