National Chocolate Week has come and gone and, despite promising another chocolate recipe for you last week, it never happened. But, it is never too late to post a healthy chocolate treat recipe, is it?
Much has been written in the past few years about the benefits of chocolate. In fact, far from being something to avoid, chocolate has over 40 health benefits. But, while there are a few good examples, the food and confectionary industry has hijacked the the more headline-grabbing findings to promote their far from healthy food products. It seems that anything with a sniff of dark chocolate – and especially cacao – is labelled healthy, good for you, helps fight heart disease, improves your mood, ups fertility, yada yada. Look closer, however, and you might find that most of these so-called healthy chocolates contain plenty of added sugar {in various guises}, added fat, calorific or nutritionally empty fillers, as well as serving sizes that perpetuate our tendency towards ‘portion distortion‘.
Today’s recipe errs mostly on the side of healthful, being modest in serving size, minimally and naturally sweetened, containing filling and healthy fat and protein, and with a whack of beneficial cacao. It gets better: they are also crisp on the outside and gooey in the middle. A win-win situation if ever I saw one.
The bought wonton wrappers I use are small and fairly innocuous in the scheme of things {see right image}, but here is recipe to make your own. I might try making a batch with chestnut flour, or at least spelt flour, and see how I get on. Here is a gluten-free recipe that depends on a specific proprietary flour blend. If you have a favourite wonton dough recipe – whether traditional or gluten-free – do let me know. Most brands are just flour, water, egg and a little salt {very few will use free-range or organic eggs, I imagine}.
If you aren’t making your own, look in your supermarket freezer section or a Chinese grocer and pick up a pack of the small ones for this recipe. As you only use about 12 of these wrappers per batch – unless you get carried away – you may want ideas for the rest of the packet.
Leftovers can go savoury. These little crackers look great, as do these steamed wonton ideas over at foodrepublic.com. This oddly titled but interesting article will spark your own ideas of what to do with these floppy little tiles of dough. I have in the past pushed oiled wonton wrappers into mini muffin tins to bake into brilliant little crispy cups. The baked cups can then be filled with sweet or savoury fillings. Eating one-bite treats is much more fun and convivial than knife and fork food.
And making and eating this one-bite treat is definitely fun.
Baked Chocolate Wontons
Most recipes of this ilk call for frying. This is so not necessary! Who needs the added complication and calories of frying when baking is just as good. If you are making these for a small gathering, first of all double or triple the recipe. But also make them up ahead of time and keep in an air-tight container, baking just before you wish to enjoy them. Oh, and the filling would be nice on pancakes, waffles, toast and slices of fruit. For vegans, use phyllo pastry cut into little squares and layer about three together per wonton.
I made my mixture a bit nubbly but, if you have a high-speed blender like I have, process to a ‘cream’ if you like.
50g (1/2 cup) pecans, preferably toasted in 180C/350F oven for eight minutes
1 heaped tbsp raw cacao powder OR best-quality cocoa, plus a little extra for serving
2 pitted Medjool dates OR 3 Deglet Nour dates
2-finger pinch of salt
½ tsp vanilla powder or extract
1 tbsp coconut oil – as liquid, OR milk {plant or dairy}
12 small wonton wrappers, with a few more just in case
Palmful of evenly chopped dark chocolate
Extra liquid coconut oil or melted butter/rapeseed oil for brushing wontons
1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Line a baking tray with parchment/wax paper {preferably unbleached}.
2. Put everything but the dark chocolate and extra coconut oil in a food processor or blender {I use my Froothie}, and blend until smooth or almost smooth – your choice.
3. Spoon a teaspoon of the mixture into each wonton and top with a piece of chocolate. Brush a little water around the outer edge and pull edges over to make a triangle, or make other shapes if you like. I made a variety of shapes for you to choose from: ‘purse’, cylindrical and triangles.
4. Lightly brush each wonton with melted coconut oil, rapeseed oil or melted butter and place on the lined baking tray and bake in the oven for 10 minutes.
Serve hot with extra cacao powder, or a mix of cacao and unrefined icing sugar. Spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, and even five-spice, are all lovely to add either to the wontons or in the dusting garnish.
Note: A serving would be three-four wontons per person.
Variation: use a small banana instead of dates
Quick variation: halve dates and place a piece of chocolate and pecan on each half; wrap in a wonton and bake!

Oh my – I’ve been meaning to make some wontons for a while – I had savoury ones in mind but I sure know what I am doing with the leftovers these look AMAZING!
I’m glad you like the sound of these, Nazima. Tbh, I like the easy option I listed nearly as much. No blending!
How totally delicious looking, wow! I have never tried anything like it so this sounds like a good time to try. Thanks for the GF option too 🙂
Whenever there is a viable gluten-free option I will always give it. I was inspired by the chocolate spring rolls at timberyard! Haven’t had it in over a year but I remembered how much I enjoyed it. 🙂
Man, these look good. I love the contrast of crunchy and gooey like you have here, all wrapped up in a perfect little package.
Thanks, Katie. A little something you fancy and all that…
wow do those look delicious!
These look delicious. Crunchy and chocolaty, what’s not to love? AND they are healthy! Another score for Ms Kellie
Wow – amazing, totally amazing! I love making crispy wontons but never thought about a sweet version!!! Brilliant
I have to admit it isn’t an original idea. I had something similar at a posh restaurant – phyllo though, stuffed with just some Valrhona chocolate and fried – but I wanted to do a healthier, waist-friendly version.
They look great Kellie – I have to give them a try, thanks for posting them, very inspirational!
Love, love, love it, Kellie! I have a packet of wontons leftover from my recent coconuts in the clouds dessert, so will try this for sure! Thanks.
Or maybe some kind of coconut cloud-chocolate mash-up??
These really look great! Very easy and a perfect combination too.
Thanks so much!
I love the sound of your filling and could happily eat it without the wrappers! A great idea and one that will have me stocking up from my local Asian food market.
I know! I made more filling and it makes a nice spread. wonton wrappers are such a good buy – cheap and versatile.
These look absolutely gorgeous, and it’s great that they’re pretty healthy too! I love how you folded them all in different shapes.
Amazing filled tasty wontons,….What a great idea too! X
Ummmm…all I can say is YUM 😊! Nice post
These look amazing, I can’t wait to try the recipe out for myself…hopefully they turn out as good as yours have x
They are so very easy to make. Don’t be scared to try them out. Or try the quick variation I have under the main recipe. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Kellie this is a beautiful recipe, but also I have to say I love these pictures! Fantastic!
Cheers, Marta! Coming from you – a fab photographer – I am deeply pleased. 🙂
Always my pleasure 🙂
This looks delicious – thanks for sharing!
And clearly while i’m on my kimchi seeking adventure I’ve got wonton wrappers to pick up! It’s been far too long since I wontonned anything, and chocolate seems like the right thing to do. Lovely post and beautiful photos, Kellie!
Thanks Katie. It’s unusual to get a sweet post from me these days but sometimes a little bite-sized treat is just the thing.
I should not have read this before heading in to work. Now I want chocolate won tons for breakfast!
Sorry!!
Brilliant idea! Love these.
What a wonderful idea for a healthy sweet snack, and we very rarely see you sharing dessert so this was a real treat for your readers. Aside from the wrappers, I have all of these ingredients to hand, so next time I’m shopping I’ll just keep an eye out for the wrappers.
Oh wow those look amazing Kellie and another gold star for the Optimum 9400. I really couldn’t be without mine now. Must look for those wrappers.
These look amazing! We’re excited to try them considering we just learned that chocolate isn’t responsible for giving you acne!
I’m cracking my head on how to use rice paper wrap with this recipe, without messing it up as the wrappers can get sticky and won’t look pretty. maybe do it spring roll style 😀
OH MY GOODNESS… Enough said <3
I need to make some of these heavenly morsels
Great recipe! Chocolate is always a hit, will definitely be trying this recipe and if it is successful (fingers crossed), would love to serve it at one of my pre-wedding functions!
This is sooooooo brilliant! Will be making this as soon as possible! Thank you!
Oh wow – I *love* this idea – and how astonishing that it is actually pretty healthy! Wonton wrappers are some of the most versatile things you can have in your fridge – love them 🙂
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I never would have thought of this. Great for a dinner party – like everyone getting their own present for dessert.
I like that analogy, Sally.
What a fantastic recipe. I will give these a try – they look really scrumptious! Thank you so much for sharing it 😀
oh.my.goodness. I just need you to know that I am reading this before bed time and all I will be able to think of through the night is this recipe- I will need it for breakfast! Maybe I will succumb and re-read the part about the 40 health benefits of chocolate x