06/19/2026
New recipe - chocolate stress-less ice cream bites;
there’s a lot going on personally & professionally right now in this doctor’s kitchen (hint; I am kitchen-less), so I’ve been working on low-stress summer recipes that don’t require all of my usual kitchen gadgets. Not only are these ‘ice cream’ bites easy, they also contain ingredients that actively lower cortisol levels [scroll down for recipe]:
· dark chocolate/cocoa powder: contains flavanols that decrease cortisol by blocking it’s uptake by the cells.
· walnuts: rich in magnesium to calm the nervous system & omega-3 fatty acids, which decrease systemic inflammation & protect against stress-induced cortisol surges.
· coconut oil: in animal models, coconut oil has been shown to lower elevated corticosterone (the animal equivalent of cortisol) & minimize stress-induced adrenal gland swelling.
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 3 frozen bananas
- 2 tbs maple syrup
- 1/4 cup natural peanut butter
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
- 2 tbs cocoa power
- 2 tbs coconut oil
blend frozen bananas with maple syrup + peanut butter until creamy. Pour 1/2 the walnuts into the ‘ice cream’ & stir until combined. Scoop 2 tbs-sized balls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for 1 hour. Melt chocolate + cocoa & coconut oil on stovetop, add remaining walnuts & stir. Take ice cream bites out of the freezer, re-shape into little rectangles & dip them in the chocolate mixture, sprinkle with sea salt. Place on a lined baking sheet & put back into the freezer for 1 hour, then store in a container in the freezer for up to 1 month.
stay tuned for more easy recipes, & life updates 🤍