Antidote Blog: baking

The mushroom revolution is upon us, but let's differentiate between the two categories: Psilocybin mushrooms, gaining traction from ancient shamanistic aids to new scientific studies, and adaptogenic mushrooms, such as Lion's Mane, Chaga, Cordyceps, and Reishi, cherished in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries. While the former has made headlines, let's delve into the latter and their integration into delectable chocolate bars - a trend even recognized by The New York Times, however we are skeptical on various aspects to it.

"Why hasn't Antidote ventured into mushroom-infused bars?" you might wonder. Antidote has consistently pioneered flavor trends, yet mushroom integration poses challenges. The distinctive earthy flavor of mushrooms doesn't seamlessly blend with our fine cacao. However, the magic of adaptogenic mushrooms isn't their flavor, but their profound health advantages. Herein lies the next hurdle: the actual ratio of mushroom powder within the bars. To truly harness benefits, a substantial amount must be incorporated, along with ample cacao butter for palatable consistency. Skepticism arises one one hand how palatable these bars are when ample mushrooms are added and on the other end how effective depending on quantity added. 

Hold on - We have a better idea for you! Make your own and get the benefits of adaptogenic mushroom. Introducing a home made“Mushroom Coffee" or “Mushroom Chocolate”. Say adieu to afternoon coffees and embrace a harmonizing, soothing alternative. While its taste might not win medals, the feeling it leaves you with is deeply gratifying. Making your own mushroom hot chocolate also offers a budget friendly way to take advantage of the powers of adaptogenic mushrooms.

Make it richer by adding just two pieces of Antidote Supreme, crafting what we dub the ultimate "mushroom chocolate." Served hot, this drink promises transparency in its ingredients. While less travel-friendly, it's a potent and delightful afternoon indulgence. To elevate the experience further, consider adding a dash of your choice of milk or half-and-half to your Mushroom Chocolate. Now, let's spotlight the four key adaptogenic mushroom varieties I personally use half a teaspoon of each for my afternoon mushroom treat.

Here they are with their unique benefits:

• Lion's Mane: Celebrated for its cognitive prowess, Lion's Mane is your brain's ally. Sharpness, memory, and mental clarity thrive in its presence.
• Cordyceps: The energy booster you've craved, Cordyceps enhances vitality and stamina. Embrace its endurance-enhancing properties.
• Reishi: The calming whisperer, Reishi alleviates stress and encourages relaxation. Serenity finds its companion here.
• Chaga: Nature's immunity elixir, Chaga fortifies your body's defense mechanisms. Rich in antioxidants, it's a shield against daily stressors, bolstering your overall well-being.

You'll find these mushrooms available in powdered bulk form. I personally source many superfoods online where a variety of grade options exist. 

To complement this experience, the Antidote Supreme bake and snack 6oz bar is premium chocolate, crafted from fine aroma cacao with delightful nutty notes within its 73% cacao content. A versatile addition to your pantry, it seamlessly integrates into smoothies, hot chocolate, mushroom hot chocolate creations, cookies, baking, or simple snacking. This option offers affordability, especially during financial constraints, serving as a more budget-friendly alternative to purchasing smaller bars – especially for those chocoholics out there.

I hope you found inspiration to make your own mushroom chocolate beverage. Spice it up as you like. We love chocolate bars, we just think not every ingredient – no matter how trendy – should be paired in a chocolate bar, but a hot beverage is a different story! 

Explore Antidote Supreme on our webshop at https://antidotechoco.com/collections/dark-chocolate-bars.

For those keen to delve deeper into the realm of mushroom intelligence and the fascinating world of psilocybin varieties, I recommend "Fantastic Fungi" at https://fantasticfungi.com/. Additionally, for those intrigued by the realm of psychedelics, "How to Change Your Mind" by Michael Pollan is a captivating resource currently on Netflix.

Feeling the heat? Treat yourself to a delightful Eiskaffee and a square of Antidote! ☀️ This Austrian classic perfectly blends vanilla ice cream, coffee, whipped cream and a waffle. 😋 Super easy to make and utterly delicious! Give it a try at home - you won't regret it! 🍦✨

Or play with alternations of putting a square of chocolate into the coffee or substitute coffee with bananas, add chocolate sauce on top from Antidote Supreme and you have a fabulous banana-split.

On my recent trip I had one every day plus cherries from my parents garden and moms fabulous food. Wishing you nice travels if you do, and if you don’t; happy travels in your mind with books, food & friends.

If you are a baker, you likely need baking chocolate in your pantry. We have some  chocolate that has lost it’s temper, yet is perfect and delicious once re-melted or baked with. We are selling a case of 12 bars, 1.7 lb net weight for $ 19.- This is your opportunity to bake with super high quality aromatic dark chocolate rather than baking chocolate that is of much lesser quality!! https://antidotechoco.com/collections/chocolatebars/products/box-of-12-baking-chocolate-bars

Perfect for Panettone with chocolate chips (as in image), any chocolate cookies or a staple like simple brownies as below recipe. Initially my friend Andrea baked this amazing brownie cake for my birthday and she sent me the recipe as below and this is what she said: “I’ve made the substitution of cocoa for massive amounts of Antidote chocolate :) I mixed all I had – so many flavors went into the mix. It came out most delicious ever”

This is a delicious and easy recipe and I already substituted chocolate for the cacao powder and took off a bit of sugar. Belief me, it’s still plenty sweet.

This easy brownies recipe makes cakey brownies that taste amazing! With perfect crisp crackly tops and chewy centers, these brownies hit all the right notes.

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 35 minutes Yield: 12-16 Brownies Method: Oven

INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 cup flour
• 2 1/2 Antidote Bars or more
• 1/4 tsp salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×9 square baking pan, or line it with parchment paper.

2. Mix together the oil, sugar and vanilla extract.

3. Add eggs and mix until well combined.

4. Combine flour, melted chocolate, baking powder and salt.

5. Slowly add to the egg mixture until well combined.

6. Pour the batter into the pan and spread evenly.

7. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs.