There’s something almost sacred about the marriage of chocolate and orange. It’s a flavour combination that feels both decadent and bright, rich enough to satisfy your deepest cravings, yet lifted by citrus notes that remind you to breathe.

This Date and Orange Chocolate Torte is precisely that kind of magic.

It’s gluten-free. It’s vegan. And it’s unapologetically indulgent. Because here’s the truth: nourishment doesn’t always mean green smoothies and quinoa bowls. Sometimes, it means giving yourself permission to savour something luscious, something that makes you close your eyes and sigh with contentment.

This torte has become a quiet favourite at our wellness retreats, a dessert that arrives at the table after a day of restorative yoga, coastal walks, and good conversation. It’s the kind of sweet that feels like a full stop at the end of a beautiful sentence. Rich, grounding, whole.

And you don’t need to be a trained pastry chef to make it.

Why Dates and Orange Belong Together

Let’s talk about dates for a moment. Not the awkward kind, the sweet, caramel-like Medjool variety that practically melt on your tongue.

Dates are nature’s candy, but they’re also incredibly wholesome. They bring natural sweetness without the blood sugar crash, plus they’re packed with fibre, potassium, and magnesium. When you blend them into a torte base or filling, they create this sticky, fudgy texture that holds everything together beautifully. No eggs required. No refined sugar needed.

Then there’s orange. Bright, zesty, unmistakably alive. The moment you zest an orange, the oils release into the air and the whole kitchen shifts. It’s aromatherapy in citrus form. When you pair that vibrancy with the depth of dark chocolate and cacao, something alchemical happens. The bitterness softens. The sweetness deepens. The whole experience becomes layered and luxurious.

This isn’t just a dessert. It’s a sensory ritual.

The Recipe: Date and Orange Chocolate Torte (GF & VG)

This recipe is wonderfully forgiving. You can make it in advance (it actually tastes better the next day), and it holds up beautifully whether you’re serving it at a dinner party or sneaking a slice straight from the fridge at midnight. We won’t judge.

Ingredients

For the base:

• 200g Medjool dates, pitted
• 100g ground almonds
• 50g raw cacao powder
• Pinch of sea salt
• Zest of 1 orange

For the filling:

• 300g vegan dark chocolate (70% cocoa or higher)
• 400ml full-fat coconut milk
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup
• Juice of 1 large orange (about 60ml)
• Zest of 1 orange
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of sea salt

For the topping (optional but encouraged):

• Fresh orange slices, thinly cut
• Crushed pistachios or flaked almonds
• A dusting of cacao powder

Method

Step 1: Prepare the base

If your dates aren’t particularly soft, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes, then drain thoroughly. This makes blending easier and creates a smoother texture.

Add the dates, ground almonds, cacao powder, sea salt, and orange zest to a food processor. Pulse until the mixture comes together into a sticky dough. You should be able to press it between your fingers and have it hold its shape.

Press the mixture firmly into the base of a 20cm springform tin lined with baking parchment. Use the back of a spoon or your fingers to create an even layer. Pop it in the fridge while you make the filling.

Step 2: Create the silky chocolate filling

Break the dark chocolate into pieces and place in a heatproof bowl. Gently heat the coconut milk in a saucepan until it’s just starting to simmer, don’t let it boil. Pour the hot coconut milk over the chocolate and let it sit for a minute. This is patience in action.

Now stir. Slowly, gently, watching the chocolate melt into glossy submission. Once it’s completely smooth, add the maple syrup, orange juice, orange zest, vanilla extract, and a pinch of sea salt. Whisk until everything is beautifully combined.

Pour the filling over your chilled base. Give the tin a gentle tap on the counter to release any air bubbles, then smooth the top with a spatula.

Step 3: The waiting game

Cover the torte and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight. This isn’t a dessert you can rush. The filling needs time to set, to become firm yet still creamy. Trust the process.

Step 4: The finishing touches

When you’re ready to serve, remove the torte from the tin. Arrange thin orange slices on top (they look stunning), scatter with crushed pistachios or almonds, and dust lightly with cacao powder if you’re feeling fancy.

Slice with a warm knife for clean edges. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled.

Each bite is dense, fudgy, citrus-kissed, and deeply satisfying.

Taking My Own Medicine: A Note from Nova

Here’s the thing about running wellness retreats and teaching others how to rest, restore, and recharge: you have to practice what you preach. And lately, I’ve been feeling the pull to slow down, to take my own medicine.

So I’m doing exactly that.

This Febuary, I’m stepping back for a little while to recharge my own batteries, to wander, breathe, create, and return to you refreshed. Because you can’t pour from an empty cup. You can’t guide others into stillness if you’re running on fumes yourself.

But before I go, I want to invite you to two beautiful experiences that are still happening, and I cannot wait to welcome you.

Keyhaven Coastal Retreat: 13-15 March 2026

The salty air of the Solent coast, morning yoga with views across the marshes, restorative practices that melt tension from your bones, and meals like this very torte served with intention and care. With options to walk the coastal paths, visit the local markets, go fora kayak, sea swim and try some aerial yoga should you not want to just sit in the hot tub.

Our Keyhaven Coastal Retreat is a chance to escape without going far. To sink into a weekend where the only thing on your to-do list is to simply be. We’ll move gently, eat beautifully, and give you space to remember what it feels like to exhale fully.

If you’ve been craving that coastal magic, the kind where seabirds call overhead and the light shifts across the water in soft, endless ways, this is your invitation.

Spain Retreat: 13-15 April 2026

Then in April, we’re heading to Spain. Sun-soaked terraces. The scent of orange blossom on the breeze. Yoga under open skies. Long, lazy meals that stretch into the afternoon.We will also have a hammam, Salt water pool, sauna and massages available just to help you truly lock in the love.

Our Spain retreat is about warmth, the kind that seeps into your bones and reminds you that rest is radical. That pleasure is productive. That you deserve softness.

Both retreats are small, intimate, and carefully curated. We keep the groups intentionally cosy so that everyone has space to truly land. And yes, you’ll be eating very well. Recipes like this torte, along with other nourishing, plant-based creations, will fuel your days.

Indulgence as Self-Care

Let’s reframe something together, shall we?

Indulgence doesn’t have to mean excess. It doesn’t have to come with guilt or apology. When you choose ingredients that nourish your body and delight your senses, when you take the time to make something beautiful and then savour it slowly, that’s not indulgence. That’s respect. That’s love in edible form.

This torte is proof. It’s rich, yes. It’s chocolatey and sweet and utterly satisfying. But it’s also made from whole foods. Dates. Almonds. Dark chocolate. Coconut. Oranges. Every ingredient serves you.

You don’t have to choose between wellness and pleasure. You get both. Always.

Make This Your Own

Feel free to play with this recipe. Add a pinch of cardamom to the base for warmth. Swap the orange for blood orange when they’re in season: the colour alone is worth it. Drizzle the top with tahini and a sprinkle of sea salt for a Middle Eastern twist.

This torte is yours to explore, to adapt, to make part of your own rituals. Serve it at dinner parties. Bring it to gatherings. Or keep it all to yourself with a cup of herbal tea and a good book. No judgement here.

And if you make it, I’d love to hear how it turns out. Share your creations, your tweaks, your moments of chocolatey bliss. Tag us, send a message, or simply enjoy it in beautiful, private silence.

However you choose to savour it, know this: you deserve sweetness. You deserve nourishment. You deserve time that moves slowly and tastes extraordinary.

Here’s to indulgence refined. Here’s to taking your own medicine. Here’s to chocolate, orange, and the quiet magic of making something with your hands that feeds your soul.

With love (and a dusting of cacao),
Nova ✨