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Homemade Chile Chocolate Mole Sauce

Homemade chile chocolate mole is a lively balance of sweet and savory elements–dark earthy chiles and roasted nuts, aromatic spice, and the famous pinch of chocolate–a traditional mole (mo-lay), made simpler. This is a rich, totally approachable mole recipe made with healthy ingredients that you can put together in a little over an hour!

Homemade Chile Chocolate Mole

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Homemade chile chocolate mole is:

  • Dried whole chiles
  • Creamy roasted almond butter and peanut butter
  • Ground cinnamon, coriander, and cloves
  • Avocado oil
  • Vegetable broth
  • Maple syrup
  • Apple juice
  • Good-quality chocolate (affiliate link)


When we gringos talk of mole, we probably have in mind a spicy red brick colored mole with chocolate, like this one. Yet, mole translates to English as sauce and there are a number of Mexican cooked sauces with diverse colors and ingredients also called mole. This dark red chile chocolate mole is known as mole poblano.

Made with vegetable broth, this mole poblano is vegan and gluten free. Typically it would be served over chicken or turkey but you will love it on tacos, tempeh and tofu, and grilled vegetables, especially potatoes. It’s a delicious sauce for enchiladas. This homemade mole is perfect with stacked tortilla enchiladas filled with potatoes, spinach, and carrots.

soaking chiles for Homemade Chile Chocolate Mole

Basic mole poblano ingredients don’t vary all that much, but they differ in ratios and technique, from household to household, each cook having their own secret ingredients. I researched several authentic mole recipes before coming up with this healthier, less labor-intensive mole poblano. (See note.)

Like in authentic Mexican red enchilada sauce, dried whole chiles are essential to this homemade chile chocolate mole. Dried chiles are easy to prep–you warm the chiles in a skillet, cut off the top stems (I use scissors), dump out the seeds, and then soak the chiles in boiling water. They soften while you prepare everything else.

Use a mix of dried chiles, both raisin-y ancho chiles and the easy to come by guajillo chiles, sometimes called pasillas. If you can find dried mulato chiles, include them for their mild, faintly chocolate taste. Look for whole dried chiles in the Latino ingredient aisle in grocery stores or Latino markets. Read more about dried chiles here.

ingredients for Homemade Chile Chocolate Mole

Just so you know, some of the links below are affiliates. When you purchase products via my links, it doesn’t cost you anything and I earn a tiny commission, which helps me continue to provide free content here on Letty’s Kitchen. Thank you!!

Truth out: In days gone by, my mole came from purchased mole paste (affiliate link) that you thin with broth. The trouble came when I read the label on the jar, and saw that prepared mole contains wheat, sugar, funky oil or lard, and preservatives. Nix that.

Homemade mole tastes better, and it’s healthier to boot. I hope this homemade chile chocolate mole inspires you into the kitchen to play with chiles and chocolate!


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This post contains affiliate links. When you purchase products via my links, it doesn’t cost you anything and I earn a tiny commission, which helps me continue to provide free content here on Letty’s Kitchen. Thank you!!

Note: Cookbooks with mole recipes: Diana Kennedy’s From My Mexican Kitchen (affiliate link), Ruth Reichl’s Gourmet Today (affiliate link), Anna Thomas’ The New Vegetarian Epicure (affiliate link), and a slim paperback I’ve had forever, Ortho Books Adventures in Mexican Cooking (affiliate link).The idea to add apple juice comes from the mole poblano in The New Vegetarian Epicure.

4 comments

  • Susy

    Love the chilies Reply · 11 June, 2017

  • Em Zee

    This recipe looks pretty good. I don’t have all the ingredients listed, but I’m emboldened to take a chance at improvising. Thanks for sharing! Reply · 13 July, 2018

    • Thank you Em! I’d love to hear how your changeups worked. Reply · 15 July, 2018

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