If you chew by the delicate chocolate shell coating and into the candy and chewy middle, you received’t consider these darkish chocolate date & almond truffles are produced from entire, pure components like dates, nuts, and seeds. The combination comes collectively rapidly and simply in a meals processor.
I initially revealed this recipe in 2016 and have since added new pictures and extra useful success suggestions.
These wholesome darkish chocolate date & almond truffles defy all legal guidelines of chocolate. Wholesome chocolate desserts often style like, properly, like well being meals. However these truffles? They really style like a very decadent deal with. I do know a ball produced from dates and nuts operating round calling itself a chocolate truffle takes loads of guts. However… THIS IS REAL. And IT IS GOOD.
The key is the Medjool dates. They’re usually known as nature’s sweet, and for good purpose: with their caramel-like candy taste and delicate, chewy texture, they’re harking back to delicate caramel candies. And so they’re a miracle ingredient for making more healthy treats and sweetening them naturally.
If you happen to’re on the lookout for a more healthy various to chocolate truffles and Oreo balls, these darkish chocolate almond truffles match the invoice.
One reader, Thyme, commented: “I’ve made this so many occasions! Completely different variations that each one turned out nice. I’ve made them dipped and plain, I’ve used pecans as an alternative of almonds or sunflower seeds. It’s a extremely versatile recipe. ★★★★★“
One other reader, Tiana, commented: “These had been incredible! I actually felt like I used to be consuming dessert!… ★★★★★“
And one other reader, Cat, commented: “Felt very decadent with out feeling like I used to be lacking out on something. ★★★★★“
Why You’ll Love Them, Too
- A more healthy deal with that also satisfies the candy tooth
- Fast & straightforward no-bake recipe
- A naturally gluten-free dessert recipe
- Dairy free and vegan if utilizing nondairy chocolate
- Good stability of salty and candy, and oh-so-chocolatey!
Components You Want for Chocolate Date & Almond Truffles
- Dates: Medjool dates are the primary—virtually magical!—ingredient. They’re bigger, softer, and sweeter than different kinds of dates, they usually’re really recent, not dried. For that purpose, you may sometimes discover them within the produce part of the grocery retailer, whereas dried styles of dates (akin to Deglet Noor) are sometimes discovered within the dried fruit aisle close to the raisins. You can too buy them on-line; I actually like this model.
- Vanilla Extract: Even chocolate treats profit from pure vanilla taste!
- Cocoa Powder: You need to use both unsweetened pure or Dutch course of cocoa powder.
- Almonds: Use roasted, salted almonds for the perfect taste. You need to use uncooked almonds if you want, however you’ll lose lots of taste.
- Sunflower Seeds: As with the almonds, you should use both uncooked or roasted and/or salted sunflower seeds. You can additionally substitute pumpkin seeds (aka pepitas) as an alternative, or change with extra almonds.
- Chocolate: Use chocolate baking bars, akin to Baker’s or Ghirardelli manufacturers, for the perfect style and texture. I sometimes use semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate, however how darkish you want your chocolate is as much as you!
You’ll additionally want salt, however provided that utilizing unsalted almonds and seeds. (And a bit of flaky sea salt on high of the dipped chocolate truffles provides taste, texture, and a fairly sparkle, too!)
How you can Make Wholesome Date & Almond Truffles
The trick to processing dates is to soak them in heat water earlier than beginning. Soaking them in heat water makes them further delicate and sticky—simply the feel you want to ensure that the truffle components to return collectively. It’s a step I take when making Greek yogurt fruit tart, too.
You want a meals processor for these. I at present have two that I take advantage of for recipes like this: my bigger meals processor, and my smaller (however nonetheless mighty!) Ninja. All of the components go in, then merely press the button to course of and let the equipment do the onerous work.
As soon as the combination has come collectively right into a type of “dough,” you may scoop spoonfuls of it and roll into balls.
Not like with common truffles or peanut butter balls, there’s no ready for the filling to sit back. You may dip these chocolate almond truffles into melted chocolate straight away.
Ideas for Dipping Fairly Truffles
You may soften the chopped chocolate in a double boiler when you’ve got one, however I often simply use the microwave. Place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave it in 20-second increments, stirring after every increment till fully melted and easy. I really like to make use of a 2-cup glass liquid measuring cup for this; I discover the depth works particularly properly for dipping.
*I don’t advocate tempering chocolate for these date almond truffles as a result of they’re finest refrigerated; and tempered chocolate isn’t saved within the fridge.*
One other tip, and it’s fully non-obligatory: Soften the chocolate with a bit of little bit of oil. Simply 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil or coconut oil does the trick; it makes the chocolate coating completely easy, and it units a bit of softer on the truffles.
Right here’s my secret to creating the prettiest truffles: use sweet dipping instruments! I found them once I was writing Sally’s Sweet Dependancy. If you happen to don’t have a spiral sweet dipping instrument, don’t fear—you may merely use a fork as an alternative.
- Drop truffle in melted chocolate.
- Scoop out with the spiral sweet dipping instrument.
- Faucet instrument in opposition to bowl and permit further chocolate to drip off.
- Flip truffle over onto lined baking sheet.
- Rapidly raise instrument off truffle.
Refrigerate the dipped darkish chocolate almond truffles to set the chocolate; it takes nearly 20–half-hour.
Are These Chocolate Almond Truffles Actually Wholesome?
I say this loads with the lightened-up recipes I publish, however “wholesome” is a relative time period. In my eyes, these are a fairly wholesome chocolate deal with when loved moderately. They’re made with entire, pure components, and each almonds and sunflower seeds are an excellent supply of protein, wholesome fat, and vitamin E. Moreover, Medjool dates are excessive in fiber and antioxidants.
We’ve all heard that darkish chocolate comprises wholesome antioxidants, however to reap these advantages, you would wish to make use of actually darkish chocolate, not less than 70% cacao or larger. Utilizing semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate right here is within the vary of 56–60% cacao, and each comprise some added sugar for sweetness.
Be at liberty to make use of darker chocolate or skip the chocolate dip fully, for a fair more healthy deal with with no refined sugars.
And should you love these more healthy chocolate almond truffles, I do know you’ll additionally love these no-bake chocolate fudge oat bars and darkish chocolate sea salt almonds.
For extra inspiration, listed here are some more healthy dessert recipe concepts.
Wholesome Chocolate-Lined Date & Almond Truffles
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Prepare dinner Time: 0 minutes
Complete Time: 1 hour
Yield: 20-22 truffles
Class: Sweet
Methodology: No Bake
Delicacies: American
Description
If you chew by the delicate chocolate shell coating and into the candy and chewy middle, you received’t consider these darkish chocolate date & almond truffles are produced from entire, pure components like dates, nuts, and seeds. The combination comes collectively rapidly and simply in a meals processor.
Directions
- Line a big baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Put aside.
- Make the truffle combination: Place pitted and soaked dates, vanilla extract, cocoa powder, almonds, and sunflower seeds into your meals processor. Mix/pulse till a moist dough varieties, as pictured above. It will take a minute or two of processing. If the dough is just too dry and crumbly, add a teaspoon of heat water.
- As soon as dough is fashioned, roll into 1-Tablespoon dimension balls and place onto ready baking sheet. Put aside.
- Soften the chocolate: You may soften it in a double boiler or use the microwave. If utilizing the microwave: place the chocolate and oil (if utilizing) in a medium heat-proof bowl. I like to recommend utilizing a glass 2-cup liquid measuring cup as a result of its depth makes dipping very easy. Microwave for 20-second increments, stirring after every, till chocolate is totally melted and easy.
- Coat in chocolate: Working with one ball at a time, submerge into the melted chocolate and swirl to coat; fastidiously raise out utilizing a fork or dipping instrument. Faucet the fork/instrument gently on the facet of the bowl/measuring cup to let extra chocolate drip off. Use a toothpick to assist slide the truffle off of the fork and onto a lined plate or baking sheet; or, if utilizing the sweet dipping instrument, flip the other way up to launch. If desired, sprinkle every with flaky sea salt whereas the chocolate remains to be moist.
- Refrigerate coated truffles for not less than half-hour to set the chocolate. As soon as chocolate is about, you may retailer them in an hermetic container within the fridge, layered with parchment or wax paper, for as much as 10 days.
Notes
- Make Forward & Freezing Directions: You can begin this recipe 1 day forward of time. The formed balls may be chilled within the fridge for as much as 3 days previous to coating with chocolate. You may freeze the completed truffles for as much as 2–3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge.
- Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): Baking Sheet | Silicone Baking Mat or Parchment Paper | Meals Processor or Small Blender | Double Boiler, Glass Mixing Bowls, or Liquid Measuring Cup | Sweet Dipping Instruments
- Almonds: I *strongly advocate* roasted, salted almonds. Utilizing uncooked, unsalted almonds means you’ll lose lots of taste. Style testers didn’t benefit from the truffles made with uncooked, unsalted almonds. If you happen to select to make use of uncooked, unsalted almonds, be sure you add 1/8 teaspoon salt to the meals processor.
- Sunflower Seeds: I like to recommend uncooked sunflower seeds. You need to use roasted, salted sunflower seeds however take into account your combination will probably be a bit of saltier. Completely effective should you get pleasure from salty/candy treats. As an alternative of utilizing sunflower seeds, you should use pepitas (pumpkin seeds), or use 1/2 cup of entire almonds for a complete of 1 cup (140g) entire almonds within the recipe.
- Chocolate: For the best-looking and -tasting truffles, use 4-ounce “baking chocolate” bars discovered within the baking aisle. I choose Baker’s or Ghirardelli manufacturers. You want two 4-ounce bars for this recipe, 8 ounces (226g) whole. You need to use semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate. Don’t use chocolate chips as a result of they comprise stabilizers stopping them from melting into the right consistency for coating.
- Oil With Chocolate: Simply 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil or coconut oil makes the chocolate coating completely easy, and it units a bit of softer on the truffles. It’s non-obligatory and you may skip it if desired.
