Whenever you chew by means of the comfortable chocolate shell coating and into the candy and chewy middle, you received’t consider these darkish chocolate date & almond truffles are comprised of entire, pure elements 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 photographs and extra useful success ideas.

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 comprised of dates and nuts working round calling itself a chocolate truffle takes rather a lot 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 cause: with their caramel-like candy taste and comfortable, chewy texture, they’re paying homage to comfortable caramel candies. And so they’re a miracle ingredient for making more healthy treats and sweetening them naturally.

In case you’re searching 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 a substitute of almonds or sunflower seeds. It’s a very versatile recipe. ★★★★★“

One other reader, Tiana, commented: “These had been improbable! 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
• Excellent stability of salty and candy, and oh-so-chocolatey!

Substances You Want for Chocolate Date & Almond Truffles

• Dates: Medjool dates are the principle—virtually magical!—ingredient. They’re bigger, softer, and sweeter than different varieties of dates, they usually’re really recent, not dried. For that cause, you may sometimes discover them within the produce part of the grocery retailer, whereas dried forms of dates (reminiscent of Deglet Noor) are sometimes discovered within the dried fruit aisle close to the raisins. You may as well 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 most effective 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 utilize both uncooked or roasted and/or salted sunflower seeds. You possibly can additionally substitute pumpkin seeds (aka pepitas) as a substitute, or change with extra almonds.
• Chocolate: Use chocolate baking bars, reminiscent of Baker’s or Ghirardelli manufacturers, for the most effective 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 slightly flaky sea salt on high of the dipped chocolate truffles provides taste, texture, and a fairly sparkle, too!)

How one 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 additional comfortable and sticky—simply the feel you want to ensure that the truffle elements 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 exploit for recipes like this: my bigger meals processor, and my smaller (however nonetheless mighty!) Ninja. All of the elements go in, then merely press the button to course of and let the equipment do the arduous work.

As soon as the combination has come collectively right into a form of “dough,” you may scoop spoonfuls of it and roll into balls.

In contrast to with common truffles or peanut butter balls, there’s no ready for the filling to relax. You possibly can dip these chocolate almond truffles into melted chocolate immediately.

Suggestions for Dipping Fairly Truffles

You possibly can soften the chopped chocolate in a double boiler you probably have 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 utterly melted and clean. 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 can’t be saved within the fridge.*

One other tip, and it’s utterly optionally available: Soften the chocolate with slightly little bit of oil. Simply 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil or coconut oil does the trick; it makes the chocolate coating completely clean, and it units slightly 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 Habit. In case you don’t have a spiral sweet dipping device, don’t fear—you may merely use a fork as a substitute.

1. Drop truffle in melted chocolate.
2. Scoop out with the spiral sweet dipping device.
3. Faucet device towards bowl and permit additional chocolate to drip off.
4. Flip truffle over onto lined baking sheet.
5. Shortly raise device 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 rather a lot 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 sparsely. They’re made with entire, pure elements, and each almonds and sunflower seeds are a very good supply of protein, wholesome fat, and vitamin E. Moreover, Medjool dates are excessive in fiber and antioxidants.

We’ve all heard that darkish chocolate incorporates wholesome antioxidants, however to reap these advantages, you would wish to make use of actually darkish chocolate, not less than 70% cacao or increased. Utilizing semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate right here is within the vary of 56–60% cacao, and each include some added sugar for sweetness.

Be happy to make use of darker chocolate or skip the chocolate dip fully, for a good 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.

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Wholesome Chocolate-Lined Date & Almond Truffles

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  Creator: Sally
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  Prep Time: 25 minutes
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  Cook dinner Time: 0 minutes
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  Whole Time: 1 hour
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  Yield: 20-22 truffles
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  Class: Sweet
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  Methodology: No Bake
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  Delicacies: American

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Description

Whenever you chew by means of the comfortable chocolate shell coating and into the candy and chewy middle, you received’t consider these darkish chocolate date & almond truffles are comprised of entire, pure elements like dates, nuts, and seeds. The combination comes collectively rapidly and simply in a meals processor.

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Directions

1. Line a big baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Put aside.
2. 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. This can take a minute or two of processing. If the dough is just too dry and crumbly, add a teaspoon of heat water.
3. As soon as dough is shaped, roll into 1-Tablespoon-size balls and place onto ready baking sheet. Put aside.
4. Soften the chocolate: You possibly can 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 clean.
5. Coat in chocolate: Working with one ball at a time, submerge into the melted chocolate and swirl to coat; rigorously raise out utilizing a fork or dipping device. Faucet the fork/device gently on the aspect 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 device, flip the wrong way up to launch. If desired, sprinkle every with flaky sea salt whereas the chocolate continues to be moist.
6. Refrigerate coated truffles for not less than half-hour to set the chocolate. As soon as chocolate is ready, you may retailer them in an hermetic container within the fridge, layered with parchment or wax paper, for as much as 10 days.

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Notes

1. Make Forward & Freezing Directions: You can begin this recipe 1 day forward of time. The formed balls could be chilled within the fridge for as much as 3 days previous to coating with chocolate. You possibly can freeze the completed truffles for as much as 2–3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge.
2. 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
3. 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. In case you select to make use of uncooked, unsalted almonds, make sure you add 1/8 teaspoon salt to the meals processor.
4. Sunflower Seeds: I like to recommend uncooked sunflower seeds. You need to use roasted, salted sunflower seeds however consider your combination might be slightly saltier. Completely advantageous should you get pleasure from salty/candy treats. As an alternative of utilizing sunflower seeds, you should utilize pepitas (pumpkin seeds), or use 1/2 cup of entire almonds for a complete of 1 cup (140g) entire almonds within the recipe.
5. 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 include stabilizers stopping them from melting into the right consistency for coating. 
6. Oil With Chocolate: Simply 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil or coconut oil makes the chocolate coating completely clean, and it units slightly softer on the truffles. It’s optionally available, and you’ll skip it if desired.