The loves in your life are probably pretty naturally sweet, huh? They don’t need any extra sugar with all those sweet hugs and kisses and cuddles! That’s why when I want to serve up a treat, I try to keep it naturally sweetened, focusing on sweeteners that don’t just bring sugar but pack a nutritional punch as well. These chocolate truffles are a great example!
They’re also super simple to make and a great activity to share with your kids. All you’ll need is a food processor and 5 ingredients. You can store them in the fridge for up to a week and in addition to being a great Valentine’s Day treat they’re also great pre-sports or workout fuel, an indulgent after school snack, and a sweet dessert.
The other cool thing about this recipe is that it’s totally customizable once you get the hang of it. I’ve shared a chocolate peanut and chocolate cherry almond version below, but if you have other favorite flavors feel free to mix it up a bit.
Naturally Sweet
Dates are the main sweetener in these babies and they happen to be one of the main ones I turn to for natural sweetening. Why’s that? Because in addition to lots of sugary flavor, they have a nutritional profile that you’ll love as well.
Check it out:
- Dates grow on the date palm, which is an ancient tree and nicknamed the “Tree of Life”
- They area source of easily digested carbs but thanks to the soluble fiber content their sugars are more slowly absorbed to keep blood sugar levels even
- 4 dates have 8 grams of fiber and are packed with 260% more potassium than oranges and 64% more potassium than bananas
- They’re rich in antioxidant and anti-cancer compounds
- For all my fellow pregnant mamas: a study was conducted in which pregnant women consumed 6 dates per day in the last week of their pregnancy as compared to a set of women who consumed none. The women in the “date eating” group experienced higher rates of spontaneous labor (96% vs. 79%) and showed less need for induction and augmentation of labor. Check it out here.
Sources: The Encylopedia of Healing Foods by Michael Murray, N.D. and The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Ready to eat some more dates? Try this recipe for staters:
Peanut and Cherry Almond Chocolate Truffles
Naturally Sweet Chocolate Truffles
Ingredients
- Chocolate Peanut:
- 2 cups pitted dates
- 1 cup peanuts
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
-
- Chocolate Cherry Almond:
- 1 cup dates
- 1 cup dried cherries
- 1 cup almonds
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Place nuts in a food processor and pulse to a medium grind.
- Add in dates (plus any other dried fruit), cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt. Process until well combined. You can test this by shaping a small truffle and checking that it "sticks" together.
- When it's ready, take about 1 Tbsp of mix, squish into a ball with hands and then roll between hands until formed into a smooth, round truffle.
Notes
Refrigerate for up to a week.
If you want to really take these over the top, dip in melted chocolate and refrigerate until hardened!
https://cookingwithafullplate.com/chocolate-truffles/
Ingredients
- Chocolate Peanut:
- 2 cups pitted dates
- 1 cup peanuts
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Chocolate Cherry Almond:
- 1 cup dates
- 1 cup dried cherries
- 1 cup almonds
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Place nuts in a food processor and pulse to a medium grind.
- Add in dates (plus any other dried fruit), cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt. Process until well combined. You can test this by shaping a small truffle and checking that it "sticks" together.
- When it's ready, take about 1 Tbsp of mix, squish into a ball with hands and then roll between hands until formed into a smooth, round truffle.
Notes
Refrigerate for up to a week.
If you want to really take these over the top, dip in melted chocolate and refrigerate until hardened!
Want to see the recipe in action?