Brownie Truffles
These little jewels are as versatile as the day is long. I started out planning to make bars then I started thinking about the holidays and how yummy these would be as gifts. I love giving gifts that are homemade and best of all, healthy. Using dates when making treats is a discovery I made a few years ago after eating a Lara Bar. All you need is your imagination when creating yummy treats made with dates.
Ingredients:
1 cup dates (no added sweeteners), about 22 whole dates
1/2 cup raw almonds
1/2 cup raw walnuts
1/4 cup cocoa, good quality
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon water
1 tablespoon cocoa, (optional) for dusting truffles
1/4 teaspoon chipotle pepper (optional)
Directions: In a food processor combine walnuts and almonds and pulse to a crumb like consistency…being sure to leave some course pieces for texture. Remove nuts and placed in a medium bowl, combine crumbed nuts with cocoa and vanilla, mix with a large spoon.
Add dates to the food processor and pulse several times until they are a gooey consistency.
Add to nut mixture along with vanilla and water. You will need to use your hands to knead the mixture until there is one large ball…this will take a few minutes.
Shape into 1-2” truffles as seen above. Combine additional cocoa with chipotle pepper and sprinkle on half of the truffles (optional). If you prefer shape into small bars instead of truffles.
Cover and refrigerate. Enjoy!
Gale Compton
Certified Fitness Instructor
