If you've been with me for a while, you already know that I am a pretty average dessert creator. If you're new around here, hello and welcome! My name is Krista and sweets aren't really my thing. It's not that I don't like sweet foods. It's more so that creating dessert recipes doesn't excite me as much as creating savory dishes, but something very strange has come over me recently. I have quite the hankering for developing recipes for healthy sweets treats! Tis' the season, right?!
I'm not quite ready to dive into the world of Paleo baking, but no-bake desserts are right up my alley! Insert today's recipe for No Bake Dark Chocolate Truffles. They are gluten-free, dairy-free dark chocolatey balls of pure bliss!
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Before we jump into this recipe, here's a quick disclaimer:
These are not Whole30 compliant. Not even kind of. If you were to omit the vanilla and honey (and sprinkles), then I suppose they would technically be Whole30 compliant, but I'm begging you not to do this! Truffles are candy. Candy, whether it be compliant or not, is not a food that aligns with the spirit of the Whole30. Recreating an indulgent treat to satisfy your sugar dragon probably is not the best way to tame that monster. I hope that makes sense. Moving along.
There are many variations of truffles, but I think the best truffles are made from high-quality dark chocolate, rolled into bite-size balls and coated in something delicious! This recipe actually derived from my very first blog post and the only other dessert recipe I've shared thus far -my Paleo Dark Chocolate Avocado Truffles. Always a classic. The method is similar for the two recipes, but the ingredients are quite a bit different.
For these No Bake Dark Chocolate Truffles, I had my fellow dark chocolate lovers in mind. They're rich, fudgey and just sweet enough. They're exactly what I look for in a dark chocolate bar! One or two of these truffles is sure to cure your dark chocolate cravings!
The ingredients in these truffles are loaded with nutrition. Here's what you'll need to make these balls of holiday joy:
- Pitted Medjool Dates - I know I say this all of the time but dates are literally nature's candy that also just so happen to be loaded with minerals, vitamins and fiber.
- 100% Cacao Unsweetened Chocolate Baking Bar - This is the purest and most nutritious chocolate you can get your hands on. I could write an entire blog post on the health benefits of dark chocolate, but the fact that it serves up a healthy dose of antioxidants is the major selling point!
- Unsweetened Nut Butter (Almond, Cashew or Walnut) - Nut butters are high in heart healthy amino acids and healthy fats. Need I say more?
- Honey - This ingredient is also an antioxidant boosting powerhouse! Thanks bees!
- Pure Vanilla Extract - Naturally gluten, dairy, and sugar-free! Pure vanilla extract helps balance the bitterness of the pure dark chocolate with just a bit of sweetness.
- Salt
Optional toppings:
- Sprinkles
- Chopped Nuts (like Almonds, Walnuts or Pistachios)
- Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
Can I make these truffles Paleo-friendly?
Of course! If you're opting for the cleaner, Paleo-friendly version of these truffles, either omit the toppings or use chopped nuts and/or shredded coconut. If you're feeling festive, do what I did and go for the sprinkles! In the grand scheme of things, they're still pretty darn good for you with or without the sprinkles! 🙂
Can I make these truffles Vegan-friendly?
Absolutely! Simply swap the honey for 100% pure male syrup!
Making these truffles is super easy!
- Begin by rough chopping the dates and soaking them in hot water for at least 10 minutes. The goal here is tosoften them a bit so they're easier to blend.
- While the dates are soaking, you can start working on the truffle batter mixture. Simply heat the chocolate, nut butter, honey, vanilla, and salt in a saucepan over medium- low heat until the chocolate bar melts and the mixture transforms into a thick batter consistency. The more you stir it, the quicker this will happen, but it really shouldn't take you longer than about 5 minutes.
- Next, simply blend the drained, soaked dates and the batter in a blender or food processor until well-combined. The mixture should resemble the consistency of brownie batter at this point.
- Transfer the batter to a bowl, cover and stick it in the freezer for no longer than 10 minutes. Once the batter is chilled, it will be easier to roll into balls. You can also chill it in the fridge, but that will take a little longer.
- Now for the messy (but fun part). Using a rounded tablespoon or your hands begin molding the batter into 9 truffles, about 1 heaping tablespoon each. The mixture will be sticky! I've found that rolling it into balls with damp hands makes it quite a bit easier.
- Once all of the batter is rolled into balls, gently coat each ball in the topping of your choice.
*These truffles store very well in an air-tight container for up to a week!
So there you have it. Simple No Bake Dark Chocolate Truffles that can be customized to your dietary lifestyle. Maybe it's just me, but this time of year I tend to stray from the beaten path a bit. While I'm always gluten-free because of an intolerance and mainly dairy-free, some of the things I choose to put on my plate put the "ish" in "paleoish." Case in point, rolling these truffles in sugar-ladened sprinkles rather than nuts or coconut was SO WORTH IT.
With these truffles on hand, I don't feel like I'm missing out on all of the gluten-containing baked goods and seasonal treats this time of year. These treats are just as delicious but so much healthier! You can feel good about serving them anytime of the year or even gifting them during special occasions!
These No Bake Dark Choclate Truffles are YOUR canvas. However you chose to recreate them, I hope you love them as much I do! Happy holidays friends!
Did you make these truffles?! Feel free to brag all about your recreations on Instagram and hashtag your posts with #paleoishkristaeats!
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📖 Recipe
No Bake Dark Chocolate Truffles (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
Ingredients
- 8 pitted medjool dates
- ½ cup unsweetened chocolate baking bar 100% cacao (4 ounce bar)
- ¼ cup unsweetened nut butter almond, cashew or walnut
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Optional toppings
- sprinkles
- chopped nuts almonds, walnuts or pistachios
- unsweetened shredded coconut
Instructions
- Rough chop the dates and soak them in a bowl of hot water for 10 minutes or until soft. Drain.
- In a small saucepan, heat the chocolate, nut butter, honey, vanilla and salt over medium-low heat. Continuously stir until the mixture becomes a thick batter consistency, about 5 minutes.
- In a blender or food processor, blend the soaked dates and the chocolate mixture until well-combined.
- Transfer the batter to a bowl, cover and chill in the freezer for 10 minutes (or in the fridge for at least 30 minutes).
- Remove batter from the freezer or fridge. Using a rounded tablespoon (or with damp hands), roll the batter into 9 truffles.
- If using, gently roll each truffle into sprinkles, chopped nuts or unsweetened shredded coconut.
- Store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Notes
If you made this recipe, I'd love to hear all about it in the comments! Also, if you'd like to receive my monthly newsletter, don't forget to subscribe! You'll be kept up-to-date on all of the latest Paleoish Krista recipes!
