Dark Chocolate Orange Truffles (Naturally Sweetened)
It’s finally the weekend so we can all sit back and take a deep breath. As a person who always goes full steam ahead, I appreciate these little breaks. Oftentimes we feel this impulse to keep working before we realize that we are way past our limit. Rest is necessary too, friends.
Today, I’m cozying up with some freshly brewed tea and a plate of these dark chocolate orange truffles. They are dark, decadent and secretly healthy. Plus I love that they are naturally sweetened with my all-time favorite: medjool dates! I can live without raisins but dates…dates are essential. Truly “nature’s candy” and are excellent in making these truffles fudgy and soft at the center.
My mom, upon returning from her occasional business trips abroad, would come home with a maleta full of buried goodies (pasalubong hidden among her clothes). One of those treasures would be a box of Terry’s Chocolate Orange wrapped in foil to keep it from melting. When dessert arrived, us three siblings would huddle together and carefully peel off a slice from the chocolate orange globe. Nowadays, with less travel, I make my own chocolate orange desserts to relive that memory.
These Dark Chocolate Orange Truffles are so easy to make and the perfect activity if you have little ones who, I’m sure, would enjoy shaping the truffles. These also make a great pre workout snack so make sure to keep an extra batch in the freezer for when you need that extra energy boost.
Just A Few Tips
- I like toasting the nuts in this recipe for added depth and flavor. Lay your nuts evenly on a baking sheet and toast in a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C). Checking frequently after the 5 minute mark and tossing the nuts to prevent burning. The nuts are perfectly toasted when they are lightly browned and have a snap to them. You can also use them raw if you prefer.
- If you find these truffles too dark for you (I’m more accustomed to dark chocolate), add some more dates or a few teaspoons of maple syrup or agave.
- The orange here is quite pronounced so if you want a more subtle hint, I would recommend starting with the zest of ½ an orange.
- These truffles are super energy boosting and freeze well! Make a big batch and store the rest in the freezer for when you need to add a lil bit of zip to your step.
Can’t get enough of these chocolate truffles? You can try these Salted Chocolate Tahini Date Bites next!
Dark Chocolate Orange Truffles (Naturally Sweetened)
Ingredients
- 210 g (1½ cups) soft nuts ,cashews, pecans, walnuts, etc.
- 80 g (12 pieces) pitted medjool dates*
- 26 g (⅓ cup) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanillla
- ¼ tsp salt
- zest of 1 orange*
- 1-2 tbsp plant based milk ,or milk of choice
- cocoa powder, crushed nuts, chocolate chips for garnishing
Instructions
- Place the nuts and dates in a food processor then process until a paste has formed or there are no more big chunks left. Add in the rest of the ingredients except the milk and continue to blend until everything is well combined and a ball has formed. If the consistency is still quite crumbly or dry add some milk a tablespoon at a time until the dough comes together.
- Using your hands, roll the chocolate dough into 15 balls. Wetting your hands slightly if things start to get too sticky. Roll each ball in your fave toppings or leave as is, if preferred. Enjoy!
Notes
Some items you might need
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