Date and Almond Truffles (Healthy 3 Ingredient Truffles)

What do you folks think of the expression ‘Healthy indulgence’? Does that even make sense? Is that even possible? Or is it an oxymoron? The dictionary defines indulgence as ‘yielding to an inclination or desire’… ‘To allow oneself to follow one’s will’. By that token, any kind of ‘desired’ activity could be your weakness and whenever you get to ‘do’ it, you become ‘indulgent’. There you go …no wonder we associate ‘indulgence’ with ‘bad stuff’ and with only ‘high sugary and fatty foods’ ?  Well its certainly time to rethink folks. Healthy indulgence is indeed possible. You could actually ‘crave’ for good stuff that is great for your health!

These delicious, simple, ‘so-healthy’ for you truffles will definitely make you crave for more. And you can assuage your cravings without feeling any pangs of guilt.Johanne who blogs at FrenchGarrdenerdishes posted these healthy truffles a couple weeks ago. And I was besotted. Healthful and ‘craving inducing’? Now isn’t that something? So I had to absolutely make these especially since I am on a dairy free diet too. Johanne’s recipe is simple and easy.  I made small changes like using vanilla extract instead of amaretto and excluded the coconut for this batch although would love that addition too.  I additionally coated a few of these with a chocolate coating …just my way of enticing the kids to this healthful, filled with goodness treats! A big thank you to Johanne 🙂 These will make great holiday gifts too.! Super easy,healthy and delicious! Just 3 ingredients! Now that is just sweet, don’t you agree? 🙂

I am bringing these delicious ‘guilt-free’ indulgent treats to Fiesta Friday and Saucy Saturdays link up parties.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dates (pitted)
• 1 cup raw whole almonds
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder (unsweetened)
• milk chocolate bars (for optional milk chocolate coating)
• more cocoa powder and icing sugar for dusting

Method:

Boil 1 cup of water in a small cooking pot and add the dates to it as soon as the water starts boiling. Immediately turn heat off. Let stand for 5 minutes. Drain water but reserve about 1 tbsp of the water.

In a food processor, grind the whole almonds until ground fine (or to your desired consistency). Remove from food processor and keep aside.

Next grind the dates in the same food processor with the 1 tbsp water until smooth consistency.

Add the ground almonds and the date mixture into a bowl and add the cocoa powder and the vanilla extract too and mix well using a spatula and / your hands until you get a smooth dough.

Roll each ball onto cocoa powder on a parchment sheet and dust with powdered sugar.

For a variation, melt milk chocolate bars in the microwave in a small bowl (by heating at about 30 sec intervals). Roll the balls in the chocolate mixture (using two spoons or forks) to coat the balls with the chocolate coating.  Place on parchment paper and place in refrigerator for about 30 minutes to cool and for the chocolate coating to  become firm.

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