Chocolate truffles are great for so many reasons!
Want a dessert that’s quick and easy to make, but tastes heavenly?
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Want a fun way to introduce your kids to cooking?
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Want a recipe that you can make with a lot of stock things in your pantry?
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Want something to surprise your partner with on date night?
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Fair warning: once you’ve tried making them, you’re going to see how easy they are to make…and how much pay off you’re going to get for so little effort!
These little sweet morsels of pure indulgence are most likely going to end up a party or house favorite.
For the chocolate truffle recipe below, you might notice that tread off the beaten path somewhat and used cocoa powder rather than pre-made chocolate bars that you would normally find in other recipes.
The reason why we choose cocoa powder is that we want to be able to control the amount of sugar and fat that we put into this recipe, and it’s really difficult to do that with pre-made chocolate.
However, we put a lot of love and care into this recipe because we still want to have that creamy, decadent, and oh-so-indulgent silky texture that you love in a truffle!
What is the difference between Medjool dates and regular dates?
There are a few distinct differences between Medjool dates and regular dates, particularly when it comes to their consistency, flavor, and level of sweetness.
Regular dates, also known as Deglet Noor dates, are sweet and delicate, and have a firm flesh.
Medjool dates, on the other hand, have a deeper flavor profile that’s similar to caramel.
This means that Medjool dates are sweeter compared to regular dates. Medjool dates also have a soft, chewier texture.
When you take these two qualities together, you’ll produce a truffle that’s sweeter, softer, and chewier because of the Medjool dates.
How long do chocolate truffles last?
At room temperature, chocolate truffles will generally last around 1-2 weeks at room temperature. If you store them in the fridge, they will last up to 6 months!
If you want to store them in the fridge, keep them in an airtight container to prevent the chocolate from blooming, as this can affect the taste and texture of the truffles.
Can you freeze chocolate truffles?
Yes, you can definitely freeze chocolate truffles! After shaping the truffles, you can put them in an airtight container and place them in the freezer for up to a year.
If you’re planning to keep them for a long time, keep the coating simple, such as a light dusting of cocoa powder.
Why you should soak dates before eating them?
Commercial dates, whether regular or Medjool, are dried during processing as a way to increase shelf life. In fact, eating dried dates might not be a pleasant experience for most people since they can be tough.
Soaking dates in water before using them softens the fruit and brings forward that nice, chewy texture that people love when eating dates.
What’s more, soaking the fruit in warm water will also heighten the sweetness of the fruit.
What can I use if I don’t have maple syrup?
If you don’t have maple syrup, you can use other low-carb alternatives such as coconut sugar, Swerve, or Splenda.
You can also make your own maple syrup alternative.
Tips on Making Chocolate Truffles
Here are some tips on how to make perfect, bite-sized truffles:
- Measure out your truffles! There’s just something that really whets the appetite about seeing truffle balls with a consistent size. You can use a melon baller or even a teaspoon to measure out the mixture before shaping it with your hands.
- Don’t overwork the mixture in your hands when forming the balls; keep your rolling motion light and easy.
- Sometimes, less is more! The point of a chocolate truffle is the chocolate, and the coatings are to accentuate the taste of the truffle, not overpower it. A light coating or dusting of any coating is all you need.
Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles
Every now and again, you’re going to want a quick and easy snack that will satisfy your sweet tooth without making you feel guilty.
Well, today’s your lucky day! This amazing recipe brings together luxurious chocolate and smoky caramel notes from the Medjool dates, tied together with the crunchy hazelnuts.
The best part?
It’s great for people watching their sugar intake too, as the maple syrup and dates add that perfect amount of sweetness without any refined sugar.
How to Make Chocolate Truffles (With What You Have At Home)
Ingredients
- ½ c. raw hazelnuts
raw hazelnuts
- 12 Medjool dates, pitted
Medjool dates
- 2 T. cocoa powder, unsweetened
cocoa powder
- 2 T. coconut flour
coconut flour
- 1 T. coconut oil, melted
coconut oil
- 1½ T. pure maple syrup
pure maple syrup
- 1 t. pure vanilla extract
pure vanilla extract
- ¼ t. coarse salt
Optional Coatings:
- ¼ c. hazelnuts or almonds, ground
- ¼ c. coconut flakes, finely shredded
- 2 T unsweetened cocoa powder + ¼ t. each cayenne pepper and coarse salt
Instructions
- Place your Medjool dates in a small bowl of warm water and allow them to soak for 10-15 minutes.
- Get a rimmed baking sheet ready by lining it with wax paper. Set aside.
- Place all chosen coatings separately into shallow, rimmed plates. Set aside.
- Place hazelnuts into a food processor and process until finely ground.
- Remove softened dates from the water and drain well. Add the dates and the cocoa powder into the food process with the ground hazelnuts and blend until smooth. Make sure to scrape the sides occasionally to ensure that the mixture is combined thoroughly. If the mixture is too thick, add drops of water one at a time until mixture becomes smooth and silky.
- Add coconut flour, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt to the chocolate mixture and blend again until thoroughly mixed.
- Remove mixture from food processor and place into a large glass bowl.
- Place bowl in fridge to allow to chill for around 10 minutes. This firms up the mixture and makes it easier to form into balls.
- Remove bowl from fridge, and scoop out the mixture using a melon baller or teaspoon. Roll each portion into a ball.
- Coat each ball with desired toppings.
- Once coated, place on the prepared baking tray. Place baking tray in fridge to chill for a few minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!
Experiment Away!
The great thing about chocolate truffles is that there’s no single “best chocolate truffles”, as everyone has their own preference!
Some people might love crunchy toppings such as hazelnuts, roasted peanuts, or walnuts. Some people might like sprinkles.
Some people might love the taste of sea salt and cayenne pepper. And some people might love just the plain taste of good cacao powder.
You can make a large batch of truffles and a wide array of different coating options, and just make a whole bunch of different truffles for your next party.
See what people like, and even get some requests for next time!
Aside from a great dessert, here’s another way that you can use these truffles: give them as a gift!
If you have a friend who loves chocolate, why not show them how special they are to you by giving them a box of home-made chocolate truffles?
We guarantee that a home-made gift is so much more special than something you bought a store.
For bonus points, you can even pair these chocolate truffles with some amazing chocolate macaroons, because there’s no such thing as too much chocolate!