+
A healthy alternative to a truffle, one sans the heavy cream and even heavier feelings after consumption.
I have modified one of my favorite energy bar recipes by combining greek yogurt and an amaretto cordial to create a treat that is lower in sugar and saturated fat than the typical truffles one may be accustomed to.
I used 0% plain greek yogurt, but I am sure a higher fat percentage could work just as well or even better. I probably wouldn’t use a flavored yogurt as some are quite artificial tasting, in my opinion. I feel that it may ruin the sophistication of these truffles. I know Siggi’s has an orange ginger yogurt that could be quite tasty…Do as you please though. I’m sure a vegan version could be created too. I’m thinking a coconut milk greek yogurt would be a good choice, as it contains more fat than the other vegan yogurts. Commonly I have found vegan yogurts to be quite thin and liquid-y, not the best choice for these truffles.
Moving on, I was excited to blend a liqueur in with my standard energy ball recipe. I found it adds a simplistic yet elegant flair to these truffles, not to mention taste upgrade for sure. I originally had planned to use Frangelico, the hazelnut cordial, but that idea was tossed away along with the shards of glass from the bottle that so gracefully slipped out of my hand…Nevertheless, the amaretto liqueur worked quite lovely. That being said, I am sure whatever cordial you have will suffice and be delicious.
The consistency from the liqueur, greek yogurt, and texture of the dates gave these truffles a softer bite than the typical energy balls, relating more to a smooth truffle. There were still little bits of nuts in mine, so if you’re wanting a completely smooth truffle then maybe decrease the nuts or just process them more, or even perhaps add in more liqueur or yogurt. Experiment!
I prefer to think of these as their own entity, rather than always comparing them to a store-bought truffle. If you’re really wanting a truffle then go for it, but these will provide your open mind with a healthier twist :)
You may use whatever nuts you prefer. In the future I will try out softer nuts such as walnuts and pecans as they may create a better texture than the almonds did. Hazelnuts would be yummy.
Adding the toppings were fun, as possibilities are limitless and they look so pretty afterward :3. I chose raw cacao powder, cacao nibs, and coconut flakes. The powder added a nice aesthetic finish, nibs: a nice crunch and bittersweet chocolate accompaniment, and the coconut flakes went very well with the amaretto flavoring. Regardless of what you choose, I found all toppings made this simple truffle look quite elegant.
Nibs
Dusted cacao powder
Coconut flakes (unsweetened)
Cacao powder
Bring these to your next potluck or get together, or something as simple as your friend’s apartment. Enjoy them though, and I must say these taste better shared with another…
Ingredients:
1/2 cup dates
1 cup nuts (I used almonds and cashews)
3-4 tbsp di saronno (any liqueur)
1/4 cup raw cacao powder (or unsweetened cocoa powder)
1/4 cup plain greek yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
Toppings:
edamame, cacao nibs, cacao powder, coconut flakes, chopped nuts, goji berries, chia or hemp seeds, cinnamon + other spices
Directions:
1. Add dates and nuts to food processor and process well until broken down
2. Add in cacao powder, liquor, and vanilla and process a bit more until all is combined
3. Add in yogurt and blend until texture is smooth
4. Place in fridge for about 15 minutes, just so the mixture can harden up a bit
5. Mold into balls or whatever shapes you prefer
6. To get fancy, sprinkle a bit of cacao powder on a plate and roll balls around in it, this will give you the powdered look. You may thoroughly coat them in the powder or use less cacao for a marbled look.
Rolling the balls in coconut or cacao nibs will create an outside crunch
You can also mix toppings together on the plate (coconut and nibs) and roll balls around in it so that the outside has a bit of diversity. Experiment, you can’t really go wrong.
7. Store in fridge in an air-tight container
2 Comments
Trackbacks.