There is something about Sunday that just makes me want to make things, and yesterday, this productive desire manifested itself into a wonderful treat.
Because I'm a woman.
And I have hormones.
And those hormones tell me to eat sweet things. And chocolatey things.
And I listen to them.
Anyway, because I cannot help but delight in sugary-goodness, it has become a goal of ours to completely move away from processed sweeteners (opting to sweeten instead with honey, maple syrup, and rapadura). This is one of the dessert recipes that makes whole-food-goals like this easy. They can be throw together in five minutes, and if you wanted to be fancy, you can make quite the decadent treat out of them.
Cocoa Coconut Truffles
You will need:
– 3 cups of unsweetened coconut
– 3/4 cup of maple syrup
– 3 tablespoons of peanut butter (keep an eye on the included ingredients!)
– 2 tablespoons of coconut oil (a must!)
– Pinch of salt
– 1 tsp. of vanilla
– Approximately 1 cup of cocoa powder
Step One: Put the coconut in a food processor (If you don't have one, just do this by hand!). Blend (or mix) the coconut, peanut butter, coconut oil, pinch of salt, maple syrup, and vanilla together.
Step Two: Add the cocoa powder to the mix and incorporate. You may need a wee more than a cup, or a wee bit less than a cup, depending on the consistency you desire. You don't want to add too much cocoa or the mix be too dry to stick together. Too little cocoa and the mix will be too soft and squishy. You want it firm.
Step Three: Working with roughly 1 tablespoon of the mixture, roll them into balls and place on a plate. Actually, you know what, you can make the balls however big or little you like! This is your dessert, after all.
Step Four: Refrigerate to help them set up. Or just eat them right away. Whichever you prefer. I ate mine.
Step Five: Serve. You could be fancy and line them up in a cool plate. Or you could serve them with a dollop of fresh whipped cream. Or you could sprinkle them with chopped nuts. Or dust them with cocoa.
But I ran out of energy, so I just put mine on a dinner plate and proceeded to each them all. I did manage to share a few with Stuart and our dinner guest, Brett, but the rest was mine.
MINE I TELL YOU!
The cocoa I used was a dark cocoa and it lends such a pure, earthy chocolate-ness to the mix. The coconut oil and peanut butter really add a nice oily, healthy fat and makes these little bites of goodness a delicious snack to help balance hunger throughout a busy day.
At least that's what I like to tell others.
Shaye, isn't that your seventy second cocoa coconut truffle?
I'm balancing my hunger, BACK OFF!!!!! (Shaye begins to foam at the mouth).
Look how else I can justify eating three dozen of them:
1. Cocoa cures cancer.
2. Peanut butter brings world peace.
3. Coconut oil saves lives.
4. Maple syrup is the highest nutritional food ever discovered.
5. These are all lies.
But seriously, when it comes to healthy desserts, besides my chocolate avacado mousse, these can't be beat.
So make them.
Or you'll regret it for the rest of your life.
Happy Monday my friends!
For other great meal ideas, no matter what your dietary restrictions, check out the meal planning service I use: Real Plans.
Cocoa Coconut Truffles
- 3 cups of unsweetened coconut
- 3/4 cup of maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons of peanut butter (keep an eye on the included ingredients!)
- 2 tablespoons of coconut oil (a must!)
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tsp. of vanilla
- Approximately 1 cup of cocoa powder
Put the coconut in a food processor (If you don't have one, just do this by hand!). Blend (or mix) the coconut, peanut butter, coconut oil, pinch of salt, maple syrup, and vanilla together.
Add the cocoa powder to the mix and incorporate. You may need a wee more than a cup, or a wee bit less than a cup, depending on the consistency you desire. You don't want to add too much cocoa or the mix be too dry to stick together. Too little cocoa and the mix will be too soft and squishy. You want it firm.
Working with roughly 1 tablespoon of the mixture, roll them into balls and place on a plate. Actually, you know what, you can make the balls however big or little you like! This is your dessert, after all.
Refrigerate to help them set up. Or just eat them right away. Whichever you prefer. I ate mine.
Serve. You could be fancy and line them up in a cool plate. Or you could serve them with a dollop of fresh whipped cream. Or you could sprinkle them with chopped nuts. Or dust them with cocoa.
Dawn
Oh, my gosh, these sound heavenly! One problem, my 7 yr old is highly allergic to peanuts. Have you made a version of these w/out the peanut butter?
Dawn
Oh, my gosh, these sound heavenly! One problem, my 7 yr old is highly allergic to peanuts. Have you made a version of these w/out the peanut butter?
Shaye @ The Elliott Homestead
Hi Dawn! I haven’t made them without peanut butter, but I bet that you could easily. I would just substitute extra coconut oil for the peanut butter.
Katie
I’m so glad to see a recipe like this without almond flour or worse, RAW oats! Way too many “health balls” out there with these ingredients that are so hard on our systems, esp the raw oats which are not meant to be consumed raw. These look wonderful and wholesome.
Shaye @ The Elliott Homestead
Hi Dawn! I haven’t made them without peanut butter, but I bet that you could easily. I would just substitute extra coconut oil for the peanut butter.
Amanda
Hi there! I found your blog through Homestead Revival! I am laying in bed reading all your posts when I should be sleeping! You crack me up!
I have woken my sweet hubby several times because I have laughed so hard and almost pee’d my pants!! I think you remind me of myself a little, and I laugh at myself a lot…so that might explain things…
Anyways, just wanted you to know that you are bringing joy to this mama’s heart tonight!
Amanda 🙂
Amanda
Hi there! I found your blog through Homestead Revival! I am laying in bed reading all your posts when I should be sleeping! You crack me up!
I have woken my sweet hubby several times because I have laughed so hard and almost pee’d my pants!! I think you remind me of myself a little, and I laugh at myself a lot…so that might explain things…
Anyways, just wanted you to know that you are bringing joy to this mama’s heart tonight!
Amanda 🙂
Anonymous
Hi Dawn,
Just found your site thru Fat Tuesday and was wondering for this recipe if you could substitute maple syrup for raw honey, if so what would be the amount of honey to use. By the way love all your recipes as well.
Anonymous
Hi Dawn,
Just found your site thru Fat Tuesday and was wondering for this recipe if you could substitute maple syrup for raw honey, if so what would be the amount of honey to use. By the way love all your recipes as well.
freya
@ Dawn – if your son is only allergic to peanuts and not tree nuts then almond or hazel butter would probably work beautifully!
the truffles look yummy – will give them a try soon 🙂
thx!
freya
@ Dawn – if your son is only allergic to peanuts and not tree nuts then almond or hazel butter would probably work beautifully!
the truffles look yummy – will give them a try soon 🙂
thx!
Stephanie
Could you use raw cacao powder instead of cocoa powder?
Shaye Elliott
Yep!
Stephanie
Could you use raw cacao powder instead of cocoa powder?
Shaye Elliott
Yep!
Erica
Holy moly!! I just made these, with organic cacao powder, and all I have to say is…thank you thank you thank you!! Ohhhh my, this is exactly what I was looking for. I have been needing a slightly sweet, chocolatey goodness-ness something and everything I tried wasn’t working. Stumbled across this recipe and you made my dream come true. yay!!