Healthy Easter Chocolates & Truffles

This Easter is going to be a very special one for many, a chance to reconnect with family members and loved ones now that our lockdowns have eased slightly.  You may have planned a family gathering outside or a barbeque in the garden, either way you have probably thought about getting some chocolate in for the occasion. 

We have too, I love a bit of chocolate.  But what I have also done is made sure I have options that are going to support my health rather then down regulate my immune system and damage my gut.

Today I would love to share with you two very simple chocolate and raw truffle recipes that you can make in minutes and that are delicious too. 

Move over store bought, sugar filled chocolate - we have some new healthy chocolates in town 😀

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RAW TRUFFLES

What you will need:

• 1 cup of pitted dates
• 3 cups of boiling water
• 1/3 cup of raw cacao powder
• 3 tbsp raw cold pressed coconut oil
• Homemade dark chocolate (recipe below)

How to make your delicious truffles:

• Place the dates in a bowl with the boiling water and allow to sit for 10 minutes
• Drain them well and then place into a food processor or blender along with the coconut oil and the cacao powder
• Process until the mixture comes together, you may need to scrape the side down and process more
• Remove the chocolate mixture and scoop into 1 tsp sized balls (don't roll them yet) place them onto a tray with parchment paper and place in the freezer for 5 minutes. 
• Then remove them and roll into a ball shape.  You can now place them into the fridge and enjoy as a healthy truffle.  Alternatively you can roll them in more cacao powder, chopped nuts, freeze dried raspberries, desiccated coconut or cacao nibs.
• If you want to go the next step of decadence then you would place each on a fork, drizzle with your homemade chocolate recipe below and place into fridge to set. Then store in a sealed container and take out when you want to eat them.  

** Note: these need to be stored in the fridge if you have drizzled over the homemade chocolate using the coconut oil only as they will start to melt.

HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE RECIPE

These are the easiest chocolates to whip up when you want a piece of dark delicious chocolate on hand, again be creative if you just want to make then on their own and not with the truffles above.

What you will need:

1/2 cup of raw coconut oil
1/2 cup of cacao butter (optional)
1/2-1 cup of raw cacao powder (1/2 cup if only using coconut oil, 1 cup if using both coconut oil and cacao butter)
3-4 tbsp of maple syrup or honey (taste to see if they are sweet enough)

How to make your homemade chocolates:

• Place your coconut oil and butter in a glass bowl over a pot of boiling water and allow it to melt, turn down the heat once it starts to melt
• Then add in the cacao powder and mix to combine into a smooth creamy consistency
• Then remove from the heat and mix through the maple syrup or honey
• Pour into silicon moulds of any shape (you can buy Easter shaped ones or use what you have) you can also line a tray with parchment paper and pour the chocolate over top if you are making this separate from the truffles above. Mix in some chopped dried fruits, nuts, seeds, coconut or anything else you would like.  Allow to set in the freezer, break into pieces and store in a sealed container.  ** Store in fridge if you have only used coconut oil, on the counter if you have used the butter.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend filled with health and happiness

Debbie ❤