Cacao & Cashew nut Energy Truffles

This is not your everyday truffle recipe as it is more like an energy ball being called a truffle. Since chocolate truffles received that name because of their resemblance with the real fungus truffle, it still makes sense to call those truffles too.

The truffles here were made to be offered as gift to a good friend of mine and to my parents in law. Both gift recipients loved them. Why wouldn't they? The delicious mix of dates, nuts, peanut butter and cacao makes an irresistible gift. Dates are delicious and in this recipe they have a double job, it works as sweetener and texture giver. Dates are a little high in fructose, what means that you should not abuse on them. At the same time, they are a good source of minerals, vitamins. Dates contain vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5 and C and more potassium than bananas. Dates are an excellent source of energy as they contain natural sugars, i.e. no sugar added. In these truffles I used organic raw cacao powder which is an amazing source of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals like calcium, zinc, iron, copper, magnesium, sulfur, and potassium. While cashew nuts are another excellent source of energy, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins like pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), riboflavin, and thiamin (vitamin B-1) and a concentrated source of minerals like manganese, potassium, copper, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium and a good amount of soluble dietary fiber. Their perfect name is Energy Truffles!

Energy Balls: Dates, Cocoa & Cashew nut Truffles


180g dates
180g cashew nuts (use other nuts if you prefer)
4 tbsp pure peanut butter without added salt or sugar (use other nut butters if you prefer)
5 tbsp natural cocoa powder
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla powder or vanilla extract

How:

Place the dates in a food processor or a blender and blitz for half a minute, to break the fibers of the date. Add the cashew nuts (or any other nut you are using) and blitz a little more. Then add the cacao powder and the peanut butter and pulse for a minute or two, or until you end up with is a sticky but soft mix that can be spooned and made into little balls. Roll the balls of dough on cacao powder to coat them. The truffles can resist room temperature, if the environment is not summer warm. They can be kept up to week in a air tight container.

Makes around 36 truffles.