It’s already nearing the end of January and I honestly feel like we were just getting ready for the holidays! What the heck happens with time? Do you feel like its just flying by? As a kid, I felt as though time stood still – birthdays couldn’t come fast enough, the school year dragged on forever ….and Christmas was never “just around the corner”. As an adult, I can’t get time to slow down!
With January in full gear, there are many people who make resolutions and/or set some goals for the upcoming year. Did you happen to set anything in place for your year? My daughter decided to make better food choices and I couldn’t be happier! As a child, she obviously had to eat what I made or had around the house but once she started driving and being out there “on her own”, she made choices that were less than stellar with regards to food. I get it and totally understand it! Right? I mean, you have your own car and you’re headed back from rehearsal and feel like a shake ….so you drive through a fast food restaurant and pick one up. That’s the freedom a teen feels and though I can’t stop that choice, I can keep modeling a healthy lifestyle in hopes that she (or any of my children) will eventually see that it makes sense to eat real food and driving through the drive-thru’s will be a once in a while thing and not a daily choice.
I don’t tolerate dairy very well. I can eat some grassfed butter and/or cheese from time to time but I do steer clear because it doesn’t always make me feel the best the next morning. My daughter however, can tolerate cheese just fine ….and she loves it! In hopes of keeping her on track with a healthier lifestyle, she choose to eat more of a keto type “diet” vs. paleo – and at this point, it’s really become more of a primal way of life as I don’t think she’s necessarily eating enough fat to be considered in ketosis. So, she’s eating a lot of veggies, some protein, healthy fats and some dairy. I’m very proud when I hear about her day and what food choices she made! She’s feeling great and her skin looks amazing! BUT like me, she has a sweet tooth — chocolate to be exact! And thankfully, much like her momma, it’s dark chocolate that she loves! I have been creative in the kitchen to help keep her on track but at the same time, helping her not to feel deprived of some of her favorite things.
Enter the Chocolate Truffle! It’s so hard to know what she will like. She is definitely honest when it comes to my cooking and/or baking! I was so happy when she gave me all the thumbs up for these chocolate little balls! They are filled with healthy fats and sweetened with erythritol so she feels good about eating a yummy treat, without setting back the goals she’s made for herself.
Whether or not you have made the decision to give up sugar or live a particular lifestyle, these little treats are honestly a no-guilt sweet to have around! If you’re a chocoholic like me (or my daughter), you can have that treat and know that you get all the feels of a good dessert but you also get all the benefits of healthy fats and without all the crap that you’ll get in a store bought chocolate truffle. Have a-go at these tasty little bites & let me know what you think. They are easy to put together and great to have on hand!
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup almond butter
- 1/2 cup coconut butter
- 1/4 cup grassfed butter
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 4 tbsp erythritol
- optional: 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, for dusting
- Combine first 4 ingredients by melting in bowl in a microwave or in a saucepan on stovetop.
- Remove from heat and add cocoa powder and erythritol using a whisk to incorporate.
- If you used a saucepan, pour into a bowl. Place bowl into refrigerator and let the mixture set for 2 hours.
- Using a small scooper or melon baller, scoop out* small “balls” and place on cookie sheet line with parchment paper. If using unsweetened cocoa, put cocoa into a small bowl carefully drop into powder and toss. Take and place on parchment paper.
- Continue with remaining chocolate mixture. Store in refrigerator until ready to eat!
- *If it is too hard to scoop out into balls, let it sit on counter for 15 min ...and keep checking consistency thereafter, until you can scoop out somewhat easily. You don’t want it too soft though - or it won’t hold shape. Just soft enough to be able to scrape and create a solid shaped ball.
I can’t eat coconut oil. Can you make these truffles some other ingredient to hold them together!
Hmmm…well, you may be able to add a few tablespoons of heavy cream & a couple of tbsp’s of melted dark chocolate chips (if keto/sugar free, you could use Lilly’s brand). Otherwise maybe 1/4 cup full fat coconut milk, from the solid top portion (you can achieve this after a couple of hours in refrigerator). These suggestions will solidify in fridge after assembling the ingredients into balls. I hope this helps ….and works! I may be giving things a try too!