Healthy Chocolate Truffles with No Added Sugar

It can be tempting to overindulge this time of year, especially for those of us with a sweet tooth! I try not to deny myself special treats, but work in more nutritious desserts, like these dairy-free healthy chocolate truffles, to help balance things out. Each bite is rich in antioxidants and even boasts natural protein and fiber. They taste indulgent, but can easily qualify as an energizing snack!

Why You’ll Love these Healthy Chocolate Truffles

• Just 4 to 5 Ingredients: Really, the core recipe has just three ingredients, but I like to coat them and sometimes add a touch of sugar-free sweetener.
• Rich Taste & Consistency: Chocoholics will love the smooth, dense, and decadent vibe of these cacao-heavy treats.
• Convenient: You can make them in minutes, and keep them on hand in the freezer for whenever cravings strike.
• Naturally Dairy-Free: These truffles are made with 100% cacao chocolate, which has nothing added – no milk products at all.
• Nutritious: Chocolate is known for a host of healthy benefits, from cardiovascular to brain health. This recipe couples that with no added sugar and other nutrient-dense ingredients.

Ingredient Notes & Options

• Dates: They add tenderness, body, and sweetness to these dairy-free healthy chocolate truffles. I prefer to use Medjool dates specifically, as they’re softer and better at binding than Deglet Noor dates, and they also have a deeper and fudgier flavor. The weight of the dates used is about 6 3/4 ounces.
• Chocolate: I use 100% cacao chocolate in this recipe. It’s pure, it’s naturally dairy-free, and it contains no sugar. I like that it allows me to control the sweetness. Pascha is a great allergy-friendly brand, but budget-friendly Bakers and popular Ghirardelli are also made without milk ingredients. That said, you can use dairy-free dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate. They will function equally well without any changes to the recipe.
• Almond Butter: This adds creaminess to the texture, helping to bridge the chewy dates with the dense chocolate. Cashew butter is a great substitute, if needed. I’ve included a nut-free option below, and a peanut butter option in the Flavor Options following the recipe.
• Sweetener: You might like the sweetness as is. I add a few drops of stevia just to heighten the flavors. You can add you choice of sweetener. I prefer granulated sweeteners, since liquid ones will make the chocolate stickier.
• Almond Meal / Flour: This makes the truffles easier to handle, and adds a layer of taste, texture, and nutrition. I’ve included some alternative options, like crushed cacao nibs or unsweetened coconut, in the Flavor Options after the recipe.

Special Diet Notes: Healthy Chocolate Truffles

By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, vegetarian, and paleo.

Nut-Free Option: Substitute sunflower seed butter for the almond butter, and substitute unsweetened shredded coconut or crushed cacao nibs for the almond flour / meal.

Alisa Fleming

Dairy-Free Healthy Chocolate Truffles

5 from 3 votes

For slightly sweeter snack balls that still have ample cacao benefits, you can substitute dark chocolate chips. Note that the prep time does not include chilling time in the refrigerator. This is a great make ahead recipe!

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Servings: 18 truffle bites

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 61

Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 8 large pitted Medjool dates
• ¼ cup unsweetened chocolate chips or chopped chocolate 100% cacao, melted
• 2 tablespoons almond butter
• Sweetener optional
• ⅓ cup almond flour / meal or as needed for rolling

Method

 

1. Soak the dates in hot water for 10 minutes. Drain.
2. In a medium bowl, mash (I use a fork) the soaked dates with the melted chocolate and almond butter, until relatively smooth and well-distributed. Add in sweetener, to taste, if desired.
3. Scoop the mixture by the generous ½ tablespoon and roll into balls.
4. Place the almond flour or almond meal on a plate, and roll the balls in it to coat.
5. Refrigerate the truffles for 30 minutes to set-up.
6. Store them in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 1 week, or in your freezer for longer storage. They stay tender when frozen, so we enjoy eating them straight from the freezer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1truffleCalories: 61kcalCarbohydrates: 7.2gProtein: 1.2gFat: 3.8gSaturated Fat: 1.5gSodium: 1mgFiber: 1.5gSugar: 4.8g

Notes

Sweetener Note: I often add about 5 to 10 drops of vanilla stevia to taste.

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Flavor Variations

• Mocha: Dissolve 1½ teaspoons instant espresso powder in 1 teaspoon hot water, and add to the mixture. Optionally crush a few coffee beans and mix into the almond flour / meal.
• Dark Chocolate Orange: Add 2 teaspoons orange zest and 1/8 teaspoon orange extract to the chocolate mixture.
• Peppermint: Add ¼ teaspoon pure peppermint extract to the mixture. Optionally combine 1/3 cup unsweetened coconut flakes with 2 tablespoons crushed peppermint candy. Use in place of the almond meal / flour for rolling.
• Double Dark: Use half crushed cacao nibs and half almond meal / flour for rolling (or all crushed cacoa if you wish!).
• Berry Burst: Mix 2 tablespoons raspberry or strawberry powder into the chocolate. You can buy it or blend freeze-dried berries in your spice grinder until powdered.
• Salted Chocolate: Add ¼ teaspoon salt to the chocolate mixture and add a little sea salt or coarse salt to the almond flour / meal coating.
• Mexican Chocolate: Add ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne to the chocolate mixture.
• Dark Peanut Butter Cup: Substitute peanut butter for the almond butter. Roll in crushed peanuts or a mixture of crushed peanuts and cacao nibs.

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