healthy truffles?

I know, I know, the internet is overflowing with recipes for various raw vegan “truffles”/energy bites/homemade larabar equivalents/etc. based on some combination of dates and nuts. These are slightly different from the usual, though (I think!): perfect for those who can’t afford nuts in the kind of quantity required and can’t emotionally justify the prospect of eating something so calorically dense in that kind of quantity anyway. The magic secret — as always — is oats.

Sweet, fudgy, satisfying, nearly-affordable, and only ~60 calories each. I love these guys almost as much as I love my adorable little thrift-store mouse-shaped hot pad who seems to feature in nearly every photo on this blog.

Healthy Vegan Truffles

4 large medjool dates, pitted
2 tbsp almond butter
4 tbsp rolled oats, divided
2 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp peanut flour
pinch salt (omit if using salted almond butter)

Combine dates, almond butter, and 2 tbsp oats in a vitamix or food processor until they form a sticky paste. Dump into a bowl and mix in cocoa powder, peanut flour, salt, and remaining 2 tbsp oats until combined. It’ll still be a bit sticky, but manageable. Scoop in half-tablespoons (or desired size/shape) and let chill in freezer. Makes 7-8 truffles, depending on how much you consume during blender-extraction etc.

This recipe is just begging for substitutions: peanut butter for almond butter? Coconut flour — or even oat flour, probably — for peanut flour? Roll in toasted shredded coconut? Add cinnamon? Or espresso powder? Etc etc.

mmm, chocolatey and guilt-free!