Chocolate Truffle Brownie Bites

SUGAR. My arch nemesis.

As someone who’s been trying to eat well and maintain healthy habits, trying to reduce my sugar intake has been one of the hardest things to do, especially since I’ve had a sweet tooth all my life (let’s not discuss how well I knew my childhood dentist! :-P)  I’ve really tried to find healthier ways to satisfy those sugar cravings. And I think I’ve found a way!

WOW. That was my reaction the first time I made these. A chocolatey, brownie-like treat that’s sugar-free and actually healthy?! No way. But I promise you, they are!

As if that wasn’t good enough, they only take 5 minutes to make, with only 5 ingredients.

I’ve seen them called by different names with slight variations to them (raw brownie bites, vegan truffles). But these, called fudge babies by Chocolate Covered Katie, were the first I’ve tried, and probably the best. (She makes other amazing vegan desserts that you would never believe were vegan!)

Try them and tell me that they’re not going to change your life. {dramatic pause} 🙂 Enjoy!

Chocolate Truffle Brownie Bites

Inspired by Chocolate-Covered Katie.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup each of walnuts and almonds (raw, unsalted) or 1 cup of any nuts you choose
• 1 1/3 cup of pitted dates (softened by letting sit at room temperature or warmed slightly in the microwave if necessary)
• 3-4 Tbsp. of cocoa powder (dark if you have it)
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• only as needed: 1 tsp water
• optional: shredded unsweetened coconut or chopped nuts

Method:

Put all ingredients (in order) into a food-processor or high-powered blender (such as a Vitamix) and pulse on low-speed until ingredients come together. Continue to pulse/blend until mixture forms a loose “dough” (see note).  Form the dough into balls (yep, time to get your hands a little dirty!). If you’d like, roll into shredded unsweetened coconut or chopped nuts.

Store in the refrigerator or freezer.

Note:  If “dough” is too crumbly and doesn’t come together when you roll them into balls, scrape down the sides, add a tiny bit of water and pulse again.

5 ingredients and 5 minutes to a chocolatey dessert? Really, it can’t get any easier than that. Even my husband Steve (who would rather a salad instead of dessert!) actually liked these. Now that says something.

P.S.  When I asked Steve to help me with plating these brownie bites, the photo below is what he came up with 🙂  Hahaha. Gotta love it!

(Oh! And meet Leo, our pseudo puppy, a paper pug (obviously, lol) given to me by my best friend Helene. I have slight obsession with pugs and since I can’t have one due to allergies & my living situation, she gave me the next best thing. Cute, right? :))