We’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts! Well, coconut cream pie truffles to be exact. Rolled in a dusting of vibed-up shredded coconut or coconut sugar, lovely is an understatement.
Coconut, or more precisely the oil, may just be one of the healthiest foods on earth. In addition to its incredible taste and versatility in cooking (you can use it warmed and melted or cold and firmed up like butter), coconut oil is said to support the immune system, improve heart health, help regulate the thyroid, and increase metabolism and promote weight loss. That’s a lot of prowess for such a little fruit.
That’s right, the coconut is not actually a nut, like its name suggests. With these over-the-top good-for-you orbs, you can have your pie and be healthy too!
Ingredients
- ½ cup of raw cashew pieces or whole cashews
- ½ cup of raw almonds
- ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 5 large Medjool dates, pitted
- Pinch of salt
- 2 Tbsp melted coconut oil
- ¼ tsp coconut extract, optional
- Unsweetened shredded coconut and/or equal parts cocoa powder and coconut sugar, or both
Method
- Place the cashews, almonds, coconut, dates, and salt in a food processor and process until a fine meal forms, about 30-seconds to a minute. Scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl.
- With the food processor running, stream in the coconut oil. The mixture should start to come together more. Add in the coconut extract, if using. The mixture should start to form more of a paste and eventually form a ball.
- Refrigerate the mixture for an hour or two, to set.
- Meanwhile, decide if you’re going to coat your truffles with cocoa, coconut, or both. For coconut, put the unsweetened, shredded coconut into a shallow bowl (about ¼ cup should coat half of the balls, double if you want to coat all of them) and set aside. For the cocoa, sift together the coconut sugar and cocoa powder so that they are completely incorporated (1 Tbsp of each should cover about half of the balls. Similarly, double this if you want to coat all of them). Set aside.
- Using a small ice-cream scoop or spoon, scoop balls of dough into your hand. Using one hand to scoop and one hand to coat (it’s cleaner this way!), roll the balls in the desired topping. If your topping isn’t sticking well, you can moisten your hands with a little water and roll the ball in your hand before coating it.
