Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles – A Delicious Homemade Gift!
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A great homemade gift (or as a treat to yourself!) to make for Valentines Day are these Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles. They might be small in size, but they are big in flavor! They’re not like your regular truffles though as they’re made without refined sugar, and contain Medjool dates, hazelnuts, cocoa powder, and maple syrup. You can make these hazelnut truffles in just 25 minutes!
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Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles
The full ingredients list and instructions are found in the printable recipe card at the end of this post. I highly recommend reading the blog post all the way through so that you don’t miss any tips or substitution suggestions; to ensure that you have all the ingredients and equipment required, and to understand the steps and timings involved.
With Valentine’s Day looming, you might be thinking of some homemade gift ideas for your loved one.
Enter these decadent chocolate hazelnut truffles!
I love to give edible gifts – they may not last forever, but they sure do taste good at that moment! (Plus, my love has everything he wants, so I hate to add to clutter just for the sake of buying a gift.)
And if it’s not for Valentine’s Day, maybe for a birthday or other celebration – or just as a delicious snack to satisfy your sweet tooth!
Traditional chocolate truffles are usually made with a chocolate ganache, full of cream and melted chocolate. And yes, they taste amazing…
But for a slightly healthier option, with less refined sugar and filled with good things like coconut oil, dates, and hazelnuts, you simply have to try the recipe in this post!
You can make a yummy selection box by adding different coatings to the truffles too. We suggest sea salt, crushed almonds, crushed hazelnuts, shredded coconut, and cocoa powder mixed with a pinch of Cayenne for a spicy kick!
What Are Medjool Dates?
The Medjool date, also known as Majhūl, Medjoul, or Majhool, is a large, sweet cultivated variety of datefrom the Tafilalt region of Morocco, also grown in the United States, Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Jordan, and Palestine. (Thank you Wiki!)
Of the over 1,500 different date varieties grown around the world, Medjool dates are one of the most popular and known for their large size, soft chewy texture, and rich flavor which can be likened to a caramel taste. They might even be described as nature’s candy!
You might think of dates as a dried fruit, but Medjools are actually sold as fresh fruit. They are picked, cleaned and packaged immediately, without processing or being dried in any way.
Medjool dates are best kept in the fridge (or even freezer) where they will stay fresh and delicious for months. You can keep them in your pantry but they will not last as long and will dry out.
Health wise, Medjool dates are rich in natural sugars, fibre, and several vitamins and minerals including iron, potassium, B vitamins, copper, and magnesium. They also have a low glycemic index (GI) and shouldn’t cause large increases in blood sugar.
Ingredients & Equipment Used In This Recipe
For your convenience, any specialized or notable ingredients and equipment needed for this recipe have been listed below and linked to Amazon or other stores if available online. The full list of ingredients with measurements is found in the recipe card.
- Raw Hazelnuts
- Medjool Dates – buy them pitted if possible.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- Coconut Flour
- Coconut Oil
- Pure Maple Syrup – use 100% as less than is usually filled with corn syrup and flavoring.
- Pure Vanilla Extract – use good quality vanilla as it makes a flavor difference.
- Coarse Sea Salt
- Ground Almonds or
- Ground Hazelnuts – you can use a food processor to finely grind almonds or hazelnuts for this recipe.
- Coconut Flakes
- Cayenne Pepper – to make a spicy truffle! Optional!
Recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog use both cup measurements and/or weighted measurements. American cups and kitchen food scales are handy pieces of equipment to have in your kitchen as it means you’ll be able to make all of the different recipes on my blog! I try to give American, imperial, and metric measurements in my recipes. You can mix cup measurements with weighted measurements, but never imperial (pounds, ounces, pints, etc.,) with metric (kilograms, grams, litres, etc.,).
More Recipes Using Nuts
One of the hero ingredients in this recipe is (hazel)nuts, so here are some more recipes using the same:
- Sweet and Savory Spiced Pecans Recipe
- Easy Peanut Butter Jelly Bars Recipe
- Almond & Cranberry Energy Bites
More Truffle Recipes
Looking for more truffle inspo? Check these recipes out next:
How Do I Make Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles?
Just check out the printable recipe card below with full ingredients, instructions, and demonstration photos.
Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles
Ingredients
- ½ cup raw hazelnuts
- 12 Medjool dates pitted
- 2 T cocoa powder unsweetened
- 2 T. coconut flour
- 1 T coconut oil melted
- 1½ T pure maple syrup
- 1 t pure vanilla extract
- ¼ t coarse sea salt
Optional Coatings
- ¼ cup hazelnuts and/or almonds ground
- ¼ cup coconut flakes finely shredded
- 2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder + ¼ tsp each cayenne pepper and coarse sea salt
- Sea Salt
SUGGESTED PRODUCTS
Instructions
- Place pitted dates into a small bowl filled with warm water. Set aside to soak for 10-15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, line a rimmed baking sheet with wax paper and set it aside.
- Pour each selected coating, if using, onto a separate shallow, rimmed plate and set aside.
- Add the hazelnuts to a food processor and process until finely ground.
- Remove the softened dates from the bowl and drain off any excess water.
- Add the dates and cocoa powder to the food processor and blend for 3-4 minutes until smooth. Scrape the sides, as necessary, to ensure the mixture is thoroughly combined. Tip: Add a few drops of water at a time, if necessary, to achieve a smooth consistency, but don’t add too much.
- Add the coconut flour, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt to the mixture and process until combined.
- Remove the dough from the food processor and divide into 18 equal-sized portions. Roll each section of dough into a ball before rolling in the selected coatings.
- Once coated, place on the prepared baking tray and place in the refrigerator to chill for several minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
Make It A Meal!
You’ve made the dessert, but what about the rest of the courses?
Here are additional recipes to make a full meal!
- Appetizer: Roasted Fennel & Tomato Soup with Coconut Milk
- Main Dish: Lemon and Dill Salmon with Herb Salad (20-Minute Recipe!)
- Side Dish: Rustic Roasted Potatoes with Garlic, Rosemary & Lemon
- Beverage: Sparkling Pomegranate Cocktail with Citrus Vodka & Lime
There are 500+ Recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog for you to enjoy – please feel free to check them out too!