Raw Hazelnut Truffles Recipe with Raw Cacao Ganache
Sometimes you need a little bite of sweet. It doesn’t hurt if it is a cute bite, either! These raw hazelnut truffles are topped with a delicious chocolate ganache and just a hint of flaked salt. Delicious! You are going to want to add this to your Raw Truffles Recipes collection!
I was recently interviewed for Costco’s Connections Magazine. It was a fun interview with an interviewer that really cared about what she was writing about. The article is about raw desserts and the best question she asked me was, “What are the benefits of raw desserts?”.
If you know me, you know I am not the person that is going to say, well, it’s raw so you can eat them for breakfast! Or, it’s raw so of course it’s healthy and I don’t have to worry about how much I eat. I won’t write that because I don’t believe that. And I believe that it is those misconceptions that can get people who are incorporating raw food into their diets into trouble. Desserts are still desserts. But raw desserts are different.
These are calorie dense. They are treats, not meals. But here is the difference between these and the chocolate truffles that you pick up at your local chocolate shop. These actually have a laundry list of nutrients!
The Nutrient Hit List
- Hazelnuts are a great source of fiber.
- Once ounce of hazelnuts provides four grams of protein
- Hazelnuts are full of flavonoids which may support brain health and improve circulation.
- Hazelnuts are also a good source of oleic acid which can help lower bad cholesterol
- Add to that potassium, calcium and magnesium.
These treats will give you nutritional benefits that processed sweets just don’t have. It’s all about the nutrient dense calorie.
Which, by the way, was my answer to the question asked by the Costco writer. Raw desserts provide nutrients where processed desserts just provide calories, and processed ingredients that can be harmful to your body.
So, enjoy these little cutie pies. Just remember, they are treats.
Raw Hazelnut Truffles with Raw Cacao Ganache
Makes 24
Truffle
- 1 cup coconut butter, softened
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup finely chopped hazelnuts
- pinch Himalayan salt
- Whisk together coconut butter, maple syrup and cinnamon
- Stir in hazelnuts and salt. Roll into balls and chill.
Ganache
- 1/2 cup cacao powder
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- Flaked salt for top (You can find my favorite here: Maldon Sea Salt Flakes, 8.5 ounce Box)
- In separate bowl, whisk together cacao powder, maple syrup and coconut oil.
- Dip balls in ganache, sprinkle with flaked salt.
*Maple syrup is not raw. Please see FAQ page.
Ashlee wrote on February 6, 2015
There’s a place here in Nashville called Khan’s Deli and Desserts and this sounds a lot like one of them! It’s in brownie form though, but I get it every. single. time. It’s so damn good. I will definitely be trying these!
Marion wrote on February 6, 2015
Thanks Susan ,
These look sooo good and wonderfully easy.
GAIL wrote on February 5, 2015
SUSAN,
THESE LOOK TERRIFIC! HOWEVER, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS:
1. I DON’T LIKE HAZELNUTS, BUT LOVE ALL OTHER NUTS. WHICH NUT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND
TO SUBSTITUTE?
2. THAT’S AN AWFUL LOT OF MAPLE SYRUP, PLUS, AS YOU SAY, IT’S NOT RAW.
A WHAT WOULD YOU SUBSTITUTE FOR THAT MAPLE SYRUP?
B IF I USED STEVIA, WHAT OTHER CHANGES WOULD I HAVE TO MAKE?
THANKS VERY MUCH. YOUR RECIPES ARE TRULY THE ABSOLUTE BEST!!!!!
GAIL
Nita Lightbody wrote on February 4, 2015
Hi Lovely!
Would you have a suggestion for a coconut sub, I am sensitive to coconut and get hives, 🙁
Thanks tons !
🙂
Carol wrote on February 4, 2015
Hi Susan,
These look and sound yummy 🙂 About how many of these “little cutie pies” does this recipe yield?
Maria G. wrote on February 4, 2015
These treats look delicious and simple – perfect for Valentines!
Dawn Thomas wrote on February 4, 2015
What a great (and super cute) idea! I will certainly give this a try — I might use half hazelnuts and half almonds though, as we are not huge hazelnut fans. Thanks for sharing the recipe 🙂
Lisa | Mummy Made.It wrote on February 3, 2015
I can still eat these for breakfast can’t I?!?!
They sound just like a ferrero rocher…yummo!