mayan spiced chocolate truffles

Chocolate is so comforting. I am always fighting the habit of eating chocolate every night. It's usually just a square or two of a nice dark chocolate bar, which is full of health promoting antioxidants and flavanoids. But I find the habit of having something sweet every night often leads to other... naughtier indulgences. So, I try to not make it a habit, but that doesn't mean I don't eat my share of chocolate :)

I made two batches of these, one with the spices; cayenne and cinnamon, and one without the spices but a little extra salt. I ended up giving almost all of them away! Thank goodness because my husband is gone right now, which leaves everything that I make up to me to eat! He is usually my number one consumer, taste-tester, and left-over devourer.

mayan spiced chocolate truffles

• 1 cup of dates, soaked (about 12 dates- soaked in hot water for at least 5 minutes)
• 3 Tbsp cacao powder
• dash of salt
• 1/4 tsp cayenne
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 Tbsp almond meal or almond flour
• 1/4 cup oat flour
• 1 Tbsp coconut oil

*If you are not into mayan spices, or if you just want something else to try, replace the cayenne and cinnamon with 1/4 tsp salt for salted chocolate truffles.

Place all ingredient except the oat flour in a food processor and process until smooth. This is to get the dates as smooth as possible, to make it nice and fudgey! Add the oat flour and pulse until incorporated. It should be the consistency of a sticky dough.

Place the dough in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to make it easier to handle. If you don't want to wait, add more oat flour than the recommended 1/4 cup. I have tried it both ways, and I've tried it without soaking the dates, it all works but this works best!

Roll into balls and coat in either shredded coconut or cacao powder. Keep refrigerated and remember to share!

I'd better have one more...