It has been a while since I’ve made anything with coconut flakes… even though they’re one of my favorite ingredients. A few weeks ago it was my friend Alejandro’s birthday, and I had no idea what to buy him… so I made up a new recipe in his honor. He’s really into crossfit and the paleo diet, so I tried to accommodate that as much as I could! I love these truffles–they’re made with unsweetened cocoa, so they have a deep dark chocolate-y flavor, and the coconut oil/nut butter/freezer method makes them so amazing and chewy.
Chocolate Coconut Truffles
2 cups finely shredded unsweetened coconut flakes
1/2 cup cocoa
3.5 Tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp stevia (optional)
4-6 Tbsp maple syrup (I always use this kind)
6 Tbsp macadamia nut butter (or sub in another nut butter)
1/2 tsp sea salt or himalayan salt
Directions: Mix all ingredients thoroughly (I usually use my kitchen aid mixer with paddle attachment for this kind of stuff, but it’s in storage, so I used the food processor with the plastic blade and that worked too). Scoop small truffles onto dehydrator trays and dehydrate for 4-5 hours at 115 degrees. You can skip this step and put them directly into the freezer too. It works both ways—I just like the dehydrator version a tiny bit better because they get a little more crunchy on the outside. After dehydrating, or if you skip that part, put these in the freezer for an hour or so. Then eat them! They stay good in an airtight container in the freezer or fridge for more than a week.
I took these to Alejandro’s birthday party, and although I think he really liked them, I also think he put them in the cupboard instead of in the fridge or freezer… and they live in the valley, so I’m guessing they probably melted by the next day! These will only melt if it’s pretty warm, but they will be soft at regular room temperature. I like them best in the freezer—they never get super hard!
Update: He did put them in the freezer… so the melting crisis was averted!
News/Notes: It’s beautiful here–it’s just like paradise, as we have started calling it. Everyday is amazing. We’ve been in the habit of sitting on our balcony in the evenings instead of watching tv or being productive inside. There was a bit of guilt involved at first, but really, those last three boxes will get unpacked eventually! My cousin moved in, and we’ve been enjoying their ocean view too (we are on the courtyard side of the building—still nice, but dang, that pacific sunset is amazing!).
What’s your favorite paleo dessert? I’m craving desserts (and sweets) lately, but I want to make sure I don’t go overboard on the sugar intake in my last two months of being preggo—it would be SO easy to do!
