Peppermint Chocolate Truffles {paleo Vegan}

Fudgy, gooey peppermint chocolate center, topped with a decadent dark chocolate coating that delicately melts in your mouth. These peppermint chocolate truffles are vegan, paleo, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free.

These peppermint chocolate truffles are made with whole foods ingredients and require no bake time.

They are perfect healthy treats for the holiday season.

If you know me, I always have a batch no bake energy bites in the freezer.

I love making them different flavors, and this season? It’s Vegan Gingerbread Chocolate Truffles and Healthy Buckeye Balls (Paleo, Vegan, Keto) and these peppermint chocolate energy bites.

Are Peppermint Chocolate Truffles Healthy?

Traditionally, chocolate truffles are high in carbs, calories, refined sugar and other processed ingredients.

However, with only a handful of whole-food ingredients, these peppermint chocolate truffles are not only delicious, but also nutritious.

You won’t even know that they are paleo, vegan, grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and contain no refined sugars!

Snack on these little peppermint chocolate delights all season long for a guilt-free holiday.

Do you remember those peppermint chocolate candies that make their way into the candy dish every holiday season?

These taste like that, except they’re actually healthy for you.

They’re more like a peppermint chocolate energy bite so you could even eat them as a pre or post workout snack.

In these peppermint chocolate truffles, there is a healthy source of fats and protein from the cashews and cashew butter. There is fiber from the dates, and coconut flour.

Also, there is an added boost of antioxidants from the cacao powder.

It’s the perfect nightcap, afternoon, or midday snack to satisfy those chocolate cravings and add a boost of nutrition to your day. However, these are my go-to post-workout snacks.

Health Benefits of Cacao Powder

Cacao is an amazing superfood that’s great to add to your baked goods and smoothies, like in these peppermint chocolate truffles for example.

It’s filled with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and plant compounds calls flavanols that are known to have various health benefits including:

Improved heart health- plant compounds are associated with lowering blood pressure, inflammation and improving blood vessel function.

Improved digestive health- contains fiber and increases the amount of good bacteria in the gut.

Reduced stress- dark chocolate can improve mental health leading to reduced stress levels.

Improved cognitive function- improved blood flow along with reduced stress and improved mental health contributes to better focus and brain function.

Lowered risk of diabetes- additionally, cacao contains a compound that scientists have found to help beta cells secrete insulin in response to raised blood sugar levels.

As you can see there are some major benefits to incorporating cacao into your diet, but I really didn’t need to convince you to eat chocolate, did I?

You can read more about the benefits of cacao here.

Ingredients Used for Peppermint Chocolate Truffles

All you need for these drool-worthy peppermint chocolate truffles are 8 simple ingredients listed below.

For the chocolate ball:

• Raw cashews, soaked
• Medjool dates, pitted
• Cacao powder
• Peppermint extract
• Pinch of salt
• Coconut flour

For the chocolate coating:

• Paleo chocolate, melted
• Nut butter of choice (I used cashew butter)

Pro tip: adding nut butter to melted chocolate will reduce the cracking of chocolate.

Additional toppings of your choice

• Crushed peppermint candy canes (not paleo)
• Coconut sugar crystals
• Sprinkles (not paleo)
• Dark chocolate shavings
• Crushed cashews (or any nuts you prefer)

If you choose to add any additional toppings, be sure to add them immediately after dipping in melted chocolate since the chocolate will harden quickly.

How to Make Peppermint Chocolate Truffles

Start with prepping your cashews by soaking them in water overnight with a pinch of salt. You could also soak them in hot water for 2 hours. Drain and rinse.

Next, in a food processor or high-quality blender, add the soaked cashews, pitted Medjool dates, and peppermint extract. Pulse until smooth.

Then, add coconut flour and cacao powder to a food processor and blend until the mixture becomes a doughy texture.

Now, allow the mixture to chill in the fridge for an hour or freezer for 20 minutes to make it easier to roll dough into balls.

Lastly, dip chilled peppermint chocolate balls in melted paleo chocolate for the chocolate coating.

Tips for the Best Peppermint Chocolate Truffles

1. Lightly wet hands before rolling dough into balls to prevent sticking.
2. Freeze the peppermint chocolate balls for 20-30 minutes before dipping in chocolate.
3. Stick a toothpick in the chocolate truffles to make dipping easier.
4. Wait until melted chocolate cools slightly before dipping.
5. If using crushed candy cane, sprinkle on top immediately after dipping, the chocolate coating solidifies quickly.

.

How to Store Peppermint Chocolate Balls

My favorite way to store these peppermint chocolate truffles is in the freezer because I like to make extra and keep them on hand.

But you could also store them in the fridge for up to a week.

Whichever way you choose, just make sure to keep them in an airtight container.

What’s your favorite peppermint chocolate recipe? Leave a comment below!

.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR CREATIONS! YOU CAN USE “TRIED IT” ON PINTEREST OR SHARE ON INSTAGRAM BY TAGGING #SHUANGYSEATS

.

More Healthy Holiday Treats You may like:

.

1. Vegan Gingerbread Chocolate Truffles

2. Sweet Potato PEPPERMINT Brownies

3. Vegan Gingerbread Cake with Cashew Cream

.