I was craving sweets today, so I started looking for healthier recipes...

I found a great recipe for some Date truffles and thought I had the ingredients. Apparently, the kids have wanted unsweetened cocoa for things and I had none. I have a bag of cocoa nibs and I substituted some in and omgoodness was this good! Now, keep in mind, I have cut out all processed sugars and artificial sweeteners. I can't even eat a small piece of candy now without tasting every grain of sugar and salt and just about gagging on it! So, natural things have really begun to taste differently. Who knew cauliflower was a little sweet? LOL...anyway. If you eat a lot of processed things, these might not be so good to you.

Aren't they beautiful? I made a small batch since this was a test run.

 I used 1/2 cup dates, about 2 to 3 tablespoons cocoa nibs and about a 1/4 cup almonds. Process the almonds in a food processor first, then add in the dates and nibs. Process it until it is very chopped up and incorporated. I used a measuring spoon and made each one a tablespoon - I leveled off the spoon, so it's a true measured tablespoon. Press it into a ball. I then rolled it in some reduced fat unsweetened coconut. Yum! 

When I plugged these ingredients into an app for tracking calories, I put it as 2 servings, but it could be 4 servings if you only eat a couple. It came up around 285 calories per serving, 14g fat, 39g carbs, 8g dietary fiber, 5g protein, and some other miscellaneous nutrients.  Those numbers aren't 100% accurate since I did some estimates. If you are tracking, please check when you do your own ingredients - different brands can have different information.

They are a splurge if you eat more than a couple, but it's a healthier splurge. I don't feel guilty at all for eating some and I'll just adjust the rest of my food intake for today.