Almond Carob Truffles

Almond Carob Truffles

• 1 cup almonds
• 1 cup dates
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 3 Tbsp. carob powder
• 3 Tbsp. water, warm
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Place almonds and dates in food processor and mix until ground.  Add cinnamon, carob powder, water, and vanilla.  Mix until well blended.

Fill mini-muffin tin with papers.  Using a small cookie scoop, measure out scoops of mixture.  With hands, roll into uniform balls and place in muffin papers.

Refrigerate to chill and ready to eat.

Really yummy!

*You may use chocolate instead of carob if you prefer, but carob has a 'sweeter' taste and it delicious in this recipe.

**The napkin ring in the picture was made with vintage jewelry bits and pieces and a simple napkin ring.  A fun project, to be sure! I enjoyed the project and how each napkin ring was unique and different from the other.

Carob Caramel Candy

 

Carob Carmel Candy

1 cup coconut

1/2 cup carob powder

1 cup soymilk powder

1 tsp. vanilla

3/4 cup honey or alternative sweetener

2 Tbsp. Earth Balance margarine

1 tsp. orange rind, grated

1/8 tsp. salt

1 cup nuts, finely chopped

Mix all ingredients, except nuts, together in bowl.  Spread 1/2 cup of nuts in the bottom of a pan.  Add the carob mixture and spread over the nuts.  Press firmly.  Sprinkle the remaining nuts over the top.  Pat down.  Chill and cut into squares.  Wrap individually.

Makes:  24 carmels

Walnut Date Truffles

Are you craving something new and delicious to go with tea?

Recently I was craving chocolate, but didn't want to cave in to the extra ingredients added to a candy bar.  I went in search of a recipe that would allow the natural goodness of pure cocoa and healthy ingredients to please the palette.  Here's what I found --- and it was well worth the effort.  Yummy, healthful, raw, and oh, so good!

Walnut-Date Tuffles

1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup Medjool dates
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbsp. raw cacao powder*
2 Tbsp. water

Place ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth.  Then, using a small cookie scoop, fill with dough to measure, then roll in hands to form a smooth ball.  Once round, gently roll in cacao powder.  Place into a mini cupcake or candy liner.  Chill until ready to serve. 

*May substitute carob powder if you'd like.

Peppermint Patties

There's nothing like a good peppermint patty.  And Christmas is a great time to try a new recipe.  This is easy and refreshing for the holiday!

2 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. water

1 Tbsp. light corn syrup

1 tsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. peppermint extract

3 3/4 cups powdered sugar

1 Tbsp. vegetable shortening

12 oz. semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips

1 small peppermint candy cane, crushed

Using an electric mixer, stir together water, corn syrup, lemon juice, and peppermint extract.  Then, sift in half of the powdered sugar.  Then add the shortening.  Mix on medium speed, and slowly add the remaining powdered sugar.  Remove from mixer bowl.
*

Knead the mixture into a ball.  If necessary, add 1/2 teaspoon water to make the dough workable.  Using the bottom of a clear glass pie pan, apply firm pressure to flatten the ball between sheets of waxed paper until it is approximately 1/4 inch thick.

Lay the waxed paper-covered disk on a cookie sheet and freeze until firm (about 15 minutes).

Place the frozen disk on a cutting surface and remove the paper.  Using a small, round cookie cutter, cut out small circles.  Place them on a parchment-covered cookie sheet.  Gather scraps into a ball, flatten and cut more circles until mixture is gone.  Freeze the circles for 10 minutes more.

Melt the chocolate in a double-boiler.  When melted, dip and coat the patties.  Return to the parchment paper.  Sprinkle each peppermint patty with some of the crushed candy cane.  

Harden the finished patties in a refrigerator for at least an hour.  Store in the refrigerator between sheets of wax paper.  They will keep well this way for up to one month.

Enjoy and happy holidays!

Sweet Treats!

 

This week I'm posting healthy candy recipes over at My Cozy Kitchen.  If you are interested in delicious, sweet alternatives to sugar-coated candy, please stop by.  I'm posting with your children's and grandchildren's Easter baskets in mind!  See you there!