Mint-Cacao Cookie Truffles

chia snowballs, cacao nibs, mint, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan

Excuse me for getting preachy for a moment, but I need to share something I’ve always known to be true: everything happens for a reason. That’s also to say that we aren’t given anything we can’t handle.

I don’t think it’s any coincidence that I took such an interest in gluten-free and vegan cooking over the past year, and surrounded myself with a cozy circle of “special diet” blogger friends. In fact I’m quite certain that this was all in preparation for the day I’d need to embrace these diet changes myself. As much as it upset me, I knew I was very well equipped to handle it.

gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, cookie dough truffles, cacao nibs, cookies, chia

I mourned my daily Zone Bar and Chobani for about 24 hours, before diving in full force and making my own wheat-and-dairy-free protein bars and whipping up some chocolate chia protein pudding. Was it totally unrelated that just a week before, Oh Nuts! had invited me to choose two of their products free for my holiday baking, and I chose chia flour as one of them? I think not.

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I honestly had no idea what I was going to do with the chia flour, but I’ve seen it make appearances on enough health food blogs to know that I needed some in my kitchen. These powerful little seeds are packed with fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, making them a filling and nutritious addition to a healthy diet. Chia seeds also have a unique ability to form a gel upon soaking in liquid, which is why endless variations of “chia pudding” are so popular in the healthy eating blogging community. Chia pudding – chocolate protein chia pudding, to be exact – is what I’ve been enjoying as my morning snack instead of Greek yogurt. It does the job because it’s sweet, eaten with a spoon, and since I had protein powder to mine, it gives me that extra boost I loved about my Greek yogurt.

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That’s not all chia seeds are good for though. They can add a great little nutritious punch to your favorite – or NEW favorite – baked goods.

Like these Mint-Cacao Cookie truffles. The idea came from a recipe I found for chia snowballs, but you know I have zero ability to follow a recipe, and I was jonesin’ for something mint-chocolatey, and unfortunately, a Starbucks peppermint mocha is not in my cards right now. But perhaps it is a fortunate reality, since it pushed me to create a new treat to share with you. Notice, I didn’t say a “healthy” treat even though it is one – because really, who cares? These chewy truffles taste like chocolate chip cookie dough with a hint-of-mint, making them them an undeniably perfect holiday goodie. I dare you to try them out on your friends and loved ones and let me know what you think!

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Thank you to Oh Nuts! for providing me with the chia seed flour used in this recipe. I was not obligated to review the product on my blog and all opinions are my own.

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Mint-Cacao Cookie Truffles

Yield: 42 cookies

A vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free recipe for cookie dough-like truffles with mint extract and cacao nibs. Coated in rich, velvety vegan chocolate. Featuring healthy chia seeds.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 (75gm) cups gluten-free brown rice cereal
1/2 cup (40gm) gluten free oats
1/4 cup (1oz) chia flour or finely ground chia seeds
1/4 cup (1oz) coconut flour
1/4 cup (2 oz) raw cacao nibs
1 cup (8oz) cashew butter
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/4 teaspoon powdered stevia extract
3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 package (9z) dairy-free chocolate chips
1tablespoon coconut oil

Directions:

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, parchment or waxed paper.

Measure the rice cereal, oats, chia,and coconut flour into a food processor. Process until fine crumbs form. Transfer to a bowl.

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt together the cashew butter, maple syrup, and almond milk, stirring often, until smooth. Stir in the stevia and peppermint extract. Turn off heat.

Pour the warm cashew butter mixture over the dry ingredients in the bowl and a soft dough forms. Mix in the cacao nibs. Using a small cookie scoop to portion the dough, roll into small balls and set on the baking sheet. Freeze until firm, at least 30 minutes.

In a double boiler, melt chocolate and coconut oil over low heat. Dip the truffles or drizzle with chocolate as desired. Set on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.

Nutrition Facts:

Servings Per Recipe: 42
Amount Per Serving
Calories 100
Total Fat 6.0 g
Saturated Fat 2.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5 g
Monounsaturated Fat 1.8 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 13.0 mg
Potassium 43.2 mg
Total Carbohydrate 11.6 g
Dietary Fiber 1.6 g
Sugars 5.6 g
Protein 2.1 g

Adapted from Chia Snowballs by Green Smoothie Girl


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PPS. Some of my friends turned me on to Picnik. Clearly, I think it’s  a lot of fun. What do you think?

This post is linked to Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays for 12/6/2011.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Thanks for visiting Cara’s Cravings. If you like what you see and want more, subscribe via email or in a reader, follow me on Twitter, or visit me on Facebook.

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31 Responses to “Mint-Cacao Cookie Truffles”

  1. 1

    Kim Wilson-Maes — December 3, 2011 @ 5:24 am Reply

    Okay! I am officially making these tomorrow! What an awesome recipe! I love all of the ingredients. And you are SO right! You need some chia in your kitchen for sure! And, I must say that these photos are absolutely beautiful. I love Picnik. I use it for all of my photos. You were definitely having fun! 😉

  2. 2

    janet @ the taste space — December 3, 2011 @ 6:15 am Reply

    I am looking forward to all your new creations, Cara. I already love chia, so keep them coming. 🙂

  3. 3

    Ricki Heller — December 3, 2011 @ 1:02 pm Reply

    These look awesome, Cara! Glad to see you've adjusted so quickly and easily to the new diet. 😀 I don't see chia flour anywhere in the ingredients. though. . . ?

  4. 4

    Cara — December 3, 2011 @ 1:05 pm Reply

    Whoopsie, I write chia "seeds." You are so observant, thanks! Will edit when I get out of bed 🙂

  5. 5

    Laura @ GF Pantry — December 3, 2011 @ 4:38 pm Reply

    WOW! Not only do these look amazing-they are good for you. I'm sold!

  6. 6

    maggiesavage — December 3, 2011 @ 6:26 pm Reply

    Holy moly these babies sound and look divine!  I love what you did with your chia, not to mention the other nutrient dense ingredients!  Yay Cara.  And I'm off to investigate picnik and pin your photos! 

  7. 7

    Joanne — December 3, 2011 @ 7:48 pm Reply

    I wonder if I could make chia seed flour by putting chia seeds through my coffee grinder…I think a chia experiment is in my future!  And mint chocolate is definitely going to be part of it. Oh, yes.  Definitely.

  8. 8

    Cara — December 3, 2011 @ 7:55 pm Reply

    Yes, I believe you can make chia flour that way 🙂

  9. 9

    Jacquelyn — December 4, 2011 @ 3:31 am Reply

    Your acceptance and determination to move on when a road-block gets thrown your way is such an inspiration.  You aren't allowing anything to get in your way, slow you down, or keep you standing still and I aspire to be more like that.  I love how adventurous you are with your cooking and how wonderful everything always looks and this recipe is no exception.  I've never had chia flour before so maybe this will be a great starting point!  And the pictures are beautiful, btw!!!

  10. 10

    Kate — December 4, 2011 @ 4:39 am Reply

    Cara, these are beyond gorgeous.  You are going to sail through this holiday season.

  11. 11

    Shirley @ gfe — December 4, 2011 @ 1:22 pm Reply

    Looks like we'll all be benefitting from your new gf/df eating, Cara! 🙂 Woohoo on these yummy (and gorgeous) truffles and yippee for you on your new eating plan!Shirley

  12. 12

    Elina (Healthy and Sane) — December 4, 2011 @ 5:35 pm Reply

    These looks fantastic! And I love the "snow" in the pics :)What's picnik?

  13. 13

    Alisa — December 5, 2011 @ 12:05 am Reply

    Oh you busted out those chia seeds! Those truffles look amazing Cara. You really went all out to dress up a healthy treat!

  14. 14

    MarzBar — December 5, 2011 @ 2:04 am Reply

    NOM.  We just discovered Chia seeds a few weeks ago.  Love them in my morning GF oatmeal or rice cereal! This recipe was just added to my must make this holiday season!!

  15. 15

    Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga — December 5, 2011 @ 6:29 am Reply

    you are a food ARTIST!these are too pretty to eat… (almost)saw them on FG. Congrats!

  16. 16

    Anna — December 5, 2011 @ 6:38 am Reply

    Wow! This is a little tough to end the year with….but as you have mentioned, we are not given anything we can't gracefully handle! Well yeah! I added another word, but it sounds cool, gives me more confidence to continue working on more healthy and delicious recipes. Wanna try these treats too…Thanks for sharing!

  17. 17

    Marla — December 5, 2011 @ 11:48 am Reply

    How awesome are these! Love the photos too! I have never heard of or even tried chia flour, but now I will be on the lookout for it.

  18. 18

    grace — December 6, 2011 @ 8:59 am Reply

    what a marvelous and unexpected use for your chia flour!  bravo, cara.

  19. 19

    Againstallgrain — December 6, 2011 @ 4:36 pm Reply

    Those sound delicious! I too have a special diet blog and surround myself with special diet bloggers! I'll have to add you to my list of bookmarked pages!

  20. 20

    Againstallgrain.com — December 6, 2011 @ 4:37 pm Reply

    Those sound delicious! I too have a special diet blog and surround myself with special diet bloggers! I'll have to add you to my list of bookmarked pages!

  21. 21

    Cara — December 6, 2011 @ 4:42 pm Reply

    thanks, I will check out your blog too!

  22. 22

    beanplant — December 6, 2011 @ 8:15 pm Reply

    These look absolutely heavenly! I love they are on the healthier side, too! If I'm not really eating coconut at the moment, what could I use as a substitute for coconut flour?

  23. 23

    Cara — December 6, 2011 @ 8:17 pm Reply

    I think almond flour would work if you can eat that. Thanks for the kind words!

  24. 24

    shannon — December 6, 2011 @ 8:45 pm Reply

    oh wow!  i've never actually tried chia flower, just the seeds.  love the idea of making flour and putting it in truffles though!!!  genious 🙂

  25. 25

    Eileen Beran — December 7, 2011 @ 6:54 am Reply

    Your ingredients look delicious and your truffles look pretty–great post!

  26. 26

    Lizzy — December 11, 2011 @ 3:32 pm Reply

    First, these pictures are amazing.  They make me want to reach into my computer screen and grab a truffle.  Second, I can't believe how healthy they are!  You never cease to amaze me with how you can turn such decadent desserts into something you don't have to feel guilty about.  I'm impressed!I'm 100% in love with picasa. IT's linked to blogger so it makes everything so easy.

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    Diets to lose weight — May 13, 2013 @ 4:39 pm Reply

    Wow, this post is pleasant, my younger sister is analyzing these kinds of things, so I am
    going to tell her.

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