Chocolate Peanut Butter Maca Truffles Vegan Recipe

These chocolate peanut butter maca truffles are heavenly and the perfect treat to grab when you’re craving something a little sweet. We all have moments when our sweet tooth feels out of control. But you don’t have to always let it win. Swap out unhealthy indulgences with healthier alternatives that are naturally sweetened and full of nutrients with this recipe.

I have a confession to make. I have a raging sweet tooth that tends to flare up when I indulge in a lot of unhealthy sweet treats. Not that these can’t be consumed on occasion (everything in moderation!), but I know myself and there is no control when it comes to cookies, cakes, cupcakes, ice cream… you name it.

It all started when I went to my parents’ house after a pretty rough day, and there they were. My nana’s delicious chocolate chip cookies that she makes so small you end up losing count of how many you’ve eaten. And so, I grabbed a handful (maybe two).

A couple days later, we had some family over for Memorial Day and I got ice cream sandwiches just in case my homemade popsicles didn’t turn out (which they didn’t). But we forgot they were in there and there I was left with a box full of sandwiches to last me through the following week. You better believe I had one every night after dinner!

Needless to say, there’s been a lot of sweets going on around here and I had to break the cycle. (Side note: When I worked in a corporate office, the break room was a major danger zone thanks to all of the generous people bringing in sweets and treats!)

So I thought if I could make a healthier version of a sweet treat, that would help calm my cravings and get me back on track. And so I did. I made these deliciously rich chocolate peanut butter maca truffles that are to die for. I think my husband actually ate more than I did (and he claims he doesn’t “eat sweets”. Ha!).

So did it work? Yes it did!

Friends, there’s a lesson to be learned in all of this when it comes to cravings and our health, so listen up!

As I am working to be more in tune with my body, I am finding that when I indulge in unhealthy junk foods, it leaves me feeling dissatisfied and needing more. Take the ice cream sandwiches for example. There is absolutely nothing about that treat that is good for me. But, the truffles are loaded with dates, walnuts, nut butter and maca powder, which are all foods that are nutrient-dense and helps feed my body the energy it needs. See the difference?

Some might argue that sugar is sugar and we should avoid all of it. Which might be true. But, our bodies process sugar differently and the way we feel after we eat, say, a handful of chocolate chip cookies versus a few nutrient-dense chocolate peanut butter maca truffles is completely different.

I find that processed foods and sugar dictate my cravings for me, whereas natural and whole foods allow me to control my own cravings. In other words, by consuming a diet rich in whole, natural foods, you can experience food freedom! What your body comes to know and love is what it will ultimately crave, so feed it nutrient-dense foods that work to amplify your health, not destroy it.  

Back to the chocolate peanut butter maca truffles. Try saying that five times!

I used to never have fresh dates around. I didn’t really know what they were or how to use them. But now, I use them all the time, whether it’s to sweeten my homemade almond milk, throw in a smoothie or to use as a base for dessert bites!

Dates are a fruit that are indeed, high in sugar, but the health benefits found in the other nutrients heavily outweigh the high sugar content. It’s safe to say that these sweet treats won’t counteract your efforts to pursue a low-sugar diet. The nutrients (magnesium, potassium, vitamin B6) works to lower blood pressure and inflammation in the body.

In this recipe I also used cacao powder (which is the purest form of cocoa, offering the greatest health benefits) and maca powder, which is made from a root and has a caramel-like flavor. If you don’t have either of these things, don’t sweat it! You can use regular cocoa powder and omit the maca powder. Although I highly recommend adding both of these superfoods to your pantry!

These chocolate peanut butter maca truffles are so rich, you will only want to indulge in a few which helps keep portion control and cravings in check. With these bad boys, you get satisfied real quick because of the decadent flavor and nutrient density of each bite.

Once you’ve made the truffles, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a few months! But trust me, they won’t last that long. Enjoy!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Maca Truffles

• Author: FitLiving Eats by Carly Paige
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: about 22 bites 1x
• Diet: Vegan

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Description

These chocolate peanut butter maca truffles are heavenly and the perfect treat to grab when you’re craving something a little sweet. Swap out unhealthy indulgences with healthier alternatives that are naturally sweetened and full of nutrients with this recipe.

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 cups dried dates, pitted (about 20)
• 1/3 cup raw walnuts
• 2 Tablespoons peanut butter
• 2 Tablespoons cacao powder, plus more for rolling*
• 2 teaspoons maca powder (optional)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

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Instructions

1. In a food processor, add all of the ingredients and blend on HIGH until it starts the mixture starts to form a ball and the dates are chopped up.
2. Using a melon baller or spoon, spoon about 1 tablespoon of the mixture out and form into a ball with your hands. We are aiming for bites that are about 1/2 inch thick in diameter (smaller than a golf ball!). Place the balls onto a baking sheet.
3. On a plate, sprinkle about 1/4 cup cacao powder for rolling. Roll each ball into the cacao powder until evenly coating, shaking off any excess.
4. Once all of the balls are coated, place in the freezer for about 30 minutes or until firm. Once hardened, place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for about a week or the freezer for up to a few months.

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Equipment

food processor

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baking sheet

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Notes

Cacao powder can be substituted for cocoa powder

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Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1-2 bites

What is your favorite healthy sweet treat to have on hand? Do you have a sweet tooth? How to you control it? Share with me in the comments below! 

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