Chocolate Covered Date Truffles (Gluten Free +Dairy Free +Top 9 Free)

If you’re looking for an easy allergy friendly dessert that feels a little special without much work, these truffles are hard to beat. With just three ingredients and no baking required, they are completely free from the top 9 allergens and simple enough to make anytime a chocolate craving hits.

The key to making these truffles safe for our family is sourcing ingredients from brands we trust. Every ingredient in this recipe comes from a brand that is free from the top 9 allergens, and as a bonus, both brands are actually top 14 free as well, so these truffles work for families managing even more allergens beyond the US top 9.

• Gerbs Whole Pitted Dates: Most brands of dates are processed on shared equipment or in shared facilities with tree nuts, which made dates completely off limits for us for a long time. When Gerbs started selling pitted dates, it opened up a whole new category of recipes in our house. The pitted version is important here since you will be blending them, and having them already pitted saves you a step.
• Gerbs Dutch Cocoa Powder: I buy my cocoa powder from Gerbs as well. It’s also great for dairy free chocolate frosting. The peace of mind that comes with not having to worry about contamination risks is worth it.
• Enjoy Life Semi Sweet Chocolate: I use the semi sweet mega chunks or mini chips interchangeably here since you are melting the chocolate anyway, so the size doesn’t matter. If your family prefers dark chocolate, swap in Enjoy Life dark chocolate morsels instead. I use Enjoy Life chocolate in my Chocolate Filled Crumb Cake as well.

You have a few options for blending the dates and all of them work well, so use what you have. Here’s what to expect from each:

• Immersion Blender: I use an immersion blender in a glass 2 cup Pyrex measurer. It is the quickest to set up and clean, and it gives me the texture I like: mostly smooth with some variety in the size of the date pieces. You will need to scrape the sides and around the blade a few times to make sure all the dates get incorporated.
• Food Processor: This will give you the most consistent, fine and smooth texture. It is the most effective tool for this recipe, though for me personally the food processor setup and cleanup isn’t worth it for a three ingredient recipe. If texture is really important to you, this is your best option.
• Ninja bullet or similar style blender: I started with the bullet when I was first developing this recipe. You will need to open it up several times to scrape down the sides and may need to add a little extra water. The final texture ends up similar to finely shredded coconut, which is actually really good in the truffles too.

Use a spoon to roll each truffle in the melted chocolate, then lift it out with a fork so the excess chocolate can drip off before you set it on the tray. They will probably look a little messy coming out of the chocolate and that is completely fine. Once the chocolate sets it looks much prettier, and you can trim any chocolate tails with a knife or kitchen scissors to get a cleaner ball shape. I promise they taste amazing no matter what they look like, and they never last long enough in our house for anyone to care.

While this recipe is free from all top 9 allergens at the time of writing using the ingredients listed, I can only speak to the specific brands I use. If you substitute any ingredient, verify that your chosen brand is safe for your family’s needs. Always read all labels, as manufacturing processes and formulations can change.

Chocolate Covered Date Truffles (Gluten Free +Dairy Free +Top 9 Free)

Yield: 22

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Easy, no bake chocolate covered date truffles made with just three ingredients. Naturally sweetened with dates and completely free from the top 9 allergens, these rich and chocolatey bites are a treat the whole family can enjoy.

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Ingredients

• 1 cup Gerbs whole pitted dates
• 4 tsp Gerbs Dutch cocoa powder
• 2/3 cup Enjoy Life semi sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Soak the dates in hot water for 5 minutes.
2. Remove the dates with a slotted spoon and set aside, reserving the soaking water.
3. Add the dates, cocoa powder, and 1 tbsp reserved date water to a food processor or blending safe bowl.
4. Blend until smooth, scraping the sides and blade as needed to incorporate all of the dates. Add a little more date water if the mixture is too thick to blend.
5. Roll the date mixture into balls about the size of a large grape, roughly 3/4 inch in diameter. You should get about 22.
6. Arrange on a tray and chill in the freezer for 10 minutes.
7. Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds until completely smooth.
8. Dip each chilled truffle into the melted chocolate, using a spoon to coat and a fork to lift it out. Set on a tray to harden.
9. Chill in the freezer or refrigerator until the chocolate is fully set.

Notes

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week, or in the freezer for up to three months.

The texture of the date mixture will vary slightly depending on which tool you use to blend it, from mostly smooth with small pieces (immersion blender) to completely smooth (food processor) to a texture similar to shredded coconut (Ninja style blender). All versions taste great, so use whatever you have on hand.

If the chocolate coating looks a little messy after dipping, don't worry. Once it sets, you can trim any drips with a knife or kitchen scissors for a cleaner look.

For best texture, make sure to chill the date balls in the freezer before dipping in chocolate, this helps them hold their shape.
Allergens: Always check every ingredient label for your family's specific allergens, as formulations and facilities can change.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 11 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 21Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 0g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an estimate.

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