Monday, January 4, 2010

Homemade Chocolate Truffle-Indulge without Guilt

Chocolatetruffle1

Know what you Eat –  Chocolate is made from plants, which means it contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants (nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries). The flavonoids in Cacao also help relax blood pressure  through the production of nitric oxide, and balance certain hormones in the body. Xlitol is a  natural sweetener, typically derived from trees (birch and beech) or corn cobs. Xylitol has about 40% lower calories than sugar, with all the great taste.  It is good for anyone who is on a diet, watching their calories, or just wants to be healthier.  Although this product contains carbohydrates, but the carb has a very minimal effect on blood glucose levels and have a lower calorie amount per gram.  These products, in effect, have low Net Effective Carbs.  Xylitol also has a low glycemic index value of only 7, has minimal effect on blood sugar levels, and does not require insulin to metabolize.  It is not only effective for those with diabetes or people with hypoglycemia, but for anyone who is sensitive to sugar. Xylitol is a good sugar alternative for everyone because it is beneficial for dental health. Xylitol helps reduce dental cavities, plaque, and tooth decay.

I saw the truffle recipe in Parent & Child Magazine but the original recipe was  loaded with calories from butter, heavy cream, sugar from the suggested bitter sweet chocolate. I wanted to make the truffle guilt free and and came up with this alternate recipe. It tasted so good and very healthy one indeed. Do try out and indulge without the guilt.

chocolatetruffle3

Preparation Time – 5 Minutes

Cooking Time – 10 Minutes

Serves – Makes about 30 truffles



Ingredients

Unsweetened 100% Dark Chocolate – 3 bars(4 oz each)

Xylitol – 1 cup or increase this if you really have sweet tooth(but check before adding, as this 1 cup itself was sweet for us)

Milk – 1 cup

Toasted Almonds – 2 Tbsp

Toasted Walnuts – 2 Tbsp

Raisins –1 Tbsp

Dates chopped – 1 Tbsp

Vanilla bean - 1

Coarsely powdered nuts – 4 Tbsp for dusting

Method

1) Break the chocolate bar into small pieces put it in a heatproof bowl with xylitol and milk.

2) Split the vanilla bean, scrape the seeds into the bowl and add the bean as well. Put the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the bottom vessel but touch the water surface.

3) Melt the chocolate stirring occasionally, until smooth. Remove the vanilla bean and add the dried fruits and nuts.

4) Transfer the bowl to the refrigerator and chill for 40 minutes, stirring twice in between. The mixture should thicken and become fudge like.

5) Scoop out mounds of the truffle mixture, roll between your hands to form a smooth ball and roll into powdered nuts and place in a tray or container lined with parchment paper.

6) Refrigerate for at least 4 hours until firm. Keep refrigerated and eat within a week.



chocolatetruffle2



Event Participation



This goes to Food for 7 Stages of Life- Desserts & Icecream hosted by Radhika and co-hosted by Sudeshna.



This goes to Think Spice - Think Vanilla hosted by Snackgiving.

43 comments:

kothiyavunu said...

Wow!! Chocolate truffle looks heavenly and very eye-cathing!!

Rachana Kothari said...

Wow! Yummmm... I love Truffles..and What better than a guilt free indulgence:)
Great Post!

Mansi said...

This is simply divine!!!

Mansi said...

This is simply divine!!!

Preeti Kashyap said...

Lovely recipe. I have heard about xylitol used in small quantities (like in gums), will be ok to use so much of xylitol? Where do u get them in US?

Uma said...

mmm. delicious truffles. Yum!!

Belated wishes for a happy new year 2010 to you and your family :)

Sarah Naveen said...

Oh My...terrific..Looks so cute and yummy!!
Wat a click..

Devi said...

oh!... wow, very very nice!!... tempting!!

Gulmohar said...

That looks beautiful and tempting :-)

Mangala Bhat said...

very tempting!

Home Cooked Oriya Food said...

looks wonderful and tempting clicks..

Padma said...

Looks really cute and tempting.

RAKS KITCHEN said...

Looks sinful! Yum Yum! Nice pictures!

Pari said...

Hi. The truffles look so good and the best part ..guilt free. Have not heard about xylitol and have not seen that here yet.I guess sugar free natura will help here.

Sharmilee! :) said...

Choco balls looks great...gud to read facts about chocolate!

Nandini said...

Whee! Truffles! I'll chomp them up with a cute innocence! Fantastic!

Prathibha said...

Looks really sinful and eye catching fotos...

Tina said...

Beautiful and eyecatching truffles.....Nice clicks too dear......

Priya said...

Absolutely divine!!fantastic truffles!!

PriyaVaasu said...

mmmmm!!!! Looks so Tempting!!

Mangala Bhat said...

wow! fantastic!

Happy Cook said...

I love guilt free goddies which mean i can really indulge in them.
Beautiful.

Spice said...

Made it long time back....but guess what, hubby dear made these goodies(his version) past weekend only...

Spice said...

HAppy New Year & best wishes for 2010.

Vrinda said...

Healthy and delicious truffles,i was looking for a low calory safe sweetener,thanx for the info abt xylitol

Balakrishna Saraswathy said...

Thanks for visiting my blog..wow u too have a good collection of recipe..btw these chocolate truffle looks so yummy yummy yum..can I have a piece???

PJ said...

wow.. looks divine! Very good info about Xylitol too. Where do you get it? Is it similar to agave nectar by any chance? Really nice clicks too!

SE said...

choco truffles look excellent..

notyet100 said...

thy look delicious,..;-)

BangaloreBaker said...

I never make any truffle for the fear of stuffing myself. Lovely pictures.

Viki's Kitchen said...

Just now I think of some diet plan after Christmas .But on seeing your truffle....I'm craving for it now:)

munchcrunchandsuch said...

oh they look the best!how can anyone ever control grabbong one?

Nostalgia said...

Very nice.. you have convinced me that this will be a sweet treat that is healthy..:) thanks..you have achieved quite a bit by doing that.

Cham said...

Guilt free treat -they are pretty!

Lena Rashmin Raj said...

wowwwww....awesome snap dear..truffle looks delicious..wish to grab some right now.. :)
wish you a very happy and prosperous new year.. :)

Deepa G Joshi said...

wow..the truffles look so tempting..

sowmya's creative saga said...

thats so tempting...yummy

s said...

A sight for sore eyes!!!

A 2 Z Vegetarian Cuisine said...

Thanks all for your comments, really appreciate them. Preethi, Xylitol is definetly safe to use as a low cal sugar substitute, i suggest you go ahead do little bit of google on this top to convince yourself and PJ it is much healthier than Agavae Nectar.

Katy ~ said...

These are some of the best looking truffles I've seen, love all the added ingredients, jut just chocolate and cream as most recipes I've seen. These have substance! Well done. I have not been inspired to try truffles before this, but with all these added goodies, I'm saving this. Would be a delightful Valentine's Day treat!(she says with hearts floating around her head..)

Padhu said...

Truffles look delicious!
http://padhuskitchen.blogspot.com/

Dolly said...

Delectable, little pieces of joy. Wow, who could have thought you could indulge in these awesome, inviting Chocolate truffles guilt-free..Will surely try these..only have to wait to get some Xylitol first..Superb Clicks.

Mahimaa's kitchen said...

lovely truffles. who would not like these.

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