Acai Berry Cacao Truffles (Anti-oxidant boost)

Great with tea or coffee!

Tastes like a fruity red wine with hints of chocolate! Mmmm

Acai berries are delicious deep purple berries native to the Amazon. They look similar to blueberries and are loaded with anti-oxidants (they contain twice as much as blueberries & about 9 times that of grapes), making them one of the top super foods you can eat.

Acai berries

Acai berries are also jammed with essential amino acids, fibre, vitamins & minerals (vitamins A, B1, B2, B3 & E & minerals calcium, magnesium, zinc & copper). These fellows help reduce blood cholesterol levels, promote a healthy digestive system, support a healthy immune system & may help slow the ageing process. So who wants some medicinal acai berry truffles?!

But how do they taste? Hehe, here is the good bit: they taste like a fruity red wine with chocolate overtones. These truffles are deeply satisfying. I love one or two after a meal with green tea or coffee.

Acai ball9 Note: acai berry powder is not cheap as the berries have to be freeze-dried within 24 hrs to retain their nutrients. However, the best quality & least expensive source I have come across is from Sevenhills.

Makes: 15 medium sized truffles

Prep time: 20 mins

Setting time: 20 mins in freezer

Ingredients

50g Acai berry powder plus 1 tbsp to coat the truffles in
1.5 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp honey or vegan substitute eg. agave
2 tbsp cacao powder
100g dried dates
1 tbsp nut butter, eg. peanut, almond, cashew (the latter two impart a milder flavour)
1 tbsp protein powder (I use soya-derived)
Pinch of salt
1 tbsp cacao nibs
Method:

Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender, except for the cacao nibs. Mix together to form a stiff dough. Then add the cacao nibs, Pulse so that the nibs are just mixed in but not over-processed ) so you have some nice crunch from the nibs.

Using your hands, roll into 2cm balls.

Naked truffles!

Once all balls are rolled, coat in extra acai berry powder (I like to do this in batches by throwing in a couple of balls with the acai berry powder in a food bag, jostling them around & then taking out the coated balls ready for the next batch).