Madhouse recipe : Medjool Date Truffles

Did you have a date for Valentine's Day this year? Well, thanks to Forest Feast, I had a whole box load of them ! They sent through a lovely kit for making heart-shaped date truffles, which were as tasty as they were simple to make.

Dates are now classed as a superfood (as well as an aphrodisiac apparently !) and Medjool dates are the best of the best, partly because they are so hard to grow so they are considered luxurious and partly due to their soft, sticky, caramel quality. I was amazed at how big and plump they were when I poured them out of the bag.

 I was also amazed when Juliette, who doesn't normally like dates, turned up in the kitchen and wolfed down the remaining truffle mix in the bowl. She convinced Pierre, also not a huge fan of dates, to try one of the finished truffles and he loved them too, so this is a great way of getting your kids to eat dried fruit and nuts if they're not usually keen.

Medjool Date Truffles

ingredients :

7 Forest Feast Medjool dates, pitted

65g pecan nuts (or any nuts can be used - I used almonds)

85g ground almonds

30g cocoa powder (and more for dusting)

1/2tsp vanilla

pinch of sea salt (add to taste) 

Soak the dates in hot water for a few minutes to soften. Meanwhile, blitz the nuts, ground almonds and cocoa powder in a food processor.

Remove the dates from the water, squeeze out any excess and take out the stones. Add to the food processor , along with the vanilla and salt.

Pulse until a sticky ball forms. Taste and add extra salt if needed. 

Take small balls and press into a silicone mould. Pop into the freezer for a few hours to firm up.

Gently press out of the mould and roll in cocoa powder.

 This used up half a bag of almonds and half a bag of ground almonds that were at the back of the cupboard so I'm adding it to this month's #KitchenClearout linky.