Ingredients:
- Instant oats
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Peanut butter
- Unsalted butter
- Honey or sugar
- Maple syrup (optional)
- Vanilla extract (optional)
- Coconut powder or flakes (for rolling)
- Roasted almonds or hazelnuts (for filling)
- Salt (pinch)
- Maraschino cherry juice (optional, as a substitute for honey or maple syrup)
Optional Add-ins:
- Brandy (for a boozy touch)
- Instant coffee (for a coffee flavor)
- Chili powder (for a bitter kick)
Preparation:
- Cut the unsalted butter into small cubes and let it reach room temperature. Do not melt it in the microwave.
Mixing:
- In a large bowl, combine instant oats, unsweetened cocoa powder, peanut butter, room-temperature butter, honey (or sugar), maple syrup (if using), and vanilla extract.
- Mix the ingredients by hand to achieve your preferred texture. I like it on a little more stickier side because the coconut flakes stick better.
Filling:
- Incorporate roasted almonds or hazelnuts into the mixture, by putting them in the middle and covering them with the mixture.
- Add a pinch of salt to enhance the flavors.
Optional Variations:
- For a sweeter truffle, add more honey or sugar.
- For a creamier texture, add more butter.
- For a nuttier flavor, increase the peanut butter.
- For a more bitter taste, add more cocoa powder and a bit of chili powder.
- For a refined texture, process the instant oats into a finer powder using a food processor.
Shaping:
- Roll the mixture into small balls.
- Coat each ball with coconut powder or flakes.
Freezing:
- Freeze the truffles for 30 minutes.
- After freezing, you can store them in the fridge or freezer. They will maintain a relaxed texture a few minutes after being taken out of the freezer.
Additional Tips:
- Adding a splash of brandy can give a boozy experience, but the truffles will be tougher to bite when frozen.
- Instant coffee can be added to the mix for a coffee flavor.
Notes:
- The truffles you tried had a liberal amount of honey and no sugar.
- Using fewer ingredients can result in more identifiable flavors.
- Adding chili powder and salt can enhance the bitter aftertaste, but this is optional (and preferred by me).
To me, these truffles are like bites of heaven, perfect for morning coffee/tea or an after-lunch treat. Enjoy! 😊
