Chocolate Almond truffles

This is a delicious, not too sweet, soft truffle recipe I made with the immersion blender. Using dates instead of sugar and soy sauce for that unami flavor that goes well with chocolate, you will be surprised at how good this is!

1/2 C almond butter
1/3 C date paste*
1/4 C unsweetened cocoa
1/2 t vanilla extract
1/2 t tamari or soy sauce

Blend all ingredients until smooth and creamy. Chill in the refrigerator before scooping into balls. Turn this into icing by adding 1/4 C liquid. Makes about 1 C.

* soak a handful of pitted dates in enough warm water to cover for 1 hour. Drain the dates and reserve the soaking liquid. Add dates to a blender and add just enough soaking liquid to get a smooth consistency. (Use leftovers in baked goods and just reduce the liquid a bit.)

New Zealand Truffles

These are from the infamous Avonhead Playcentre Family Cookbook from when we lived in Christchurch.

1/2 tin sweetened condensed milk
1/2 teaspoon cocoa
1 packet malt biscuits
vanilla
1/2 cup brown sugar
7 Tablespoons butter
1 packet marshmallows
shredded coconut

Melt sweetened condensed milk, brown sugar, cocoa, butter, and vanilla. Do not boil. Crush biscuits and add to all ingredients except marshmallows. Roll mixture around a marshmallow, then roll in coconut and put into fridge to chill. Wet hands during rolling process is easier. If mixture gets hard to work with, reheat a little bit.