Made with date caramel, cocoa powder, and almonds. The easiest and healthiest way to make a decadent chocolate treat.
Happy ♥ day is six days away. If you’re like me, you have nothing planned. Yet.
If you’re a planner, your Valentine's Day is ready and set to go. However, may I suggest a slight deviation in plans? Instead of buying an expensive box of truffles that most likely contain preservatives and milk products, make your own 5 Ingredient Vegan Turtle Truffles (Raw & Gluten-Free).
Why make instead of buy? Because:
- Making homemade truffles is fun.
- They’re easy to make.
- They taste amazing.
- They’re so much healthier than anything you can buy because you control the ingredients.
- It shows that special someone that you care so much about him or her, because you took the time out of your busy day to make a decadent treat that’s as delicious as it is healthy.
- They go great with coffee or champagne so you can eat them for breakfast and as a dessert at night.
- They’re a great source of energy, you could even eat a few before working out.
Okay, I know that these don’t look like the traditional turtle candy that you’re used to seeing. That’s fine, because these are truffles. And truffles are little balls of flavor that are more refined than the big blob of chocolate covered caramel and nuts that make up the turtle.
However, the taste is very much like a turtle. It’s made with the outrageously good date caramel that I told you about on Friday. Click here to check it out. And of course, they have a lot of chocolate and almonds to give them a nutty and crunchy texture. Everything that a turtle has in a delicate little ball of yum.
My 5 ingredient vegan turtle truffles are neighbor and husband tested and approved. Like everything I share on this blog, it has to get two thumbs up from my husband and friends. I took a box of them over to my neighbor’s house and asked her and her daughter to try them. They LOVED them. They couldn’t stop raving about them and gave them an A+.
And, as advertised, there are only five ingredients in this simple and easy to make recipe. Date caramel, cocoa powder, almonds (you can use any nut you like), vegan chocolate chips, and sea salt. If you don’t want to cover the truffles with melted chocolate chips you don’t have to, they’re fantastic on their own. The melted chocolate and sprinkle of sea salt is the icing on the cake, so you can make these your own and leave the topping off if you want. Or do what I do, cover half of the batch in chocolate and leave half naked.
To make your Valentine ’s Day even sweeter, check out our vegan chocolate mousse recipe that was featured in my friend Ricki’s wonderful roundup, 50+ Sugar-Free Chocolate Treats (+ A Few Carob!) for Your Sweetie.
If you’re looking for a great muffin recipe for Valentine’s Day, or any day, take a look at my friend Sina’s muffin roundup, 25 Incredibly Delicious Vegan Muffins. She was kind enough to include my blueberry corn muffins. If you haven’t tried those you must, they’re soooo good!
Tell me:
What are you doing for Valentine’s Day?
Did you watch the Super Bowl? Where you happy or disappointed with the outcome?
Do you agree that Lady Gaga (best National Anthem ever!) and Bruno Mars should have been the half-time show entertainment? It was kind of boring.
Have you ever made your own truffles?
Alex and I love hearing from you. Please leave a comment and let us know what you think of our recipes. And let’s connect! Hop on over to Facebook page and give it a like, or follow us on Instagram or Twitter, and follow us and share this and other Veganosity recipes on Pinterest. We'd be so grateful if you did.
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5 Ingredient Vegan Turtle Truffles (Raw & Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
- 1 cup of unsalted almonds you can use pecans, walnuts, peanuts, or any nut you like – chopped in a food processor
- ½ cup of date caramel see ingredients and recipe below
- ⅓ cup of cocoa powder
- 1 cup of vegan chocolate chips – melted
- Sea salt
- For the date caramel:
- 1 pound of medjool dates approximately 20 dates – remove pits and stems
- 8 tablespoons* of non-dairy milk or water
- ¼ teaspoon of ground sea salt
Instructions
- Make the date caramel:
- In a food processor or a high powered blender process the dates, milk or water, and sea salt until the dates are smooth and creamy.
- You can use water in place of a non-dairy milk but it won’t be quiet as creamy and it won’t taste exactly the same as date caramel made with milk.
- If your dates aren’t fresh (plump and squishy), soak them in warm water for an hour or two. When they feel soft and look hydrated drain and rinse them.
- This recipe makes about on full cup of date caramel. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and it will keep for a week. Drizzle it over ice cream, put it in your morning smoothie, add it to your oatmeal, or spread it on toast. Let your imagination soar.
- For the Turtle Truffles:
- Line a cookie sheet or plate (that will fit in your freezer) with parchment paper.
- Coarsely chop the nuts in a food processor. Add the date caramel and the cocoa to the nuts and process until the mixture forms a ball. Carefully remove the blade from the bowl. Spoon out the mixture by the tablespoon and form into balls. Set them on the parchment paper.
- Melt the chocolate chips until the chocolate is thin enough to pour over the truffles. Spoon the melted chocolate over the truffles. Sprinkle with a pinch of course sea salt and place the tray in the freezer to set. You can also place them in the refrigerator if you’re not planning on eating them right away.
Bee says
How many does this make? I'm wondering because I only want to make about 10 without any leftover date caramel. Thanks!
Linda Meyer says
Hi Bee, this recipe makes approximately 12 truffles. If you want to make 10 I suggest dividing the caramel first so you know that you'll get 10 truffles.
Cool Beans says
When I saw the recipe for the caramel, I made it and it was a total success, and awesome! I couldn't wait to try the chocolate turtle truffles, when you posted it, I pinned it, and printed it out. Wel have a friend visiting us from out of state, and she had a taste for something sweet, so I told her I would make something sweet but healthy, and so I made these. Oh my goodness, what a delightful treat. We both couldn't stop eating them. They look delicious on your site, but they taste even better. I have totally enjoyed making and eating this vegan raw treat-- guilt free I must add. Thank you for posting this awesome-fantabulous-very-satisfying 5 ingredient decadent sweet.
Linda Meyer says
Hi! Thank you so much for the wonderful comment! It makes me so happy to know that you and your friend enjoyed my recipes. 🙂 My day just got so much better!
Cool Beans says
Hi Linda, when I made these I used pecans, and as you can tell by my comment above, they were awesome! I like almonds, but I have a preference for pecans and cashews. Eating these actually reminded me of eating turtles--only better?
Linda Meyer says
Pecans, cashews, walnuts, they're all good. 🙂 Thanks so much for the kind comment.
Elizabeth says
These look amazing! Heading out to get ingredients--have you tried them with any other nut than almond--I know recipe says any will work, just wondering if there was a favorite? Also, assuming they need to be stored in frig? Thank you!!
Linda Meyer says
Hi Elizabeth! You can use any nut to make these. Cashews, walnuts, macadamia, or pecan would work. Yes, I always store my food in the refrigerator for freshness. Please let me know what you think! 🙂
Elizabeth says
Made and tasted--fantastic!! Thank you for a great recipe!! Wondering if they wd work if I left the cocoa out and just had date caramel and nuts covered in chocolate?
Linda Meyer says
Hi Elizabeth! I'm so happy you enjoyed the recipe. You could, but it would be really sticky. If you don't want to add the cocoa, add a little finely ground oat flour to help bind the caramel and nuts.
Sophia @veggies dont bite says
I LOVE the turtle flavor! SO darn good!! I'll take a box. Do you deliver?? I'll totally be your valentine if you do! BTW, did you change your header logo?? I'm in the process of redoing some stuff too!
Linda Meyer says
Lol! Maybe I should start a delivery service. 🙂 Thanks, Sophia.
No, I need to. Alex has been promising to make a copy of the carrrot "V" that we paid to have trademarked, along with our name, and she's been too busy. The picture I have doesn't work and it's making me nuts!
Megan - The Emotional Baker says
These truffles are amazing! I love the flavors 🙂
Linda Meyer says
Thank you, Megan! I appreciate that. 🙂
Mira says
These look gorgeous and so easy to make! Love homemade truffles! Just got some dates and will try the recipe!
Linda Meyer says
Thank you so much, Mira! Let me know what you think. 🙂
The Vegan 8 says
OMG I'm seriously dying here! I love anything with chocolate and these even have me drooling and I don't even like dates! These look amazing.
Linda Meyer says
Thanks, Brandi! The best part of this recipe is that you really don't taste the dates because of the chocolate.
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says
I think you know my feelings on the big game and I appreciate your kind words! I did like Lady GaGa. She did a terrific job with a very difficult song, but I think my favorite will always be Whitney Houston. Now I'd rather talk about these truffles! They're so pretty and I love those cute little wrappers! I've made peanut butter truffles before that would be totally easy for you to work your vegan creative magic!
Linda Meyer says
I'd say Whitney and Lady G are a tie when it comes to singing that song. When they showed the picture of Whitney singing at the SB it made me sad. Such a tragic loss.
Thank you! Peanut butter truffles sound amazing, I'm going to have to go find them on your blog and see what I can do. 🙂
harrietemilys says
These are so stunning! Such a great idea to make raw turtles - they look so delicious! The salt on top looks so beautiful! Yummmm! I need to make these asap!
Linda Meyer says
Thank you so much, Harriet! You're so sweet! The salt is my favorite part of these, I love salt with chocolate. 🙂
Linda Meyer says
Pure Heaven! Thanks, Lucie. 🙂
SuzLyfe says
Um, that cross section is just sexy.
Linda Meyer says
Who knew that shot would get so much attention? Thanks, Susie!
Lori D. says
They look delicious!
Linda Meyer says
Thank you, Lori!
Jenn S. says
The inside shot is money!! Looks so good!!!
Linda Meyer says
Thanks, Jenn! I couldn't decide if I should use that as my hero shot or not. So happy you like it. 🙂
Natalie says
That inside shot! 😮 You're killing me here, I want them all stat! I like the perfect orb shape, makes them look more fancy then the typical turtle. Love how easy peasy they are--less effort, more eating 😉
Linda Meyer says
Thank you, Natalie! Jenn said the same thing about that shot. As I told her, I contemplated using that for my hero shot, but wasn't sure people would know what it was if I opened with it-haha! These are definitely more attractive that the typical turtle blob, and you don't have to pick caramel out of your teeth for days because it's blended into the mix. 🙂
Christine (Run Plant Based) says
Oh wow, these look amazing and addicting! Thanks!
Linda Meyer says
Thank you! They're addicting for sure. 🙂
demeter | beaming baker says
These truffles look amazing! I'm so impressed that they're raw and gluten-free! 🙂
As for Valentine's Day, I'm probably going to stay in with my man and order Mexican! What are you two planning?
Linda Meyer says
Thank you! That sounds like the perfect Valentine's Day to me. I have a tennis match in the afternoon and then dinner and a movie at home with my husband. 🙂
Strength and Sunshine says
Damn! I forgot the dates!!!!!! :O I really was going to buy some at the store on Saturday...total fail :'(
Linda Meyer says
Bummer! Order some on Amazon.
Becky says
They looks so good!!
Linda Meyer says
Thanks, Becky! 🙂