Aaaah Valentine’s Day. That day that we girls were brought up to love/hate in equal measure. Who can forget the trauma of school days and no cards. Those boastful bitches who lorded it over us humble folks waving their hideously padded, lace encrusted over-sized cards and smirking as they walked out to meet their beau of choice at the coffee shop while us lesser mortals muttered over our homework jotters and dreamed of Mr Right, or at least Mr Almost-Acceptable……..
These Valentine Truffles are for all of us. Make them for your lover, your friend, your Mum, your Dad, sister, brother, other relative or best still – for yourself. While they contain all sorts of goodies said to be aphrodisiacs they contain chocolate above all else, and we all know what chocolate means – love!
When you think of Truffles you tend to think along the lines of double cream and chocolate, richness beyond reason, calories beyond counting.
Not so with this recipe, instead of cream I use fresh avocado to get the creamy factor and texture. Avocados contain magnesium, beta carotene and vitamin E which all adds up to an improvement in sexual wellbeing as well as a lighter yet creamy addition to the truffly goodness.
Obviously there is chocolate, now what self-respecting truffle could be without it? Chocolate contains Phenylethylamine which is also known as the love chemical. And let’s face it girls, who doesn’t love chocolate in one form or another.
I’ve made a few things over the year for Valentines Day. Who can forget my somewhat lively encounter with the amazing Colin and Justine doing the Valentines programme on The Hour on Scottish TV where I used to work. I made a Valentine tincture and Red Hot Love Bites. I found it recently on You Tube so here it is;
Last year I did Lovers Jam, but this time it is Valentine Truffles, something so easy to share or just to guzzle yourself while watching a really good RomCom.
The other ingredients in my Valentine Truffles are honey, coconut oil, walnuts (or use almonds if you prefer), Chilli, vanilla, ginger, cinnamon, crushed cloves and strawberries.
All the hot spices are good for opening up the airways and raising the temperature and endorphins too. The nuts are packed with iron, zinc and potassium and Vitamin E which are particularly good for boosting the old sex drive in men (drive him nuts baby!).
Honey boosts energy and strawberries (in freeze fried form here) are packed with potassium and boost hormone production in us ladies.
Coconut oil is super healthy and tastes great too.
Put all that lot together and you get a heady combo that tastes great.
Making them couldn’t be simpler, just melt the chocolate in a glass bowl over bubbling water and then whazz with all other ingredients, chill for an hour then roll into balls and roll them in the crushed nuts and freeze dried strawberries.
Go on love, give it a go!
love
Karon x
- 100g dark chocolate (70%)
- 25g milk chocolate
- 1 avocado
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground chilli (not chilli powder as this often contains other ingredients)
- pinch crushed cloves
- pinch of sea salt
- 1 tsp runny honey
- 1 tsp coconut oil (melted)
- 4 tbsp walnuts (or almonds)
- 2 tbsp freeze dried strawberries
- Melt the dark chocolate in a double boiler and when it has melted stir in the milk chocolate.
- Set aside to cool a little.
- Peel and chop the avocado and pop into food processor.
- Add the melted chocolate and all the spices and honey.
- Toss in 2 tbsp of crushed walnuts (or almonds)
- Whazz until smooth but still with little nutty bits.
- Scoop out into a bowl, cover with clingfilm and chill for one hour to firm up.
- Use a small melon baller to make balls and roll in your hands.
- Whazz the freeze dried strawberries with the remaining walnuts and place on a saucer.
- Roll each ball in the coating and place on a parchment lined tray.
- You should get 20 truffles depending on size.
- Chill until ready to eat.
- Use within 3 days.
I love your humor! And feel the same of Valentine’s Day experiences!
Thanks Anita!
K x
Hiya,
They look amazing. I was thinking of making them as Christmas gifts. How long would they keep for?
Truffles will keep for about 1 week so make just before Christmas
K x