Healthy Dark Chocolate Peppermint Truffles (with Coconut Oil and Coconut Milk)
Healthy Dark Chocolate Peppermint Truffles are an invitation to indulge without regret. Decadent, easy, and rolled in raw cacao powder, this healthy treat packs in serious flavor, nutrition, and antioxidants.
Healthy Chocolate Mint Truffles
Peppermint and chocolate are two of those flavors that never grow tired of each other. From cakes to peppermint patties, mint and cacao just seem to hit exactly the right notes of sweetness and refreshment.
My favorite combination of these two lovers is in truffles. Nothing seems more decadent–except perhaps raspberry and chocolate…or orange and chocolate. But we will leave those for another recipe. 😉
However, eating truffles can get to be a bit of a–shall we say–sugar overload.
Thanks to this recipe for healthy chocolate peppermint truffles, though, that sugar overwhelm is lessened without losing any of the rich flavor.
Just how do we do that? Through a few key ingredients.
Dark Chocolate Mint Truffles
The star player is, of course, none other than dark chocolate.
High-cacao-content chocolate provides us with a variety of macro minerals, which our body needs in large amounts daily. “Quality dark chocolate is rich in fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, and a few other minerals” (Healthline).
Now, just because our body needs these nutrients in large amounts and dark chocolate contains them does not mean that we should over-indulge. Moderation is key here, as always.
With that word of caution out on the table, though, let’s just take a moment to marvel in the fact that something as good-tasting as dark chocolate can actually be good for us. Can I get a “Hallelujah!“?
Chocolate Mint Truffles with Coconut Milk
To complement the dark chocolate, we add another great ingredient: coconut milk.
This one adds high-fat content to help with absorption of minerals and vitamins and stabilization of blood sugar.
Help with sugar? Yes! According to Healthline,
“Fat doesn’t break down into glucose when it’s digested. That means it doesn’t directly cause blood glucose levels to rise. In fact, eating a balanced meal or snack that includes some fat can lead to more stable glucose levels. Fat, along with protein and fiber, slows digestion which also slows down the absorption of carbohydrates and smooths out the glucose spikes they can cause.”
This makes full-fat coconut milk a great pairing with the dark chocolate in this recipe.
Chocolate Mint Truffles with Coconut Oil
Similarly to dark chocolate, coconut oil offers a significant serving of antioxidants.
“Coconut oil is a good source of antioxidants, which provide anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and brain-protective effects” (Healthline).
In addition, the medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) present in the saturated fat of coconut oil may have a positive effect on memory-related diseases.
According to Healthline, “[s]ince coconut oil is rich in MCTs, which significantly increase blood levels of ketones, it may potentially help with symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. However, further studies are needed.”
Tools to Make From-Scratch Mint Chocolate Truffles
Like most recipes on this website, you don’t need many fancy tools to make these chocolate mint truffles. Just gather these items in your kitchen:
- a medium-sized saucepan
- a wide, shallow bowl
- a spoon
- an airtight glass jar
Ingredients for Healthy Chocolate Mint Truffles
- 1/2 cup of the cream skimmed from the top of a can of full-fat coconut milk (see recipe)
- 2 Tbsp. cold-pressed virgin coconut oil
- 10 oz. dark chocolate, chopped into small pieces
- 1/4 tsp. peppermint extract
- Pinch of Himalayan pink salt
- Raw cacao powder or desiccated coconut, for rolling
How to Make Healthy Chocolate Mint Truffles From Scratch Step-by-Step
- Skim the fatty cream off the top of a can of full-fat coconut milk. To do this, make sure not to shake the can before opening, as this will mix the cream with the watery milk. (If you find that you have already shaken the can, simply place it in the refrigerator for about an hour and then try again; the cream and the watery milk should be separated once again.)
- In a medium-sized saucepan over low heat, warm the cream from the coconut milk, the coconut oil, and the Himalayan pink salt until the coconut oil is completely melted and the mixture is hot (but not boiling) to the touch.
- Remove from the heat and immediately stir in the dark chocolate pieces. Stir until the chocolate is smooth and no lumps remain.
- Add the peppermint extract and mix well.Cool slightly, then place the pan in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or until the chocolate is set.
- Pour the raw cacao powder or desiccated coconut into a wide, shallow bowl.
- Remove the pan from the refrigerator. Using a spoon, scoop out about one tablespooon of the chocolate and roll it into a ball. Roll the ball in the raw cacao powder or desiccated coconut until well coated. Place the ball in an airtight glass container. Repeat with all the remaining chocolate.
- Store the chocolate mint truffles in the refrigerator and remove right before ready to serve.
Variation to Try
If you’re on your third round of making this recipe and want to switch things up, try adding a fresh mint leaf to the middle of the chocolate-mint truffles.
How to Store These Healthy Homemade Truffles
For best results, keep these chocolate peppermint truffles in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator. Personally, I like to use a jar like this one. We have successfully stored these mint truffles for up to three weeks (though how they ever lasted that long is a mystery to me!).
Other Favorite Chocolate Recipes
We love chocolate in our home–the darker, the better. Here are some other tried-and-true chocolate snack favorites:
- High-Protein Dark Chocolate Marshmallows
- Chocolate Covered Raspberry Bites (with Chia Seeds)
- Healthy No-Bake Double Chocolate Granola Bars
Healthy Chocolate Peppermint Truffles Recipe Card
Healthy Dark Chocolate Peppermint Truffles
Healthy Dark Chocolate Peppermint Truffles are an invitation to indulge without regret. Decadent, easy, and rolled in raw cacao powder, this healthy treat packs in serious flavor, nutrition, and antioxidants.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of the cream skimmed from the top of a can of full-fat coconut milk (see recipe)
- 2 Tbsp. cold-pressed virgin coconut oil
- 10 oz. dark chocolate, chopped into small pieces
- 1/4 tsp. peppermint extract
- Pinch of Himalayan pink salt
- Raw cacao powder or desiccated coconut, for rolling
Instructions
- Skim the fatty cream off the top of a can of full-fat coconut milk. To do this, make sure not to shake the can before opening, as this will mix the cream with the watery milk. (If you find that you have already shaken the can, simply place it in the refrigerator for about an hour and then try again; the cream and the watery milk should be separated once again.)
- In a medium-sized saucepan over low heat, warm the cream from the coconut milk, the coconut oil, and the Himalayan pink salt until the coconut oil is completely melted and the mixture is hot (but not boiling) to the touch.
- Remove from the heat and immediately stir in the dark chocolate pieces. Stir until the chocolate is smooth and no lumps remain.
- Add the peppermint extract and mix well.
- Cool slightly, then place the pan in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or until the chocolate is set.
- Pour the raw cacao powder or desiccated coconut into a wide, shallow bowl.
- Remove the pan from the refrigerator. Using a spoon, scoop out about one tablespooon of the chocolate and roll it into a ball. Roll the ball in the raw cacao powder or desiccated coconut until well coated. Place the ball in an airtight glass container. Repeat with all the remaining chocolate.
- Store the chocolate mint truffles in the refrigerator and remove right before ready to serve.
Notes
For best results, keep these chocolate peppermint truffles in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator. Personally, I like to use a jar like this one. We have successfully stored these mint truffles for up to three weeks (though how they ever lasted that long is a mystery to me!).
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