On Valentine’s Day, I was trying to decide if I was going to make my husband and kids a sweet treat or not.  Time was short and will power was low.  Enter the Sunday USA Weekend Magazine which now has one of my favorite Food Network chefs sharing recipes.  Ellie Krieger shared this recipe for Apricot Almond Truffles made with dark chocolate and called it “candy with benefits.”

There are all kinds of reasons to to enjoy these truffles – dark chocolate has antioxidants, almonds have healthy fats and dried apricots have fiber and potassium.  The best reasons are they taste great and go together in about 15 minutes!  There are only three main ingredients and a few spices and the result looks and tastes fantastic.

Apricot Almond Truffles

Place 1/2 cup of whole, natural, unsalted almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring frequently, until they are toasted and smell fragrant – about 5 minutes.  Cool slightly and then put the almonds in a food processor.  Pulse a few times until the nuts are coarsely chopped.  Add  1  1/2 cups of dried apricots (I used a bag that was a little smaller), 1 tablespoon of honey, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, and 1/8 teaspoon salt to the processor.  Process until the ingredients are finely chopped and start to stick together – about a minute.  Roll the mixture with your hands into large teaspoon-sized balls and put them on a baking sheet lined with wax paper.  You should have 17 – 20 truffles.

Melt 3 ounces of dark chocolate – I used Ghiradelli chocolate chips.  I have melted chocolate in the microwave before but I used a glass bowl over some simmering water this time.  Put half of the chocolate in the glass bowl and melt.  Remove from the heat and stir in the other half of the chocolate.  Roll the apricot balls in the chocolate to coat and then return the balls to the waxed paper.  Chill them in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes to set the chocolate.  These can be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

I’m pretty sure it took me longer to write this blog than it did to make these truffles!  If you make 20 truffles, each one has 80 calories.  On the new Weight Watchers System, they have 2 points each!  Enjoy!

~ The Mildly Manic Mom