Delicious figs plus decadent chocolate--truffles literally don't get easier.
For the printable recipe click here.
Festive Christmas balls!
Echoing the glistening spheres that shimmer on trees in our living rooms this time of year, Christmas balls are festive, fun, bite-sized treats to bring out for holiday cocktail parties or whenever friends and family drop by with good tidings.
With just 4 simple ingredients, Figgy Truffles are the perfect thing to add to your Christmas-ball assortment this season.
Figgy Truffles bring the flavor!
Figgy Truffles are a no-cook Christmas ball recipe uniting three amazing flavors: fig, vanilla, and chocolate.
To those who have never experienced it before, fig and chocolate might seem an outlandish combination. Many of us have experienced figs in approximately two ways: classic Newtons and classier jam. Bougie brunches with fig jam and goat cheese may be even more prolific than Newtons these days--but figs with chocolate?
My first exposure to this combo came when I worked at Whole Foods Market many years ago. We sold a Spanish product called Chocohigos--dried figs enrobed in decadent dark chocolate. Spoiler alert--if you've tried those and weren't a fan, this may not be the recipe for you.
While fresh figs are extremely hit or miss in the flavor department and can range from subtly fruity and alluring to somewhat reminiscent of dirty water, dried figs deliver a much deeper dose of flavor. The delicate fig flavors concentrate and intensify with aromas almost suggestive of pipe tobacco with notes of brown sugar, vanilla, coffee, and even chocolate. So dried figs and chocolate are actually the perfect combination!
How to make these simple Figgy Truffles
So after I developed this recipe I look a little look around the Internet, and there are actually many recipes for similar chocolate-fig balls. However, this one just may be the easiest and most straightforward, and let me tell you, it is not hurting in the deliciousness department.
Many recipes call for some type of cooking, whether for the filling or combining coconut oil and melted dark chocolate to create a glossy outer shell. While there is definitely a place for melted chocolate coatings, this recipe is all about the flavor and not about the fuss.
Melting, tempering, tapping out the excess chocolate, setting . . . and setting . . . and is the chocolate ever going to set? Not today, folks.
No, today we will use the food processor to pulverize and integrate chocolate, vanilla extract, and dried figs into a unified mixture, roll balls of figgy mixture in cocoa powder, and call it a day. Yep, it's really that easy.
No chocolate ganache with heavy cream, no messy milk chocolate or dark chocolate shell, no added organic cane sugar or powdered sugar or sweeteners in the mix beyond the figs themselves and whatever added sugar is in your chocolate chips of choice. Nope. In a matter of minutes, you could be devouring a delicious fig truffle. So what are you waiting for?
A few quick notes:
Sourcing ingredients: I buy big bags of organic unsweetened natural cocoa and dried organic figs from Costco. My chocolate is typically either the dairy-free, soy-free semisweet chocolate chips from Costco or my local store brand of organic dark chocolate chips. Costco also sells large bottles of vanilla extract, but I typically make my own with vanilla beans (from Costco, ha) and rum.
Remove the woody stems! The one thing that can wreak havoc on your delicious dark chocolate fig truffles is the woody stems that sometimes accompany dried figs. Simply pinch or slice off the stem portion of each fig before plopping it in the processor, and you should be good to go!
Variations: I really don't think these figgy chocolate truffles need any adjustments, but I have seen recipes that incorporate sea salt or a splash of balsamic vinegar to contrast the sweetness.
Vegan truffles: as long as you opt for dairy-free chocolate chips, these yummy, healthy truffles are already the perfect vegan treats to combat all your sweet cravings! And unlike many paleo treats, they are free of coconut and tree nuts as well!
Here's what you'll need:
10 oz dried figs
3 oz semisweet chocolate chips, dairy free/soy free, or paleo-friendly if possible
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder
Here's what you'll do:
Add the first three ingredients to a food processor and process till a smooth mass forms, pausing periodically to scrape down the sides with a hard plastic spatula. It can be helpful to alternate between processing and pulsing to help the ingredients become more evenly distributed.
Arrange mini muffin liners on a serving tray or in an airtight container, and place the cocoa powder in a small bowl or dish.
Use a small cookie scoop to scoop a mound of the fig mixture into your hands. Use your hands to briefly roll it into a smooth ball, then roll the ball around in the cocoa to coat it evenly.
Place the coated ball in one of the prepared muffin liners, and repeat with the remaining mixture and cocoa powder.
For the printable recipe click here.
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