Secretly Healthy Chocolate Protein Truffles

Did you know that making your own snacks is healthier and cheaper than buying them at the store? Not only is it super easy to whip up your own protein balls, it’s healthier because you can control wha goes into them & are skipping the processed ingredients.

Since my funfetti protein balls have been such a huge hit, I thought I’d step it up a notch and share and even more decadent, healthy treat!

Protein truffles are similar to protein balls, but they’re covered in chocolate! I opted or a vegan chocolate. I also recommend picking a cdark chocolate that’s over 70% cacao. Milk chocolate has less antioxidant rich cocoa and more sugar, making it less healthy.

The most basic guidelines for success? Always go for the greater percent of cxidant-rich cocoa and more sugar.

These chocolate protein truffles are the perfect after dinner treat, post workout pick me up or mid day snack!

5 Minute Healthy Protein Truffles

So what exactly goes into protein truffle? How hard are they to make? What makes them healthier than a regular candy truffle?

Protein truffles are sooo easy to make and you don’t need any fancy equipment to whip up a batch. They’re also easy to make in large quantities because you can double or triple the recipe & store them in the freezer!

These truffles are both vegan & gluten free for those with allergies or dietary restrictions!

First Stock up on Protein Powder

You can use either chocolate or vanilla protein powder, depending on your preference. I actually did one batch of each and prefer using vanilla protein powder for this recipe. It keeps the truffles tasting a little lighter and less rich. But if you love a good, rich chocolate dessert, opt for chocolate.

I love using vanilla pea protein powder (instead of whey protein) in my recipes. Not only does it taste great (literally the best tasting protein powder I’ve tried so far), but it’s also vegan, gluten-free & has a low glycemic index which helps keep your blood sugar from spiking. I also love that it’s a pea protein. Pea protein, meaning it’s made out of peas, can help with inflammation. If you have an allergy or intolerance to dairy, pea protein is a great alternative to whey powder. Because it’s a “slow-digesting” protein, it will also keep you feeling full longer.

Choose a Nut Butter

I really like using Sunflower Butter in my protein truffles. Sunflower seed butter — or sunbutter — is a great alternative for anyone with a tree nut allergy. It’s easy to digest and has a ton of health benefits.

Sunflower seed and peanut butter have about the same amount of fat — about 16 grams per 2-teaspoon serving.  But 2 grams of sunbutter’s fat grams are actually heart-healthy unsaturated fat, and not saturated like in the nut butter.

Sunflower butter (made out of sunflower seeds) contains no cholesterol either! Cholesterol can clog arteries and make them less flexible.

If you don’t have any sunflower butter, I recommend going with an unsweetened almond butter.

Find a Healthier Chocolate

Did you know that eating a small amount of dark chocolate can be good for your health!? Chocolate comes from a plant has a high concentration of antioxidant compounds called flavonoids, which can help prevent heart disease and protect against cancer.

To get the maximum health benefit it’s best to consume minimally processed chocolate in pure, dark form without additives (like corn syrup, hydrogenated oil and artificial colors or flavors). Make sure to look for a cacao (or cocoa) content of at least 70 percent and eat it in moderation.

How to Make Secretly Healthy Chocolate Protein Truffles

Ingredients

• 5 scoops of Vanilla Protein Powder
• 1 cup of Sunflower Butter
• 1/2 cup of Organic Agave
• Cacao Bar for melting
• Cacao Nibs
• Coconut Oil
• Natural Sprinkles (I bought mine on Amazon)
• 2 tablespoons of Unsweetened Almond Milk

Directions

Grab a large bowl and mixer (or even a spatula). You can also use a KitchenAid Mixer if you have one. If not, a food processor work well too!

I start by the sunflower butter, agave, almond milk. Then I add 5 scoops of protein powder. It shouldn’t be sticky, but also shouldn’t be crumbly. If it’s too thick, add a splash of almond milk.

Then, add in about 1/4 cup of cacao nibs (which are basically healthier chocolate chips). I u

After your mixture is combined, put it into the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to harden. This will make it easier to roll them into balls.

Using a spoon or a cookie scooper, scoop out and roll them in your hands to form small balls. I recommend placing the truffles on parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Place the truffles in the refrigerator while you melt your cacao bar. I recommend using 2 bars and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil. Microwave for 30 second increments until it’s smooth and melted.

Using a fork, dip the truffles into the melted chocolate. Place them back on the parchment paper. Sprinkle with a few sprinkles. Then put them in the refrigerator while the chocolate coating hardens.

You can also store them in the freezer or refrigerator. They taste the best when they’re slightly thawed from freezer or from the refrigerator!