Indulge a little with these delicious chocolate cranberry truffles. Easy to make these sweet and savoury bites are perfect for any occasion!
These chocolate cranberry truffles are vegan, paleo and gluten free.
This is a fun Christmas bake with a secret ingredient.
And each truffle comes in at only 184 calories!
Now did you jump straight down to the recipe below to see what the secret ingredient in these chocolate cranberry truffles is?
Or, did you get stuck drooling over the photographs first?
Who would have thought that avocado would go so well with chocolate?
Yep. I know, adding avocado even surprised me when I stumbled upon similar recipes a couple of years ago!
I took a batch of these truffles into my work for colleagues to try out and I asked them to try and guess that "secret" ingredient. Only one of them guessed correctly.
But seriously because we're using avocado here it means being able to cut out just about all of the butter and oil!
We only need to use the barest amount of healthier coconut oil to help maintain a little softness within the truffles.
This is so they don't go rock hard when you keep them in the fridge!
Not only are these chocolate cranberry truffles great for Christmas but they also make a perfect snack sized dessert!
Jump to:
Why You'll Love These Cranberry Truffles
These cranberry truffles are no-bake and do not require any baking in your oven.
They shouldn't take you any more than 30 minutes to make. Then just some resting time in the fridge.
You'll find them much healthier than regular cranberry truffle recipes because rather than cream and butter being used I'm using coconut butter and avocado to make a creamy texture.
Now, of course you may wish to consume these easily home-made truffles as soon as you've made them.
You see they are SO rich, dark and chocolatey. I fully understand if they don't last that long.
If you do manage to save yourself from the temptation, may I suggest that these could make a fabulous ending to your Christmas day meal?
Perfect with your coffee and not overly unhealthy at that?
Then of course later, after your Christmas day meal you might want to grab more of my obsession with cranberries, by topping up with my wholemeal cranberry scones.
But let's make these chocolate cranberry truffles first! 😉
Ingredients
- Dark Chocolate
- Coconut Butter
- Vanilla Extract
- Cocoa Powder
- Ripe Avocado
- Dried Cranberries
- Desiccated Coconut
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Cranberry Truffles
Detailed instructions are in the recipe card below. But here is a quick step by step guide of how to make this cranberry truffle recipe:
- Melt the chocolate and coconut butter. Once melted, stir in the vanilla extract and cocoa powder.
- Peel the avocado. Remove the stone. Mash the avocado to a smooth consistency in a bowl.
- Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the avocado. Stir in the cranberries and mix together thoroughly.
- Place the bowl in the fridge for approximately one hour until the mixture has slightly hardened.
- Using a spoon, divide the mixture into 10 balls, roll each ball in the palm of your hands. Then roll the balls in the desiccated coconut.
- Keep the chocolate cranberry truffles in the fridge in an air tight container.
Substitutions
- Dark Chocolate - any good quality dark chocolate or semisweet chocolate will do.
- Coconut Butter - you could use cashew butter or a similar plant based butter.
- Ripe Avocado - make sure your avocado is ripe so it's easy to mash.
- Dried Cranberries - only use dried cranberries. Will not work with fresh cranberries.
- Desiccated Coconut - also known as shredded coconut in the U.S.
FAQ's
Here Are Some Tips For Making Your Own Truffles
Truffles Falling Apart?
Make sure you allow the mixture long enough to harden before making the balls. Keep the prepared truffles in the fridge.
Can You Freeze Chocolate Truffles?
Yes. Chocolate cranberry truffles can be frozen in an airtight container. So you can make these ahead. Defrost truffles overnight in the refrigerator.
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Other Popular Cranberry Recipes You Might Also Like
📋 Chocolate Cranberry Truffles Recipe
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Ingredients
- 250 g dark chocolate
- 15 g coconut butter
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 ripe avocado
- 60 g dried cranberries
- Desiccated coconut
Instructions
- Melt the chocolate and coconut butter over a low heat in a small saucepan. Once melted, stir in the vanilla extract and cocoa powder until combined into the liquid.
- Peel the avocado and remove the stone. Mash the avocado to a smooth consistency in a bowl.
- Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the avocado, add the cranberries and mix together thoroughly.
- Place the bowl in the fridge for approximately one hour until the mixture has slightly hardened.
- Using a spoon, divide the mixture into 10 balls, roll each ball in the palm of your hands (will be messy – so ideal for children to do!), then roll the balls in the desiccated coconut.
- Store the chocolate cranberry truffles in the fridge in an air tight container.
Nutrition
Nutrition Label
Nutritional information provided below is calculated using paid for online tools and the exact ingredients and quantities used above.
Rate The Recipe
If you’ve made this cranberry truffles recipe, or any other recipes on Neil's Healthy Meals, then please let me know.
I’d love to hear what you think of my recipe in the comments below and please do rate my recipe 5* if you like it! 🙂
Susie @ SuzLyfe
A) have such an incredible adventure. I have no doubt that you will! Safe safe travels, my friend.
B) Leave these truffles in my care. They will be very safe indeed.
C) Tell Lynne to trust me, no one wants to live in Africa.
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
A) Many thanks you and fingers crossed for you healing soon and getting right back into your running.
B) I've a lot of requests for these truffles at the moment, but seeing as you asked first, yeah they're yours! 🙂
C) I'll tell her. She won't listen though. 😉
Catch ya when we get back!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
I was going to say that these truffles look amazing (because they do!), but... Africa?!? Really?!? HAVE THE BEST TIME! I've never been anywhere even remotely close to their, but man oh man it definitely looks like an awesome adventure.
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Thanks so much Amanda! 🙂
Both for the comment about the truffles and about having a good time in Africa! We sure are looking forward to it. I just hope I can persuade Lynne to come back home! 😀
Ginger Wroot
Wow, these look soooo lish! Can't wait to make them over the holidays. Thanks for sharing, and have a great time in Africa!
--Ginger Wroot
http://gingerwroot.com/
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
You're welcome Ginger. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Can't wait to share all the holiday photographs here too. Hope you'll check back to see them. 🙂
GiGi Eats
Well that's it - I am making my protein ball/truffles for lunch! HA HA HA!!! Yep, lunch!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
I would say protein ball/truffles should be eaten at any time of the day GiGi! Ha ha 😉
rachel @ athletic avocado
I seriously can't believe that these are healthy! I could have sworn that they look like they are made with butter and heavy cream! You totally schooled me, these look so decadent and delicious!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Would you believe that you can actually have a "healthier" truffle Rachel?
I never did until I saw that you could make them with avocado and take out all that butter and heavy cream.
I don't think I ever want to make them with butter or heavy cream again! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Swooning over how creamy and perfect each bite must be!
And have so much fun and amazing experiences on your trip! Take as many pictures as possible!!!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
If they would last long enough for me to send you one Rebecca I would!
The deep dark delicious taste of these with that avocado ingredient is just a revelation.
Thanks for best wishes for our trip. You can be sure there will be lots of pictures taken! 🙂
Take care. 😀
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
Making truffles is one of my favourite Christmas traditions, but these are another level kind of truffles. I often make chocolate dessert with avocado, so why have I never thought to make truffles with them? Genius!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Thanks Dannii. I love the sound of your chocolate dessert with avocado! 🙂 I'll have to look into that. Sounds yum!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
LOVE that you used avocado in these truffles Neil! They look luscious! Simply LUSCIOUS! I've made chocolate pudding with avocado and my daughter has not been able to tell the difference so I totally understand you fooling your co-workers 😉 Now I need to move there and get a job where you are - no it's not so creepy - I would just love to be one of your co-workers so I can taste test ALL your delicacies! 🙂
Hoping you and Lady Lynne have a wonderful time in Uganda - safe travels!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Thank you so much Shashi 😀
I'm beginning to realise that truffles made with avocado could just be the very beginning of a new obsession. Just like my obsession with all types of lentils and your soon to find out, after our holiday, cranberries obsession 😆
Yes, you must move here so we can sample each others recipes. Daily! 😉
Melanie @ MelanieCooks
Wow, avocado is the secret ingredient! I would never think of putting it in the truffles, that would be an interesting experiment, I might try it out! The truffles look delicious!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Thanks Melanie. Adding the avocado, I find, is not only the secret ingredient, but really does add a real decadence to this. 🙂
Charissa (@ColourfulPalate)
Have the best trip in the world - it sounds absolutely magical!
Like these truffles. Seriously. Wow. These are jawdropping-ly beautiful!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Thank you Charissa. Just picked up a good wifi connection on holiday here to be able to asnswer your comment! 🙂
These truffles have been so praised and commented on by everyone that I think I'm going to have to make another batch as soon as I'm back! 😀