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These lightened up Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles are a healthier version of a Ferrero Rocher Recipe! These treats are chocolatey, nutty, and easy to make. With under 10 ingredients, and less than 30 minutes of prep time, you can enjoy these delicious bites for dessert any night of the week! They also happen to be dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar free!
If you have ever eaten a Ferrero Rocher chocolate, it's no secret that they are decadent and delicious. Chocolate paired with hazelnuts is the perfect flavor combination!
I just can't resist their crunchy chocolate outer shell, with their smooth ganache center.
However, after looking at the nutrition label, I was a bit taken aback! One serving, or 3 chocolates, contains 36.9 grams of sugar! While they taste fantastic, they are certainly not a treat you want to enjoy on a regular basis.
I set out on a mission to create my own version that would be lower in fat, calories, and sugar, yet full of all the chocolatey nutty goodness of the original.
This homemade Ferrero Rocher Recipe is perfect for anytime of the year. Make them for the holidays, for a special occasion, birthdays, Valentine's Day, or just for fun! They'll become a popular treat in no time!
Tools and Equipment You'll Need
Recipe Ingredients and Notes
This copycat Ferrero Rocher recipe has all of the decadence of the original, with none of the guilt! Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe at home:
- Almond Flour: To keep this recipe gluten-free
- Vanilla Protein Powder: Use your favorite variety! Just choose one that has no added sugar, is about 150-200 calories for 1 serving (typically 2 scoops), and 20-24 grams of protein per serving.
- Dates: Essential for adding natural sweetness to these hazelnut truffles!
- Dark Chocolate: Because it wouldn't be a true Ferrero Rocher copycat recipe if it didn't have that crunchy outer chocolate shell!
- Cocoa Powder: Make sure to get unsweetened cocoa or cacao powder.
- Hazelnuts: I like using roasted hazelnuts because roasting deepens that hazelnut flavor even more.
- Desiccated Coconut: For the outside "crunchy" layer beneath the chocolate shell.
- Chia Seeds: To add texture and some healthy fats to the interior.
How to Make This Homemade Ferrero Rocher Recipe
Step 1: Soak the dates in 1/4 cup of water for 10-15 mins or until soft. Roast the hazelnuts in the oven for 10 mins at 350 F. Place the softened dates with the water, roasted hazelnuts (leave a handful aside to place in the center of the balls), almond meal, protein powder, chia seeds, and cacao powder in a food processor, then blitz until combined.
Step 2: Roll mixture into balls, making sure to place a hazelnut in the center of each ball.
Step 3: Coat balls in desiccated coconut. Place balls in the fridge to harden for 1 hour. Melt your chocolate on the stove or in the microwave.
Step 4: Dip the balls in the melted chocolate, and place them on a baking sheet or plate lined with parchment paper.
Step 6: Place balls in the fridge until the chocolate hardens (up to 8 hours or overnight). Enjoy cold!
What Makes These Hazelnut Truffles Healthy?
- Naturally Sweetened: There isn't any refined sugar in these hazelnut chocolate bites, and each treat has only 4 grams of natural sugar. Dates are naturally sweet providing all the sugar you need.
- Rich in Vitamins and Minerals: You'll get fiber, potassium, magnesium, vitamin B, copper, vitamin E, and folate in each bite!
- All Natural: You won't find any unhealthy fats, refined sugars, artificial flavors or stabilizers in this recipe!
Will Kids Enjoy This Homemade Ferrero Rocher Recipe?
These bites are popular with both kids and adults. They look and taste like a chocolate truffle, yet they're full of healthy plant-protein, vitamins, and nutrients. It's a great option as a special after dinner dessert or snack. They'll think they're getting a special treat, and you'll feel good knowing they're enjoying an all natural, lightened-up dessert.
Recipe FAQs
Why Are Regular Ferrero Rocher Chocolates Not Healthy?
It's honestly all about the ingredients! Traditional Ferrero Rocher chocolates include: added emulsifiers and stabilizers, artifical flavors (instead of vanilla extract, they use vanillin), too much added sugar, and unhealthy fats (palm oil!). They also include milk chocolate, skim milk powder and whey powder (making them not vegan friendly)
What is desiccated coconut?
Desiccated coconut is shredded coconut flakes that have had all of the moisture removed. They are high in healthy fats, and taste great in desserts, homemade chocolates, and even savory dishes!
What natural sweeteners can you use in dessert recipes?
When it comes to adding natural sweetness to homemade chocolate truffles and bites, dates are my go-to option. They add both texture and depth, and hold everything together while also providing natural sweetness.
Other options include honey, coconut sugar, and maple syrup (although honey is not vegan friendly). Honey and maple syrup have the added benefit of providing additional moisture to your recipe - so they tend to work well in baked goods. Keep in mind that unlike dates, honey and maple syrup are still technically added sugars, while dates would be considered a natural sugar.
How to Store and Keep
These hazelnut truffles will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks! If you keep them at room temperature, they will last for up to 3-4 days. To Freeze, place the truffles in an airtight container and place in the freezer - they will keep for up to 2 months frozen. To reheat from frozen - just let them warm up at room temperature until they have softened slightly and are ready to eat.
Variations and Substitutions
- Different Nuts: If you want them to taste like Ferrero Rocher, they need to have hazelnuts. However, if you are not a fan of hazelnuts, then you can swap the hazelnut for almonds, pecans, or even walnuts. Try them to see what you like the most and go from there.
- Sub the coconut: If you'd prefer, instead of rolling the balls in coconut, you can roll them in crushed hazelnuts, puffed brown rice, or even puffed quinoa for a different crunchy texture.
- Make it keto/low-carb: Just swap the dark chocolate for a sugar free dark chocolate.
- Try adding nut butter: 1-2 tbsp of Hazelnut butter would taste great in the mixture for even more hazelnut flavor, but you could also use almond butter or peanut butter for a more creamy interior.
Top Tips For Making This Copycat Ferrero Rocher Recipe
- Don't skip soaking the dates. They need to be softened to give you the proper results.
- You really need to use a food processor to get the correct texture.
- To make the chocolate flavor even more intense, add a pinch of espresso powder to the cocoa mixture.
- You don't have to keep these in the fridge for 8 hours before eating them, although 8 hours (or even overnight) would make the chocolate really solidify. But you can enjoy these after just an hour or two of being in the fridge - enough so the chocolate can set.
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