Easy Chocolate Truffles

Constantly seeking healthier, wiser desserts and sweets, I like to experiment with making energy bars, energy balls and chocolate truffles that don't use loads of cream and refined/white sugar.
After seeing a friend this weekend who recommended using prunes, cocoa powder and coconut oil, and today being a particularly tired and comfort-food-seeking type of Sunday, I experimented once again with chocolate truffles. And they were a success.

Ingredients:
2 tsps coconut oil
1 tbsp coconut flour (optional)
Cocoa powder
100g dark chocolate (I used 70% cocoa solids)
1-2 handfuls of dates
Date syrup
A splash of water
3 tsps of peanut butter
Vanilla bean essence
1 pinch sat
Desiccated coconut/cocoa powder for dusting
Method:

1. Put the dates and a splash of water in the food processor until chopped up. Add about a tablespoon of date syrup (and coconut flour if you are using it) until the mixture has blended together.
2. Melt half the chocolate and coconut oil (usually solid) in a bowl in the microwave. Add the remaining chocolate, it should just melt easily into the microwaved mixture
3. Combine the date mixture with the chocolate and coconut oil mixture
4. Add the peanut butter, salt and vanilla bean essence and stir
5. Stir in enough cocoa powder until the mixture becomes firm enough that you can pick it up and shape it with your hands
6. Leave the mixture to cool, find a dish for the finished article - handling truffles is messy!
7. Get another plate, sprinkle some cocoa powder on one side and some desiccated coconut on the other
8. Pick up the mixture bit by bit and shape into balls, rolling each in the cocoa powder or desiccate coconut (or both!) until fully covered
9. Lay your truffles on your dish, pop in the fridge for 30-60 minutes
10. ENJOY!

I hope you had a fantastic weekend! I spent the weekend in London with good friends, eating good food and doing good things in the sun, no less!