DATE & COCOA TRUFFLES

These healthy, vegan, Date & Cocoa Truffles get a bit of a kick from cayenne pepper and are downright delicious!

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup fresh, pitted medjool dates (about 6 oz)
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp fine sea salt
½ tsp cinnamon
⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, for dusting 
¼ cup turbinado sugar, for dusting

Tools 
Food processor
Shallow dish 
Cutting board

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place the dates in a small bowl, cover with hot water, and let soak for about 15 minutes. Drain and pat dry.
2. Place the soaked dates in a food processor and pulse several times to form a paste.
3. Add the cocoa powder, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper. Pulse 3 or 4 times.
4. Add 1 tablespoon warm water and pulse several more times. If the mixture seems dry, add another tablespoon of warm water and pulse. Continue pulsing until the mixture is smooth and forms a ball.
5. Remove the mixture from the food processor and transfer to a bowl.
6. Combine the cocoa powder and turbinado sugar in a shallow bowl.
7. Scoop the truffle mixture by the teaspoonful and shape into balls using your palms. (If the mixture is too sticky to roll, refrigerate until chilled.)
8. Dust the balls in the cocoa/sugar mixture and refrigerate until ready to serve.