Chocolate date and almond truffles

These truffles are a good example of how far a few plain ingredients can go. Medjool dates are the soft, caramel-tasting ones you often see piled up in fruit bowls, and here they do the job that butter and sugar usually do in a truffle. Blitzed with raw almonds and cocoa, they turn into a sticky dough that holds together without any cooking at all.

A quick food fact worth knowing: dates are mostly natural fruit sugars plus fibre, so the sweetness in a recipe like this comes from the fruit itself rather than added sugar. Almonds bring a bit of fat and crunch, which is why a truffle made this way feels richer than its short ingredient list suggests. The cocoa adds bitterness that keeps the sweetness in check.

A cooking tip from my own kitchen: the dough can feel too wet or too dry depending on how juicy your dates are. If it looks crumbly after the first blitz, add a few drops of water or another teaspoon of oil and run the processor again. If it is clumping into a ball but seems soft, pop the bowl in the fridge for ten minutes before rolling. It firms up nicely and is far easier to handle.

Rolling is the fun part. Keep a small dish of cocoa nearby and dust your hands as you go, because the dough is sticky. Roll them neat and not too big. They look best when they are the size of a grape or a little larger, and the cocoa coating gives them that classic truffle finish.

To store them, keep the truffles in an airtight tin in the fridge. They keep well for about a week and the texture stays fudgy, though they are best eaten at cool room temperature for about ten minutes after you take them out. You can also freeze them for longer storage and let them thaw briefly before serving.

For serving, I like a small plate of them after a simple supper. They go well with a cup of black coffee or a mug of something warm. If you want something lighter for a dessert spread, try a bowl of Creamy Blueberry Avocado Pops alongside, or serve a few truffles with Warm vanilla spiced plums and berries for a fruit-led finish.