Raw Chocolate Truffles and Granola-Filled Baked Apples

CHICOPEE, Mass. (Mass Appeal) - Writer, cook and photographer Nikki Gardner showed us how to make sugar-free chocolate truffles and healthy granola-filled baked apples!

Raw Chocolate Truffles
(makes about 12 truffles)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup soaked cashews (soak cashews in a bowl of warm water for 3 hours then drain)
• 1 cup pitted dates
• 1 cup raw cacao powder (or unsweetened cocoa powder)
• 1/2 vanilla bean, split in half and seeds scraped
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• pinch of ground cardamom
• 2 teaspoons orange zest
• pinch of sea salt
• 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
• 1/2 cup raw cacao nibs (for rolling)

Directions:

1. Combine all the ingredients in the container of a food processor or high-speed blender and process until smooth.
2. Form mixture into small balls then roll each truffle in cacao nibs.
3. Place the truffles on a baking tray and freeze for several hours or overnight. Remove from the freezer about 30 minutes before serving.

Granola-Filled Baked Apples
(makes 4 servings)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup granola
• 3 tablespoons almond butter
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 4 firm baking apples
• 1 cup apple juice

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Mix the granola, almond butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, and ginger in a medium bowl. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking pan; set aside.
3. Core the apples and pack the center of the apples with the granola mixture.
4. Place the apples upright in the prepared pan. Pour the apple juice over the apples and bake until tender, about 1 hour. Serve warm.