With Valentine’s day around the corner, and chocolate on the mind, pretty much all the time, this is the perfect season to whip up some dreamy chocolate truffles. They’re creamy, delicious, vegan, and include immune boosting elderberries! If you’re making elderberry syrup on the reg, you will have many berries left over. And what to do with them if you don’t have a garden to compost them in? Here’s a fun idea! Toss them into your favorite bliss ball recipe, or better yet, these decadent chocolate truffles coated in pure chocolate! They make a great healthy snack on the go!
What are Elderberries?
Elderberries contain nutrient dense, immune boosting, antiviral properties, typically made into syrups for coughs, colds, and respiratory conditions during flu season. They are high in vitamin C, vitamin A, flavonoids, beta carotene, and iron. There is a lot of folklore surrounding the elder tree, especially involving fairies. The name sambucus derives from the Greek word Sambuke, a musical instrument supposedly made from elderberry wood. Elderberries have always had a reputation for healing the sick, but in elderberry’s golden age, it made music to heal the spirit.
The trees have been our long time friends and allies. They are special, and a wonderful way to ease into making plant medicine.You may think, well, once the elderberry syrup is made, isn’t the best part of the berries extracted for the syrup. Yes. That is true. Which is why you should still take your daily elderberry shot! Find my elderberry syrup recipe here!
To Use Fresh or Dried?
You can use either. For these truffles I used the reserve elderberries from my elderberry syrup that were dried. I order all my herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs where they are all organic! I have yet to experiment with fresh elderberries, as they are not as abundant as they are in the United Kingdom. If you are harvesting fresh from a tree, make sure the stems are crimson, and when you touch the branches, the berries practically fall off.
What Else Can You Do With the Leftover Berries?
I couldn’t bare to throw out my leftover berries, or as herbalists call a “mark.” I used a tablespoon of them and steeped tea for ten minutes and it yielded a fruity tangy sipping drink. I even poured more boiling water over them a second time, and steeped a bit longer and it was just as delicious! You can always compost the berries too or even try baking them in a pie or galette. They are still quite tart, and a little crunchy though, so I’m not sure how well this would work.
How to Make the Truffles
After you are finished with your elderberry syrup, set your leftover berries aside. First, roast your nuts for five minutes at 350 degrees. This will allow them to release their flavor. Trust me, this is key!! While they are roasting, soak your dates. Make sure and peel the skin off and pit them. Blend them in the food processor and remove, and set aside. Now blend the nuts for a few seconds to resemble a crumbly consistency. Add the blended date mixture back in the food processor, and add in the rest of the ingredients. Add maple syrup to taste. Refrigerate the dough for 20 minutes so it’s easy to roll them in balls. Once you roll them into balls, melt some chocolate in a double boiler and use tweezers to dip the balls in the melted chocolate and allow to cool on a baking rack or plate. Alternatively, you can roll the balls in crushed cashews, pecans, or hazelnuts. The possibilities are endless!!!
What type of Chocolate to Use
This is always up for debate! I have recently discovered HU chocolate. It’s so creamy and vegan! I use the simple dark chocolate that is 70% cacao for dipping the truffles into. For the cacao powder, I love using Ghirardelli because it’s rich and complex. Much better than your average generic powder. The nicer the chocolate, the better the truffles. Well…of course!
I hope you enjoy these elderberry chocolate truffles, also known as “elderfairy truffles” after a vote on cute names over on instagram. I’d love to know what you think in the comments and if you have any other ways to use leftover elderberries!
Elderberry Chocolate Truffles aka “Elderfairy Truffles”
These dreamy chocolate truffles are not only delicious, but consist of immune boosting elderberries. After you make your syrup, use the leftover berries in these little fairy bites! Perfect for Valentine’s Day!
- Prep Time10 min
- Cook Time10 min
- Total Time20 min
- Yield15
For the burger
- 10 mejdool dates pitted and peeled
- ¼ cup elderberries from elderberry syrup
- ⅓ cup coconut shredded
- ⅓ cup cashews
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ⅓ cup cacao powder
- Pinch of salt
Preparing the spices
Soak the dates in warm water for ten minutes, then pit them.
Preheat the oven to 350 and roast the nuts for five minutes to release the flavors.
In a food processor, blend the dates, to form a paste.
Set the paste aside and blend the cashews until a crumbly mixture forms. Add in the rest of the ingredients and add maple syrup to taste.
Refrigerate the dough for 15 minutes so it’s easy to form in a ball.
In a double boiler, melt the HU chocolate bar and dip the balls in the melted HU chocolate. Rest of a plate to cool.
Refrigerate them to set, then serve in a crystal bowl garnished with fresh leaves, preferably from the elder tree!
