I am a recovering ice cream addict. I’m not ashamed to say that at one time in my life, sitting down and chowing a whole pint of Ben and Jerry’s was not out of the question for me. At times in my life, ice cream became a once-a-day thing, which probably wouldn’t have been so bad, if I had been able to control my portion size. But I generally couldn’t. Ice cream owned me.
So when I first started Paleo, ice cream was something I missed terribly – along with bread and crackers and all sorts of other carby things. But ice cream was right up at the top of my “Most Wanted” list. And unlike a lot of other things on the list, it took me longer to think about an alternative to ice cream. Why? Maybe because I thought that even a Paleo safe alternative would awaken my inner ice cream beast. But here’s a little side tip I’ve learned along the Paleo way: once your body gets used to your Paleo diet, you’ll actually lose your taste for the super sweet stuff you may have once indulged in. Treat your body right and it becomes your ally, not your enemy.
So, to be honest, most days now I don’t even think about ice cream. If I want something after a meal, I actually crave fruit like strawberries and blueberries. If you had told me that a few years ago, I would’ve laughed in your face. I was never one of those “I could really go for some fruit” kind of people. In fact, those people always kind of annoyed me. I mean, really – who craves things that are good for you?! Well, now, I do. That’s what Paleo has turned me in to – and I don’t find it annoying in the least!
But whether you’re looking for a special treat or you want to serve a delicate, refined, and tasty dessert at your next party, these ice cream truffles are a great way to go. Start with full fat coconut milk. Remember that fat content doesn’t matter with Paleo – it’s the carbs that matter.
The sweetness in both the ice cream and the chocolate truffle coating comes from honey, as it does in many Paleo recipes. While I’ve seen some Paleo folks advocating for the use of natural no-calorie sweeteners like Truvia, I really prefer the subtle sweetness of honey in my Paleo sweets, so that’s what I’ve used here. Depending on the honey you use, it can also help impart a more complex flavor to your ice cream truffles. High-end honey (the best stuff) often has subtle varieties of floral notes, like clover or lavender. So experiment a little and see what delicious combos you can come up with.
And the chocolate – oh, the wonderful chocolate. Make sure you get unsweetened cocoa powder because you don’t want any sneaky refined sugar lurking in your ice cream truffles.
One last final comment about these cute little balls of deliciousness: Valentine’s Day is coming up. Wouldn’t you love to treat your special person to a sweet treat that’s also good for them? I know I would love anyone who made ice cream truffles for me!
(Make this next: Matcha Bliss Balls)
Ingredients
- For the ice cream
- 1 can full coconut fat milk
- 2 tbsp melted coconut oil
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- For the glaze
- ¼ cup melted coconut oil
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp honey
Directions
- To make the ice cream place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and well combined.
- Transfer the mixture in an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Transfer the ice cream in an airtight container and freeze for one hour.
- Using an ice cream scoop, add scoops of ice cream to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and immediately return to the freezer.
- Freeze for 30 minutes or until frozen again.
- To make the glaze, mix all the ingredient in a bowl until well combined.
- Roll each ice cream ball into the glaze and return to the baking sheet.
- Freeze for minimum 2 hours before serving.
Servings
Time
More Good Chocolate Truffle Recipes
Chocolate Orange Truffles
Truffles are a rich and elegant dessert, which require no cooking. For this recipe the flavors of dark chocolate and orange zest are compacted into a bite-size ball. They are easy to pack in a lunch box for a special midday treat, and are abundant in healthy nutrients and antioxidants.
Ingredients
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup pitted Medjool dates
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for coating
1 tbsp orange zest
2 tsp honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Instructions
1. Soak the dates in a bowl of water for 10 minutes to soften. Drain and set aside.
2. Add the almonds to a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add in the remaining ingredients, including the dates, and blend until smooth. Place in the refrigerator for 2 hours to chill.
3. Use your hands to roll the chilled dough into one dozen small balls. Dredge in cocoa powder and top with additional orange zest, if desired, to serve.
These look so good! I wish I wasn’t allergic to fruit. 🙁
Do you suppose they could be made with heavy cream and butter instead of coconut milk and coconut oil?