Dark Chocolate Covered Almond Stuffed Dates are so easy to make & extremely satisfying. These little bites hands down are one of my current favourite snacks!
Dates and almonds are my go-to snack as they provide the perfect combination of carbs that provide fuel for the body and protein to keep you full longer. Considering this, and that I am a big fan of dark chocolate, I thought I would change things up a little, so made these little truffles.
We always have lots of dates at home and thought this would be a creative and fun way to use some of the dates I have lying in the fridge. These little bites are perfect for satisfying your little sweet craving!
NUTRITION FACTS
Nutrition Profile of Dates (Medjool)
Dates are an excellent source of potassium with an impressive 334 mg per 2 dates (very close to the amount in a banana).
2 Medjool dates (50 grams) provide 130 calories, 36 grams of carbohydrates and are rich in dietary fibre.
Dates also contain smaller amounts of certain minerals including iron, calcium, folate, phosphorus, and magnesium!
These dried fruits are also a source of antioxidants, namely beta-carotene!
Nutrition Benefits of Almonds
1 ounce or 28 grams of almonds (about 28 whole kernels) provides 160 calories. However, it is important to note that research suggests that we don't actually absorb all the calories from nuts including almonds, so this amount is actually less!
In terms of nutrition, 1 ounce of almonds offers 6 grams of protein, 3 grams of fibre and 14 grams of fat, mostly monounsaturated fats that have been associated with many health benefits.
Almonds are also extremely rich in Vitamin E and a good source of magnesium, potassium, and calcium.
Dark Chocolate Health Benefits
Dark Chocolate (70-80% cocoa) is a great source of antioxidants, which have an important role is fighting free radicals in the body!
1 ounce of high-quality dark chocolate is a good source of fibre (3 grams) as well as many minerals including iron, magnesium, potassium & copper.
Keep in mind that if you switch to milk chocolate, you lose up to half the minerals noted above, including iron, magnesium, and copper. You are also adding more sugar when opting for milk chocolate. So, in summary, while its perfectly fine to enjoy a piece of your favourite milk chocolate, in order to get the nutrition benefits, you really have to go for dark!
Recipe
Makes 12 Chocolate Covered Almond Stuffed Dates
Ingredients
4 oz dark chocolate
1 tsp coconut oil
12 medjool dates
36 almonds ( 3 almonds per date)
Directions:
Begin by removing the pits from the dates
Insert 3 almonds in each date and press firmly to secure almonds
In the meantime, melt coconut on the stove. Add dark chocolate and stir on medium-low heat until chocolate is completely melted and smooth
Dip each almond stuffed date into the chocolate mixture until fully covered and lay on tray with parchment paper
Sprinkle with coconut flakes
Place tray in freezer for 15 minutes to set
Remove from freezer and enjoy!
Keep the rest of dates in an airtight container in fridge and grab whenever you feel like a tasty and satisfying snack!