No-Bake Truffles and Cookies, for my Mother-in-Law

My mother- in-law is a wonderful woman.  She has always been incredibly sweet and supportive of me and Dayv's vegan lifestyle.  Whenever there is a holiday, she tells me not to worry about bringing anything, that she will make and provide all of the food for us to eat.

To show my appreciation and love for her, I like to make her special holiday treats.  Last year, I gave her jars full of homemade truffles, candy and fudge.  However, due to various severe food allergies which have emerged in her this past year, providing those types of treats weren't an option.

One of the only "safe" foods that my mother-in-law is able to enjoy is Larabars.  I wanted to make various homemade "Larabars", with the main components only being nuts and dates, with a few other additions to make them extra special.

These treats turned out lovely and my mother-in-law loved them.  They are perfect to make for those who cannot eat baked goods, gluten, dairy, or sugar, or even for those that want a little something special but without the heaviness of traditional cake, candy, and cookies.

Have a lovely, productive day, whether it be a holiday or not ;)

Deconstructed Almond Joys

makes six

1/4 c almonds

4 dates

2 tbsp shredded coconut

bit of almond milk

1 tbsp cacao nibs

In your food processor, pulse together almonds and dates.  Add coconut and almond milk and process until mixed well.  Add cacao nibs and pulse about 5 minutes.  The dough will be a little crumbly, but it will hold together just fine.  Take dough and roll into small balls.  Keep in freezer until ready to be enjoyed.

Peanut Butter Truffles

makes eight

1/2 c dry roasted, unsalted peanuts

4 dates

1 tbsp shredded coconut

1 tbsp cacao nibs

In your food processor, process peanuts until they become a fine meal.  Add dates and process until a smooth, peanut butter forms.  Form into balls and roll half in coconut and the other half in cacao nibs.  Keep in freezer until ready to be enjoyed.

Mini Raw Chocolate Chip Cookies

makes six

1/4 c raw cashews

3 dates

1 tbsp cacao nibs

In your food processor, pulse together cashews and dates until well combined.  Add cacao nibs and pulse 4-5 times, just until completely interspersed with the rest of the mixture.  Form into balls.  Keep in freezer until ready to be enjoyed.