Original Chocolate Truffle Oats Recipe

It’s been an unusually mild winter this year, but afternoon sweet cravings seem to be as fierce as ever at our office. In my quest to share a satisfying and indulgent fix with some nutritional benefit, I looked to February for a little inspiration:

National Cherry Month
Heart Healthy Month
National Fiber Month
Celebration of Chocolate Month
Oatmeal Monday (2nd Monday in February)
World Nutella® Day – February 5th
National Almond Day – February 16th
National Chocolate Covered Nuts Day – February 25th
National Pistachio Day – February 26th

I came up with this original Chocolate Truffle Oats recipe  –  loaded with goodness and deliciously decadent!

Chocolate Truffle Oats

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp. butter
2 cups Country Choice Organic Rolled Oats
2 Tbsp. maple syrup
1/2 cup almond butter
1/3 cup Nutella®
3 Tbsp. coconut milk
4 oz.  dark chocolate

Filling:
1/2 cup dried cherries, finely chopped
1/4 cup pistachios, finely chopped
Or any dried fruit and/or nut combination (ex. figs, apricots, almonds)

Finishing (optional):
3 oz. dark chocolate, melted
Sea salt, ground

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease a 9×13 sheet pan with butter. Spread rolled oats evenly on pan. Drizzle with maple syrup. Bake at 350ºF. for 25 minutes, stirring half way through.
Place almond butter, Nutella® and coconut milk in glass bowl and heat in microwave for 20 seconds or until melted. Stir in chocolate chips until well incorporated. Add baked rolled oats to chocolate mixture, stirring until evenly distributed. Take 1 heaping tablespoon and mold it around a teaspoon of dried cherry and pistachio mixture (or desired filling), forming a ball. Place on parchment-lined paper. Repeat with remaining mixture and filling.
Drizzle balls with melted dark chocolate and sprinkle with ground sea salt (optional). Makes approximately 36 truffle bites.

Do you have a favorite “healthier” treat? Please share!