Carey Neff's Chocolate Truffles

MarraMamba's Note:

Using his espresso cake as a base, here is a low fat truffle that is still yummy. Nutrition info at the bottom of the directions.

• Total Time: 45 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 50 truffles

espresso cake

• 2/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 cup raw sugar
• 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup pureed prunes or 1/2 cup applesauce
• 3 egg whites
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup coffee

truffles

• 1/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese or 1/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt

Coatings

• unsweetened cocoa powder (optional)
• finely chopped nuts, walnuts, pecans, pistachios (optional)
• finely chopped toasted coconut (optional)

Directions:

1. Cake:.
2. Preheat the oven to 350F (175C). Spray a 9-inch square cake pan and dust with additional cocoa powder and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine the flours, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt, set aside. In another bowl combine the prunes, egg whites, vanilla and coffee. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Pour into the prepared cake pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.
4. Truffles:.
5. Allow cake to cool to room temperature. Cut the cake into small cubes and place in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add the ricotta cheese and mix to a smooth consistency. Chill the mixture before portioning.
6. Portion into 1/2-ounce balls and roll in cocoa powder or finely chopped nuts or toasted coconut.
7. Nutrition info for each topping:.
8. Per plain truffle or 1 truffle dusted with 1/2 teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder:.
9. Calories 25; Protein 1g; Total Fat 0g; Saturated Fat 0g; Carbohydrates 5g; Dietary Fiber less than 1 gram; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 30mg.
10. Per 1 truffle rolled in 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped nuts.
11. Calories 30; Protein 1g; Total Fat 1g; Saturated Fat 0g; Carbohydrates 6g; Dietary Fiber less than 1 gram; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 30mg.
12. Per 1 truffle rolled in 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped coconut.
13. Calories 30; Protein 1g; Total Fat 0.5g; Saturated Fat 0g; Carbohydrates 5g; Dietary Fiber less than 1 gram; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 35mg.

Reviews

[justcallmetoni]

I loved the cake on which this recipe is based and that was enough to inspire me to try the truffle. As noted there, curious to try variations, I replaced the coffee with water with a 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract added. Perfect cake for the holidays when you want to join the festivities without looking like Saint Nick. I rolled my truffles in cocoa with some red and green non-pariells to match the holiday. On the first day i was a little disappointed with the results as the seemed dry and tasted more like mashed cake than a confection unto itself. Left overnight to chill, they developed really nicely and developed a denseness to mirror truffles - but without the guilt. I think I like the cake best without the added effort, but these were delicious and enjoyed at our party.