Low Carb Chocolate Rum Balls

Nana Lee's Note:

From Laura Dolson,Your Guide to Low Carb Diets. You can whip these treats up in 5 minutes, and they make a great gift for the low-carber in your life. Vary the amount and kind of liquor to taste - if you cut down, just replace the rest with water, or sugar-free flavored syrup.

• Total Time: 5 mins
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 17 rum balls

• 1 cup almond flour (best without the skins, in this case)
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons butter , softened to room temperature
• 2 tablespoons powdered erythritol , a sugar alcohol*
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons rum or 2 tablespoons brandy or 2 tablespoons whiskey , etc, vary according to taste
• ½ cup Splenda granular

Directions:

1. Note about erythritol:
2. I realize that the erythritol is a special ingredient.
3. Some stores are starting to carry powdered sugar alcohols, or you can order online from Netrition or other places.
4. I haven't figured out how to make really delicious chocolate treats without it at this point.
5. Erythritol is the sugar alcohol with the least blood sugar impact, but you can use others.
6. If the erythritol you use isn't powdered, it won't dissolve much in this recipe, so I recommend running it through a blender first, but I'm happy that the most recent erythritol I got came powdered, which is great.
7. Mix all dry ingredients together in bowl.
8. Add vanilla and liquor.
9. If the artifical sweetener is liquid and concentrated, add it to the liquor.
10. Since there are different liquid sweeteners of different concentrations, you may have to play with the total amount of liquid, and cut down on the liquor, or add water.
11. Usually the total liquid you want is about 2.5-3 T.
12. Add the liquid slowly and mix until it all comes together.
13. Roll into balls.
14. The flavors will mellow over the next few days.
15. Store in refrigerator or cool place.
16. Carbs depend on serving size.
17. 17 balls will get you exactly 1 gram of effective carbohydrate per ball, plus a tad over a gram of alcohol and 1.5 grams of fiber.