These Low-Carb Bourbon Chocolate Truffles Will Be Your New Guilty Pleasure

Chocolate truffles seem like the last thing you should eat when you’re sticking to a diet. But when they’re homemade with a low-carb recipe … they can’t be all bad, right?

Blogger Melissa Sevigny, of I Breathe I’m Hungry, shared the recipe for her low-carb bourbon chocolate truffles, and they sound scrumptious.

The recipe uses plant-based fats and low-calorie sweeteners instead of dairy products and sugar: avocados, coconut oil, granulated sugar substitute (think: Splenda) and sugar-free chocolate syrup. There is a teeny amount of heavy cream — but it’s just 2 tablespoons, where traditional recipes call for about a cup of cream.

The main ingredient, of course, is cocoa powder. Sevigny notes that choosing a quality cocoa is key to creating the tastiest truffles. She recommends splurging a little on the best cocoa powder you can find: Guittard or Valrhona come to mind, and Sevigny recommends the Saco brand.

Once the ingredients are assembled, making the truffles could hardly be easier. Dump everything in a blender or food processor and mix until smooth. Chill the mixture until it’s solid enough to roll into balls — at least an hour.

After the mix is cooled to your liking, shape spoonfuls into 1-inch balls. Roll the balls through chopped pecans and voilà: a sweet little treat with a bit of crunch. Give the truffles another turn in the fridge to firm up again and they’re ready to serve. (Side note: You can omit the bourbon or the pecans to fit your dietary needs.)

Another rendition of the recipe, by Keto Connect, uses that full cup of heavy cream and solid baking chocolate to make a ganache. It’s the low-cal sweeteners that really cut down on the carbs. Keto Connect’s YouTube channel posted this how-to video of the truffles:

The I Breathe I’m Hungry truffles come in at 4.5 grams of carbohydrates per truffle; Keto Connect’s are just a bit less with 3.75 grams of carbs each. The calories are nothing to sneeze at — 111 and 192 calories, respectively — but if you’re mostly looking to cut back on carbs, both recipes are mighty impressive. (By contrast, one Godiva dark chocolate truffle has more than 10 grams of carbs.)

Hopefully some of these end up in your Easter basket this year!