The FridgeCardiologist-Approved Recipes for a Healthy Heart

HEART-HEALTHY CHOCOLATE ALMOND TRUFFLES

A Note from The Cooking Cardiologist: Dark chocolate’s antioxidant properties make this a heart-healthy treat. This recipe also uses agave syrup, which is about 90 percent fructose. Its sweeter than sugar, so you can use approximately 25 percent less.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup fat-free half-and-half
• 10 oz. bittersweet chocolate (at least 70% cacao)
• 2 tbsp. Smart Balance Butter and Canola Blend or Benecol
• ½ cup agave nectar
• ½ tsp. vanilla
• ½ cup crushed toasted almonds
• Optional: ½ cup shredded coconut to coat the truffle

Instructions:

1. Place the half-and-half in a heavy saucepan at low heat.
2. Break the chocolate into pieces and add to the half-and-half. Add the agave nectar, vanilla and Smart Balance. Continue heating until the chocolate is melted, smooth and thickened.
3. Place the mixture into an 8-inch square pan and chill in the refrigerator for about an hour to firm.
4. Toast the almonds and coarse crush in a food processor, short pulses (1 cup will equal ½ cup of crushed, chopped almonds).
5. When the chocolate is firm, remove from refrigerator and using a teaspoon form a ½ inch to ¾ inch ball. Roll each in the almonds and the other side in coconut if desired.

Makes: 40 (serving size = one ½” truffle, 68 calories)

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