Try these delicious vegan Healthy Dark Chocolate Turtles that are dairy free, gluten free, and made in a snap with just 3 main ingredients!
Healthy Dark Chocolate Turtles for the win!
I’m not referring to the cute little reptiles that most people love because they are just so darn cute and have little old man faces. What I’m talking about is the good old gimme-some-of-those “Mmm..I love Turtles” (cue commercial song) turtles.
Unfortunately, the ingredients in these famed Turtles are not the greatest in quality. They are made with a whole lot of refined sugars, modified ingredients, and artificial flavours. To have them once in a while, not a huge deal, but I like to enjoy Turtles NOW all the way up until the New Year! I mean, I’ve got to stretch out this season and all of it’s delicious delights as much as possible.
So of course my solution was to make my own healthier version of Turtles that are just as delicious, enjoyable, and easy to pop-in-yo-mouth!
Hello revamped and much healthier ingredients list: Pitted dates, raw pecans, and wonderfully rich and decadent 70% dark chocolate.
The dates work perfectly as a caramel stand-in with their sweet, sticky, and rich taste and texture, and the dark chocolate brings in antioxidant and a decadent flavour, then the pecans add in a nice dose of healthy omega-rich fats, magnesium, and manganese.
I originally made these clean eating healthy turtles to bring to a friends party and they were definitely a hit! Everyone loved them and really couldn’t believe how much these tasty little morsels really tasted like the original.
Another bonus is that you do not have to be a whiz in the kitchen to whip these up. With only three ingredients and an incredibly easy method, this recipe fits for the most novice of cooks in the kitchen. I actually think this would make a great treat to make with the kiddies and get them involved in making healthier treats to enjoy around the holidays.
What’s not to love?? Go make some “Turtles”! Then, pack a couple in your lunch this week, and have them as a little afternoon treat when you get that urge to go to the vending machine…you’ll be much happier (and your body will thank you) that you enoyed one or two of these instead!
Healthy Dark Chocolate Turtles Recipe
Healthy homemade dark chocolate turtles made vegan, dairy free, gluten free, and with only 3 simple ingredients!
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 oz 70% dark chocolate
- 1 heaping cup pitted dates
- 2 oz pecan halves (about 40-45 small halves)
Instructions
- Process dates in a until they become a sticky and very thick jam-like consistency.
- Roll the processed dates into 15 marble-sized balls using the palms of your hands (if your hands are slightly wet from washing the dates will not stick to your hands when rolling), place the balls on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
- Press 2-3 pecan halves into the date balls and then place in the freezer for 10 minutes to set.
- Heat a small saucepan over very low heat and add in the dark chocolate, stir continuously until melted into a smooth sauce. Remove from the heat.
- Using a spoon, pour a small amount of chocolate sauce over each date/pecan mound. Repeat until each one is covered with the chocolate. The chocolate sauce will harden quickly becoming a shell over the date/pecan mounds.
- Place in turtles in the freezer to set for at least 10 more minutes.
- Keep turtles cold (in the fridge is fine) until ready to serve.
- Enjoy!
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More Vegan Treats You’ll Love:
- 12 Super Easy Plant Based Desserts
- Easy Homemade Healthy Peanut Butter Cups
- Healthy No-Bake Peanut Butter Energy Balls
Have a lovely weekend!
Christal // NITK
How many calories in one date pecan turtle??
Hi Jodye, approximately 60 calories
Can you give me the nutrition information, please?
Apologies if I missed it.
Hi Anne, I do not have the nutritional information for this recipe, but you can easily enter in the ingredients to an online recipe calorie calculator like My Fitness Pal to get the numbers!
Is a food processor the only option for the dates? Not sure how to process them?
Hi Jessica, it’s definitely the best method. You could try to soak them in hot water for a long time until they become very soft and then mash and mix with a fork to create a paste.
Perfect! Thanks for the response! Trying them today. ?
Enjoy!
What about a blender? All I have is a blender and a Ninja. The Ninja was quite difficult but it worked.
I will eat anything that is both healthy and chocolate
Then this is right up your alley! 🙂
Hello, I was just wondering if I could use prunes instead of the dates?
Thanks!
Definitely!
LOVE. These are even better than the original.
Thanks Julie!