Healthful truffles a delicious reality
Healthful candy might sound like an oxymoron, but in this case it's a delicious reality. By whirring dried figs and dates in a food processor, you take advantage of the fruit's naturally sweet stickiness, turning it into a moldable paste that becomes a base for any number of confection variations - no added sugar needed.
Include a warm spice (or two) for aroma and flavor complexity (here it is cinnamon, but ginger or cardamom also work well), a bit of salt to enhance sweetness and provide contrast, and toasted nuts for richness and crunchy texture. I used almonds because I happen to have a lot around, but sesame seeds, pistachios, walnuts or hazelnuts would also do the trick and are in keeping with the truffle's Mediterranean inspiration.
After rolling the mixture into balls, coat them in unsweetened cocoa powder, melted chocolate, chopped nuts or, as I have done here, in unsweetened shredded coconut, for a festive treat that really hits the spot.
• Ellie Krieger's most recent cookbook is "Weeknight Wonders: Delicious Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less" (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). She blogs and offers a weekly newsletter at www.elliekrieger.com.