If you ever want to know what goes well with peanut butter, just ask me. You name it and I’ve tried it with peanut butter. There is a TV-news-scroll-type ticker constantly streaming through my thoughts that reads something like, “I wonder how that would taste with peanut butter?” Followed by a reflexive response from my hand to dip-and-discover. My latest dip-and-discover adventure was cardamom and peanut butter. You are going to want to get on this train. It is going places you want to go. Not only are we combining cardamom and peanut butter, but we are adding chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, and sea salt. It’s gonna be a good day.
Besides being just a wonderful combination of flavors, these truffles meet another need of mine: healthful eating. I am always looking to create recipes that incorporate my favorite foods in a way that I consider healthful. I say I consider healthful deliberately. I don’t ascribe to a model that links increased health to a particular food item. This model CAN be helpful, but in my experience calling some food items “healthy” and some “unhealthy” is prescribing a one-size-fits-all solution to a many-sizes problem. “Truffles” and “chocolate” are not traditionally considered healthy foods, but given the way I make them, and the ingredients I use, I consider that they increase my well-being and health.
I believe in active discussions about food and wellness that demand us to find what is healthful for ourselves. I say active because it requires paying attention to how I feel every day and adjusting my diet as needed. There is not a one-size-fits-all solution to wellness. Most of us would agree with this and know it to be true from experience. But for some reason we don’t always act consistent with this wisdom. I don’t know why and I am not going to postulate here, because, oy shut up already! But, there does seem to be an incredible draw among us to label foods and diets as “healthy” or “not healthy,” when in reality what is and is not healthy is a very subjective thing. In my opinion, there is no such thing as a healthy food, or diet, or exercise, instead there are healthy foods, diets, and exercises for me or you. What is great for one person might be death dealing to the next. We’ve all heard too many health related anecdotes to not incorporate this wisdom into our own lives.
When the media, a friend, or family member seems to have a neatly packaged answer to a question that we are challenged to answer, it seems so much easier to accept that answer rather than confront the challenge of finding our own answers, which will ultimately allow us to build a life that truly works. Easy in the short term, perhaps, but in the long term very costly. I am constantly endeavoring to use myself as the primary resource, and how I feel as my guide. This is certainly not to discount the incredible knowledge and wisdom of friends, family, and professionals. I gather and learn everything I can from my external world, but it is always a balancing act for me to never lose my own voice and what I believe will work best for me and my life whilst incorporating wisdom and knowledge shared by others.
But back to these truffles, because that’s where it’s at. Making your own truffles might sound intimidating. Fear not. These are incredibly simple and they are filled with healthy ingredients (hehe, just kidding). Joking aside, they are made with dark chocolate, which I find to be the perfect dessert, and at times a great headache remedy, homemade peanut butter, which is simply blended peanuts with salt, and four spices; cardamom, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. These simple and unadulterated ingredients are just right for my system. If you pick up truffles/candies from the store (unless you are buying high quality), you are probably ingesting a group of ingredients that are perhaps hard to pronounce and most likely have more sugar and additives than you would care to be aware of. Plus, and finally, you have the chance to be a household rock star once you whip these up and serve them on a fancy platter. Go ahead, call yourself a chocolatier. I do. And not too many people look at me strange…well, they do, but not for the chocolatier comment.
- 1 Cup homemade peanut butter
- ¾ Cup roasted and unsalted peanuts
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla
- Ground seeds from 1 Cardamom pod, about ⅛ Teaspoon
- ½ Teaspoon cinnamon
- Sea salt to taste
- ½ Cup dark chocolate chips 69% cocoa
- 1 Bar 86% Ghiradelli (3.17 oz.)
- Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a food processor blend roasted and unsalted peanuts until only crumbs remain.
- Measure out 1 cup of homemade peanut butter and mix in your ground cardamom seeds, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt.
- Mix in ⅓ cup of the peanut crumbs you just made. Add more crumbs if the mixture is looking at all runny. It should be the consistency of cookie dough. Set the remaining peanut crumbs aside.
- Measure out 20 balls of your peanut mixture using a 1¾ teaspoon cookie scoop and place on your prepared sheet. If you don't have a fancy-pants cookie scoop like me, just use two teaspoons and guesstimate the size.
- Let the peanut butter balls set in freezer for 30 minutes or longer. The longer you leave them in the freezer the easier they are to work with.
- Melt your chocolate over a double boiler. Use any dark chocolate you like.*
- Remove peanut butter balls from freezer and one by one drop the balls into your melted chocolate, spooning chocolate over the top with a spoon.
- Once covered in chocolate remove ball by balancing it between two forks and place back on the baking sheet. Sprinkle the top with peanut butter crumbs. (Coat with peanut crumbs immediately so that the crumbs stick to the melty chocolate)
- Place in freezer to set for an hour. Store leftovers in fridge.
Peanut butter, cardamom AND sea salt? I’m yours! But seriously, I know what you mean about being weary of dub something ‘healthy’ – what is good for some won’t work for another, and there are few one-size-fits all rules when it comes to eating (except maybe that trans fats are bad?….). Thank you for this deliciousness!
Hehe! Glad to hear we agree on the fallacy of one-size-fits all solutions. I hope you get give these a try. I finished my second batch the other day 🙂
What a unique combination! I mean, I adore anything with peanut butter and chocolate as it is, so I’m sure adding some cardamom into the mix just enhances those flavors even more 🙂 Absolutely beautiful!
Cardamom with peanut butter is exceptional! I have never tried it with store-bought peanut butter, but with homemade peanut butter I can attest to the fact that it will blow your mind. <3
I wholeheartedly appreciate your peanut butter addiction! Because it has brought these to fruition 😉 also cardamom? Yes please! Xoxo
I’m glad my love for peanut butter benefits more than just me! Haha! You can’t really know me without having some peanut butter concoction ushered your way. xoxo
These look delicious and pretty simple to make! Plus I LOVE dessert recipes that don’t require baking! SCORE! Great topic about the one-size-fits-all thing. I hate when people say what worked for them WILL work for everyone else and if it doesn’t it’s because they didn’t do it right. Ha! NO, it’s because your healthy diet doesn’t work for me. I learned what worked for me by trial and error. I suggest my way of eating to others and tell them if it doesn’t work, try something else! We humans make things so much more complicated than they have to be!!
“We humans make things so much more complicated than they have to be!” AMEN and well said. I hope you get a chance to make these truffles they are pretty easy and the process of making them is really fun so it is all well time spent.
Look at you handling those forks like a chocolatier! Absolutely beautiful work Kathryn! I’m sad to say that I’ve developed a sensitivity to peanut butter. It gives me terrible skin issues. But occassionally I pull out the peanut butter and enjoy every last bite, because like you, I’m always imagining ways to eat it; I love it so much. So those few times I do enjoy it comes with many days of strategically planning! Peanut butter and chocolate is one of my most favorite combos by the way! No doubt the one size fits all approach doesn’t work. We must figure it out… trial and error is key. That’s how I eventually realized my issue with PB! Thank you for this deliciousness my dear!
Look at you handling those forks like a chocolatier! Absolutely beautiful work Kathryn! I’m sad to say that I’ve developed a sensitivity to peanut butter. It gives me terrible skin issues. But occasionally I pull out the peanut butter and enjoy every last bite, because like you, I’m always imagining ways to eat it; I love it so much. So those few times I do enjoy it comes with many days of strategically planning! Peanut butter and chocolate is one of my most favorite combos by the way! No doubt the one size fits all approach doesn’t work. We must figure it out… trial and error is key. That’s how I eventually realized my issue with PB! Thank you for this deliciousness my dear!
Ohh yeah! The first step to being a chocolatier is saying you are one…or something like that 😉 Oh gosh, I’m nervous now. I have been having some skin issues myself and now you’re making me think it might be my beloved peanut butter. Yike! I will have to do some testing. I’m praying it’s not the peanut butter! xoxo
I’m a big peanut butter fan, but actually not that adventurous with it in desserts, these look so beautifully scrumptious I’m sold!
Yes you’re so right, we have to listen to our bodies, often changing, needs and create a diet and lifestyle that suits us. People always want to put things into neat boxes and that’s not life. In fact that’s the whole point isn’t it, wellness is holistic. And it’s true, I too find dark chocolate to be a headache remedy at times! And then I take it preemptively just in case! XX
Hi Amy!
You have a very happy future in front of you if you haven’t discovered the wonders of peanut butter for dessert. My sister first turned me onto it with peanut butter spread over dark chocolate. It is so simple and SOOOO good!
I completely agree about folks wanting to put things into neat boxes…it would be nice if life worked that way but reality has a very different story to tell.
Yes, chocolate as a preemptive is always a good thing 😉
These are so adorable and cute – I could eat all of them. I haven’t made truffles yet but all these lovely combination of flavor scare inspiring me. And what’s not to love about dunking peanut butter goodness in chocolate!
Hehe! Nothing not to love! I definitely could eat all of them too…oh wait I did 🙂
You’ve hit the nail on the head with wellness! What I aim for everyday is just balance and I make an effort to be mindful of the way I feel and what my body wants. These cardamom truffles sound delightful and I am just as obsessed with nut butter as you are, although for me I think it’ll have to be almond butter. xo
Hi Gen, it sounds like we are of like minds about wellness. Listening to ourselves is THE most important thing. Almond butter is my #2 <3
These truffles are stunning!! I love making desserts that you can really taste the ingredients, you know what I mean? Simple, real, and delicious. I was listening to a podcast episode with Robert Holden and he described chocolate as a way to have a divine experience.. and I have to say I agree! Sometimes chocolate just makes me feel so good, that I believe it must be good for me!
I definitely know what mean! I like how you put it, simple, real, and delicious. I’ll have to check out that podcast it sounds really interesting. I think enjoying food is good for us…so even if you are eating a food that is traditionally labeled unhealthy but YOU feel good and you love eating it, then it’s good for you (as long as you are not lying to yourself). Just the enjoyment alone is good for our health and well being.
I love peanut butter too!
Gorgeous actions shots and this sounds a really lovely recipe.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hey Kimberly! Thanks for your sweet words! xoxo
Yum yum and more yum. What more is there to say. I’ve been on a cardamom and nut butter kick lately too. Such a great flavour combo. And yes! Yes yes! To listening to your body and doing what feels right for you. I hate superfood promises or heavy reliance on one thing to fix all things, you know? We all know that One Size fits all is NEVER truly that…have you seen some of the one size fits all clothing out there…I beg to differ.
Ha! That’s a funny observation about one size fits all clothing…more like one size fits none! Isn’t cardamom and nut butter amazing! I love it with almond butter too <3