I love combining chocolate with strawberries, and with Valentine’s Day right around the corner it’s all the excuse I need to have some serious fun in the kitchen.

For these little gems, I blended cocoa and vanilla with dates and cashews, then added freeze-dried strawberries for a burst of flavor. They’re delicious straight up (without sugar, flour, or oil), and extra rich drizzled with melted chocolate for a festive flair. These are easy as can be, yet just a teeny bit decadent, which makes them the perfect treat for Valentine’s Day.

I’m making a batch of these for my Valentine this year, and I hope they’ll make your Valentine happy, too! xo

ALMOST NAKED CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY BITES

• Servings: makes about 24 to 26 cookie bites
• Print

1 cup raw cashews
1 cup pitted dates
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups freeze-dried strawberries

Optional: 1/3 cup vegan chocolate chips, melted

Instructions

Add cashews, dates, cocoa, and vanilla to the bowl of a food processor (I use a Cuisinart). Process until mixture is well blended. Add strawberries and pulse until strawberries pieces look like little speckles.

Scoop small portions of the mixture out with a spoon. Roll into one-inch balls.

Enjoy as is – or drizzle melted chocolate chips over each truffle! Delicious chilled, too.

Copyright © Vicki Brett-Gach | Ann Arbor Vegan Kitchen