Chocolate Walnut Vanilla Date Truffle Bites

Steps

1. Chop the dates and finely chop the chocolate chips.
2. Divide the unsweetened cocoa powder: put about a quarter of the cocoa powder (about 2 teaspoons) in a small shallow bowl for coating and keep the remaining three quarters of the cocoa powder for the dough.
3. If the dates feel dry, soak them in warm tap water for 10 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
4. Pulse the walnuts in a food processor until coarse crumbs form, then tip about a quarter of the walnut crumbs into a mixing bowl and set aside.
5. Add the dates, the three quarters of the unsweetened cocoa powder kept for the dough, the almond butter, the vanilla and the salt to the walnuts in the processor and blend until the mixture clumps into a sticky dough.
6. If the dough is crumbly, add the water a teaspoon at a time and pulse until it holds when pinched.
7. Scrape the dough into the mixing bowl with the reserved walnut crumbs, add the chopped chocolate chips, and knead by hand until evenly mixed.
8. Roll the dough into 12 balls, about 1 tablespoon each, three per serving.
9. Roll each ball in the remaining quarter of the unsweetened cocoa powder in the shallow bowl to coat.
10. Chill the bites on a plate in the fridge for 30 minutes until firm; store covered in the fridge up to a week.