No-Bake Dark Chocolate Coconut Bites

Jenny is in perpetual search for easy, weeknight recipes to attempt to feed her family. When they balk, she just eats more.

Today: Your new multi-purpose, five-minute dessert.

Here are a few situations that can be addressed by Dark Chocolate & Coconut Bites:

• The gals are coming over for dinner and you got so busy running around trying to find the best piece of halibut in town you forgot to make dessert.

• You have this super annoying neighbor who is always saying things like, “Oh j’adore chocolate,” but then brings bags of Mint Milanos to the block party and you’re feeling sort of passive aggressive and want to show her up but not in a way that would interrupt your marathon viewing of season one of “Veep.’’

• You’ve fallen madly in love with a lady/fella who sometimes feels like a nut. (Sometimes, she/he don’t.) 

This dessert takes all of five minutes to prepare, and after a little nap in the fridge, is ready to impress even fancy dinner guests. (What’s a fancy dinner guest? Well, they wear mascara for one. Also maybe some a jacket featuring a fleur-de-lys.) 

I only have a few tips: Of course get nice chocolate, as it is the centerpiece of these little guys. I really liked the texture that chunky peanut butter added. If you are used to melting chocolate with butter, it’s going to look odd in the pan, and the syrup might start to sizzle a little when you add it so watch your flame. Be sure the batter is a bit cool before you roll it. I say no to the extra coconut, unless that is really your thing. 

Dark Chocolate & Coconut Bites by we eat. happy.

Makes 16 to 18 truffles

1/2 cup good quality semi-sweet chocolate
1/2 cup natural peanut butter (I used chunky, but smooth would be fine too)
1/3 cup maple syrup
3 tablespoons dark cocoa powder
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
A pinch of sea salt (if your peanut butter is not salted)
1 1/4 cup of unsweetened shredded coconut, + more rolling, but this is optional

See the full recipe (and save and print it) here.

Photo by James Ransom