This truffle’s no trouble at all

These gooey, chewy bite-sized fruit gems are a not-too-sweet ending to your holiday meal and a great way to make a dent in that annual gift tower of dried fruit and nuts from Aunt Ida. You don’t even have to turn on the oven. Choose your favorites and roll in coconut, sesame seeds or unsweetened cocoa powder.

Fruit gems



½ cup roughly chopped nuts (any combination of almonds, walnuts, pecans)

1¾ cup of dried fruit (any combination of dates, raisins, cranberries, apricots, cherries)

½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut

2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Sesame seeds, unsweetened coconut and cocoa powder for coating

Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until well combined. The mixture should stick together when pressed into balls.

Scoop spoonfuls of the mixture and form into quarter- size balls. Roll in coconut, sesame seeds or unsweetened cocoa powder and refrigerate until firm.

Lori Marrie