Beauty Boosting: Chilli Chocolate Truffles For Radiant Skin

You’re not alone - the arrival of the colder season in the UK brings with it a deep-set fear of dull and dehydrated skin to many.

I adore the Autumn and Winter months. Lighting candles, wrapping up in lots of layers, and finally cracking out the Christmas pyjamas. But if like me, you strive for a positively radiant and blemish-free complexion that screams ‘I just got married and it was the best day of my life!!’, it seems like an unachievable goal that no amount of moisturiser can rescue. And well, I’m not getting married, so I can't even pray that I’ll get that magical ‘I just got married’ face of pure happiness.

But one thing that does bring me a lot of happiness (and I don’t say that lightly) is chocolate and I feel like these months really are a reason to indulge. Luckily, it’s as great for the skin as it is delicious. Yes, you heard that right, so the arrival of Autumn needn’t be a fear anymore.

Now I’m not suggesting you go out a buy Mars Bar everyday, I’m talking about dark chocolate and raw chocolate. Cacao contains high levels of antioxidant flavanols that protect the skin from free-radicals, that can lead to premature ageing, skin diseases, as well as helping to keep the skin hydrated, soft and youthful. It’s also a well-known mood-booster too, keeping hormone in-balances at bay that can lead to angry breakouts.

The combination of the chilli in these truffles, which is high in capsaicin, also helps to fight any inflammation. But don't fear the medjool dates and the cinnamon help to give these melt-in-the-mouth truffles a sweet, caramel taste.

Ingredients

Makes 24 Truffles

2 Cups Medjool Dates (pitted)

1/2 Cup Walnuts

2 TBSP Coconut Oil (melted)

2 TBSP Cacao Powder

1/4 TSP Salt

1/4 TSP Cinnamon

1/4 TSP Chilli Powder

To Top (optional):

Dark Chocolate (melted)

Chilli Flakes

Blend down your medjool dates until they form a smooth paste.

In a high powered blender or food processor, pulse the chopped walnuts with the coconut oil, cacao powder, salt, cinnamon and chilli powder.

Then add in the date paste and blend together until combined. There will still be little chunks of date and walnut, but thats okay.

Simply roll the mixture into even balls about the size of a grape and leave to set in the freezer for 5 minutes.

Optional:

I then melted down some dark chocolate and topped with chilli flakes before letting them be devoured.

Kay's Kitchen Playlist:

Ariana Grande - Breakfree (It's a guilty pleasure)