These healthy dark chocolate coconut bites are the ultimate chocolate lover’s snack – and so easy to make. They taste like an Almond Joy, but they’re healthier and sweetened with maple syrup!
Picture this: creamy almond butter and coconut truffle filling coated in smooth dark chocolate, topped with more shredded coconut. Drooling yet? I know I am!
Homemade Almond Joy Truffles
I love Almond Joy bars, so I wanted to recreate a healthier version I could make at home. Enter: these easy dark chocolate coconut bites!
You only need 4 essential ingredients to make them (plus vanilla extract and salt for an extra hint of flavor).
I love the combination of rich dark chocolate, nutty almond butter, and shredded coconut sweetened with maple syrup. It’s dreamy and oh-so-delicious, without being overly sweet.
These healthy Almond Joy bites are perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up or quick dessert when that chocolate craving hits. Just make a batch, toss them in the fridge, and enjoy them all week long!
They’re gluten free, and can easily be made dairy free by using dairy-free chocolate.
Recipe Ingredients
A few notes on the ingredients in these coconut truffles:
- Shredded coconut is the star of the show! Be sure to get unsweetened coconut. It may also be labeled as “desiccated coconut” on the package.
- You’ll want good quality dark chocolate, either chocolate chips or a chopped chocolate bar. Feel free to use semisweet or milk chocolate – the bites will just be sweeter.
- Creamy, natural almond butter is essential for a soft and nutty flavor, and helps keep the filling together.
- Maple syrup sweetens the truffle filling. Make sure it’s pure maple syrup – not maple-flavored/pancake syrup – for the right texture and flavor.
Have extra almond butter? Try this almond butter frozen yogurt bark or these chewy almond butter cookie bars!
How to Make Chocolate Coconut Bites
To make these homemade Almond Joy truffles, start by pulsing shredded coconut in a food processor or blender, until the coconut is finely chopped and feels like it’s sort of sticking together.
Next, add almond butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt. Pulse until combined and evenly distributed. (You may need to stir the mixture with a spoon in between pureeing/blending to make sure it all gets mixed in.)
Then, it’s time to form the truffle filling into balls. Use a cookie scoop to measure an evenly-sized amount of mixture, then use your fingers to compress the mixture into a ball-like shape.
(If you want to make these even more like Almond Joys, wrap the filling around an almond before rolling it into a ball!)
Use your palms to roll it into a smooth ball, then place it on a sheet pan lined with wax or parchment paper. Continue until all the mixture is used up. Place the sheet pan in the refrigerator to chill for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, melt the dark chocolate in the microwave with a tablespoon of almond butter. (I recommend using a glass bowl for best results, and microwaving at 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval).
Remove the truffles from the fridge, then dip each one in the melted chocolate to coat. Use a fork to remove it and place it back on the sheet pan.
Then, sprinkle with more shredded coconut (or whatever you want!).
Lastly, chill in the fridge until the chocolate coating is set.
Storage Tips
Store these truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
Why You’ll Love These Coconut Bites
- low in sugar (sweetened with maple syrup and dark chocolate)
- easy and quick to make
- no baking
- just 4 essential ingredients
- perfect for coconut/chocolate lovers
- kid-friendly
Check out this list of some of my favorite easy sweet snacks for more snack inspiration!
Coconut Bites Topping Ideas
Shredded coconut is a classic topping for these truffles, but you can easily switch it up with:
- Chopped nuts (peanuts, pecans, pistachios, etc.)
- Crushed cookies (Oreos, Biscoff cookies, Nutter Butters, graham crackers, etc.)
- Sliced almonds
- Dried fruit (strawberries, banana slices, etc.)
- Granola
If you try these dark chocolate coconut bites, I’d love if you shared your thoughts with a rating and comment below!
More easy truffle recipes to try:
- Biscoff Brownie Truffles (No Bake)
- Chocolate Avocado Truffles with Pecans
- Easy S’mores Truffles (4 Ingredients)
- No Bake Birthday Cake Truffles
Healthy Chocolate Coconut Bites
Ingredients
- 1½ cups unsweetened shredded coconut (plus more for topping, if desired)
- 5 Tbsp creamy almond butter, divided
- 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips*
Instructions
- Pulse coconut in a food processor or blender until it's finely chopped and starts to stick together.
- Add 1/4 cup of the almond butter (save the extra 1 tablespoon for later), plus the maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt. Puree/blend until the mixture is fully combined.
- Use a cookie scoop to to measure out about 1.5 tablespoons of mixture into your hands. Use your fingers to compress it, then use your palms to roll it into a smooth ball. Place it on a sheet pan lined with parchment or wax paper. Continue until all the mixture is used. Place the sheet pan in the fridge to chill for at least 5 minutes.
- Melt dark chocolate in the microwave** with 1 tablespoon of almond butter.
- Remove truffles from the fridge. Use a fork to dip each one in the melted chocolate to coat. Allow the excess to drip off back into the bowl. Place it back on the sheet pan. Sprinkle each truffle with more shredded coconut (or other desired toppings).
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 10-15 minutes, until the chocolate is set.