These homemade dark chocolate honey fig walnut truffles are a decadent yet healthy addition to a DIY chocolate box. With honey, figs, and chocolate, they're the perfect holiday gift or after-dinner treat! Plus they're easier to make than you might think!

This post is sponsored by Valley Fig Growers, using their Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid California Dried Mission Figs

When I was in the chocolate aisle stocking up to make these dark chocolate honey fig walnut truffles, an older man reached over to grab a box of bittersweet bars. "This is the best chocolate," he told me. "I'm getting it to make my truffles. You'd think it would be too bitter to eat, but it's not."

I nodded in agreement, and making conversation, asked what kind of truffles he had planned.

"Raspberry truffles. I use it to make my truffles every year," he continued on our way to the check out stand. "Truffles are so easy to make. I buy fresh raspberries and squeeze out all the juice. Then I fold that into a ganache along with some ground freeze-dried raspberries. You'd think it'd be too bitter, but it's not."

He turned to the cashier and repeated himself again.

Then he paused and turned to me "It's from Belgium, you know." (It's not, but I didn't have the heart to tell him). 

He never did tell me who was going to eat his homemade truffles, but he had over 4lbs of chocolate in his basket. The mere thought of this old man making homemade truffles every year to hand out to everyone he loves on Valentine's Day warms my heart. 

If he can make truffles, so can you. And these dark chocolate honey fig walnut truffles are even easier to make, in my opinion!

DIY Holiday Chocolate Box

These chocolate honey fig truffles make the perfect homemade gift for the holidays, treat for a New Year's Eve party, gesture of love on Valentine's Day, or chocolate-y confection for Mother's Day! Whatever the reason, you should make a batch of these honey fig truffles pronto. Pack them tight in a heart-shaped box for someone special, serve them up on a platter for dessert at a holiday party, bring a tray as a hostess gift, or eat them all yourself while watching your favorite movie with your cat. No judgements here.

I packaged up a half dozen for Zoella's teacher before stress eating the rest while my kids traded off waking each other up in the middle of the night...all night. Like I said, no judgements here.

Healthy Fruit Truffles

These nut and fruit filled truffles are still rich and indulgent like a good decadent truffle. A single truffle is enough to satiate your sweet cravings, especially when paired with high quality chocolate (unless you're stress-eating from crying children and no sleep...). Yet, they're much healthier than ganache-style truffles. Just figs, honey, and walnuts in the smooth jammy filling all enrobed in a heart-healthy deep dark chocolate. 

The sweet smooth fig filling with crunchy candied walnuts pops against a bittersweet chocolate shell.

How to make honey fig puree

To make the honey fig puree, you need a high powered blender or food processor. I recommend using a small blender jar for this small batch, but if you don't have one, just double the filling so there's enough to puree in your blender - You can always freeze the truffle puree to make later!

Start with just a little bit of water, pulse, scrape down the sides, and add more water if needed. The key is to make the puree thick enough that it can scoop and hold its form for dipping, but soft enough that the center feels smooth and creamy when you bite down. 

California Figs: The Best Dried Figs

The key to making this fig puree filling is using plump dried California Dried Figs. If you start with a sort of hard, sad, dried fig, you'll get hard, sad, dried non-jammy crumbles - in other words, the recipe won't work great. Instead, if you start with soft California Dried Mission Figs bursting with sweetness and notes of cabernet, you'll get a jammy smooth puree perfect for filling these truffles. 

I find that California Dried Figs are the softest, plumpest, and most flavorful ones you'll find, which is due to the fact that California has the most ideal climate for growing figs. Fun fact: 100% of the dried figs grown commercially in the US are from California (I love my state, can you tell?). Look for Orchard Choice Mission Figlets (my daughter’s personal favorite for snacking) or Sun-Maid California Dried Mission Figs - you'll know they're good just by feeling how soft they are.

Aphrodisiac Trifecta: Honey Chocolate Figs

Do you need a sexy treat for a special someone in your life? With dark chocolate, honey, and figs, these truffles are an aphrodisiac trifecta. Ha! Honestly, I'm pretty sure aphrodisiacs are mostly myth, but it's fun to think about for Valentine's Day or for someone special's Christmas gift! If ever there's a moment to make a super sexy dessert, it's now. Why not just GO for it?

(And now, in retrospect, I realize my mom took a bunch home to my dad...I don't want to know what happened.)