Toddler Truffles

Let's face it Halloween is about the costumes & the candy and I couldn't imagine having one without the other. We were invited over our friend Colettes' house for a Halloween shin dig and our baby was going to be just one of many toddlers running about trying to wrestle some sweet treats from the goodie bowl. I wanted to try and make up some bites that were kid friendly and somewhat nutritious for the the little ones. I found a recipe for Toddler Truffles online that used black beans as the main ingredient and modified it to accommodate any kids who might have tree nut allergies.I substituted nuts with quick oats to give some texture and cut the final "truffles" into small rectangles so they would be small enough for the little nibblers. The recipe was a big hit with the kids and the parents loved having a chocolate treat alternative that was packed with fiber and actually good for them. Here is the recipe. ENJOY

Toddler Truffles Modified from The Toddler Cafe
Makes about 24 mini squared

Ingredients:
One 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup quick oats
1/2 stick butter, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
2 eggs
powdered sugar, for dusting

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 300°F. Spray or butter an 8 by 8-inch pan; set aside.
In a large, deep bowl, combine the beans, sugars, quick oats, butter, baking powder, and salt. Using an immersion blender or food processor, thoroughly blend all ingredients. Once blended, add the eggs and combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until firm and the edges get slightly crisp. Cool and cut into small cubes. Dust with powdered sugar.
Store covered, up to 5 days in the refrigerator.