Raw Date Balls
WARNING: * HIGHLY ADDICTIVE * NO-BAKING REQUIRED * 100% HEALTHY * KID-FRIENDLY * GLUTEN-FREE * DAIRY-FREE * GUILT-FREE * TAKES LESS THAN 10 MINUTES TO MAKE *
Enough reasons to try these?
In all honesty, I never follow a recipe when I make these scrumptious & nutritious date balls. It changes every time, depending on what I have in the pantry.
My young boys LOVE to help make these … pouring, blending, rolling, and of course eating the mixture as we go!
Ingredients
1 cup pitted dates – preferably the fresh sticky caramel-like medjool dates (although you can use soaked dried dates).
1/2 cup to 1 cup nuts – I use ground pecan nuts and throw in a handful of almonds or any other nuts I may have in my pantry.
1/2 cup desiccated coconut
Optional
Oats
Mixed Seeds (I use pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, linseeds and sunflower seeds)
Raisins
Goji Berries (these add a nice splash of colour)
Vanilla Extract
Honey (if too dry or not sweet enough, depending if you have a sweet tooth like me!)
Cacao Powder (for that healthy rich chocolate option!)
Method
Add the basic ingredients to a food processor and pulsate until smooth.
At this stage I open cupboards and jars in search of other adventurous additions and add to the mixture in the processor and continue to blend until it is the correct consistency.
I test the mixture by pinching some of the mixture between my fingers. It should be soft and at the right consistency to roll into a ball without sticking to your hands or crumbling.
If you find the mixture is too dry, add honey or some lukewarm water.
If the mixture is too sticky, add more dry ingredients such as coconut or oats.
I scoop a large teaspoon of mixture into my palm and roll into a ball (about 1 inch in diameter).
Pour coconut onto a flat surface and roll the balls in the coconut.
For some variation, try rolling some of the balls in either cinnamon, toasted sesame seeds (my favourite!) or for those that enjoy bitter-sweet combinations, try cacao powder. YUM!
Best kept in the fridge. Or like me, in a small container in my handbag for an emergency energy snack on the go, or to keep children happily munching in their carseats on long car journeys!
Notes
IMPORTANT! Remember to remove the pips from the dates! I double, sometimes triple check my dates before placing them in the processor, as I have experienced an embarrassing moment watching a friend (who was over for tea & date balls) politely remove a large pip from her mouth after taking a bite into what should have been a soft delicate treat. Eek!
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