Almond Date Choc balls

Looking for a tasty, quick and nutritious snack? Here is one that ticks those boxes. You don’t even have to bake these tasty bliss balls.

You can swap in different dried fruit for the cranberries such as dried apricot, peach or apple.  You can use almond or a blended nut butter and add in chia, hemp or other seeds for more healthy fats, fibre and crunch. These make a great after school snack, lunch box addition if nuts are allowed at school (for kids and big kids i.e adults), pre or post exercise snack and for the older Australian as a nutritious addition to the day. Why not make a batch and deliver to an older friend, neighbour or even someone living in a nursing home, these are not just for the young ones!

Recipe: Almond Date Choc Balls

Makes 12, Serves 6, Prep Time 15 min, Fridge Time- 30min

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons cacao or cocoa powder
• ½ cup slivered or flaked almonds (little extra for rolling balls in)
• ¼ cup desiccated coconut
• 3 tablespoons nut butter
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup dried dates
• 2 tablespoons Chocolate protein powder (if desired)

Method

1. In a bowl add the dried dates with ½ cup boiling water and let stand for 5minutes, drain away most of the excess water.
2. In a food processor blend together the cacao powder, almonds, dates, prunes, cranberries until roughly chopped.
3. Add the nut butter and process until mixture forms into a ball. You may need to add a little bit of water for it to come together.
4. Roll heaped teaspoons of mixture into balls. Roll balls in extra flaked almonds or almond meal, coconut or cacao powder to finish. Some rolled in each looks great when serving on the plate.
5. Chill for 30 minutes before serving and enjoying.