Date, Almond & Cacoa Bliss Balls
Talk about delicious! These chocolate morsels have a ‘fudgey’ consistency that makes the perfect afternoon pick me up!
I store these fabulous bliss balls in a glass jar filled with the desiccated coconut in the freezer or fridge for anyone to help themselves to.
A note on Ingredients:
Almonds:
- Use RAW, LOCAL & UNPASTEURISED almond if possible. Most almonds that are imported from the USA are pasteurised, which kills the flavour, especially if making your own almond milk or almond butter.
I have been sourcing my nuts and seeds from By Nature for many years. They have a great stall in Cape Town at the Oranjezicht Food Market
Dates:
- You can use dried dates which tends to be cheaper or you can buy fresh dates, I like Zamli dates from Woolies but fresh medjool would be great too. If using dried dates (pitted), please soak in hot water for 20 minutes, drain well and then continue with the recipe.
Cacao VS Cocoa:
- I can write a whole article on the difference between cacao and cocoa but in summary, generally, raw cacao products, made from fermented, dried, unroasted cacao beans, are less processed and healthier than cocoa. In fact raw cacao is actually a bit of a superfood and when sourced correctly has many health benefits. I like the the Soaring Free Superfoods brand.
Date, Almond & Cacoa Bliss Balls
The perfect 'pick-me-up' snack made with goodness!
Ingredients
- 1 cup soft medjool dates, pitted by hand
- ½ cup almonds
- 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil/extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup desiccated coconut
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180c
- On one oven tray, toast almonds, on one side, and the desiccated coconut, on the other side - until lightly golden and fragrant – remove and cool. Keep an eye on the roasting times of the coconut and almonds, as it might differ.
- Add the cooled toasted coconut to a small glass storage container with a lid. PS: You will store your bliss balls in this container either in the fridge or freezer.
- Place the dates, almonds, cacao, coconut/olive oil and tiny pinch of sea salt in a food processor and pulse until the mixture comes together when pinched together.
- Roll a heaped tablespoon date mixture into small balls and place in the container with the toasted dessicated coconut, roll the bliss ball until completely covered in the coconut mixture. Continue until the mixture is used. TIP: Give the container a shake and a swirl to ensure all the balls are covered in coconut.
- Store in a container in the fridge or freezer
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