Cacao, the raw form of cocoa, contains the highest concentration of antioxidants of any food in the world. By weight, cacao has more antioxidants than red wine, blueberries, acai, pomegranates and goji berries combined. Dates are a good source of fiber, an excellent source of easily digested carbohydrates. Dates are among the most alkaline of foods and contain a special type of soluble fiber called beta-Dglucan, which has been shown to decrease the body’s absorption of cholesterol and balance blood sugar. This recipe is adapted from Naturally Nourished: Food-as-Medicine for Optimal Health.
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole almonds
- 2/3 cup pecans
- ½ cup walnuts
- ½ cup ground chia seeds
- 1 cup pitted dates + 3–4 more dates as needed
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
- 2/3 cup raw cacao powder
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 cup almond butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ cup chocolate nibs
- Optional: ¼ cup coconut shreds
Preparation
Place almonds and pecans in a food processor and pulse until chopped into pieces. Remove the pieces from processor and set aside.
Place the walnuts and ground chia seeds in food processor and mix continuously until coarsely ground. Add the 1 cup of dates and pulse until combined with the nuts. Add the coarse sea salt and pulse until well blended. Add the cacao powder, maple syrup, almond butter, vanilla and salt. Process until the mixture is thick and smooth, gathering into a massive ball-like formation.
Add the chopped almonds, pecans and nibs; pulse a few times until combined (you want the almonds to still remain in crunchy chunks). If the mixture doesn’t roll into balls easily, add more dates (1 at a time, as needed).
Form the balls with a scoop and then shape them by rolling them between your hands. Roll the balls in the coconut shreds if desired. Place in a sealed container in the freezer until hardened.
