08 Mar Cashew, Date & Peanut Butter Balls
I think you’ll like these. Yesterday morning, I felt like playing in the kitchen and creating yet another “energy ball”. There’s something so satisfying about dumping a bunch of healthy things in the food processor and ending up with a delicious and nutritious treat in 5 minutes or less. It would take longer to purchase these than to actually make them!
Once the actual balls were made, I wanted to increase the visual interest and the nutritional value, so I rolled one batch in hemp hearts and the second in coconut milk powder (my new favourite product). Hemp seeds add protein, plant-based omega-3 fats, fiber and magnesium….they also have a nice mild taste. Coconut milk powder is a great product which not only can be added to smoothies and other dishes, but its texture is much like that of powdered sugar. You can skip this step, but I encourage you to give it a try!
Powdered coconut milk is a nice way to increase your intake of soluble fiber. It’s a prebiotic (good for gut health) and contains lauric acid. Lauric acid is a medium-chain fatty acid which has antiviral, antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, and anti-fungal properties. It is also said to increase metabolism. I thought it would be fun to roll the cashew balls in it, and I was really happy with the results.
If you give these a try, you may need to add a little water to the mixture. Medjool dates vary considerably in their moisture content. My particular batch was rather dry and I had to add 1 – 2 tablespoons of water to make the mixture hold. Other times, I haven’t had to add any water. So just in case, have it handy, and only add a small amount at a time; you don’t want to add too much, just enough so the mixture will hold together when lightly pinched. I hope you enjoy them as much as we did.
Cashew Date Peanut Butter Balls
1/2 cup natural peanut butter (I used Nuts To You organic)
1 cup pitted Medjool dates
1 cup raw cashews (I used Inari)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon Himalayan salt
Water if needed (likely no more than 1 tablespoon)
Hemp hearts for rolling – optional but recommended!
Coconut milk powder for rolling – optional but totally worth it!
Combine dates, cashews, peanut butter, salt and vanilla extract in food processor. Blend until mixture holds together when lightly pinched. You may need to add water. Just add 1 teaspoon at a time and blend to see if more is needed.
Roll into balls and roll in either hemp hearts or powdered coconut milk. Keep in covered container in fridge. Enjoy. 🙂