Yup. It’s still snowing. Still. Ok, maybe not riiight this very second, but it did again last week. And it’s supposed to again this week.
This literally seems like the never ending winter, but whatevs. It’s almost March and that means spring is a-comin’! Right?
Winter storm after winter {freaking} storm, not only means sledding, snow princesses, and hot cocoa, but also cabin fever, and lots of time in the kitchen for mama, concocting all kinds of delectable and healthy treats for my lovies. And THANK GOD, they’re pretty adventurous little eaters. My oldest as a thing for liver pâté. She loves it. Beef liver pâté, to boot. I can eat just about anything, but that’s where I draw the line. She’s hard core.
Three words come to mind with these little balls.
Raw. Vegan. Delicious.
It’s true what they say about good things coming in small packages. These little balls are so jam-packed with nutrients, they’ll practically give you superpowers. Let’s start at the top:
1. Almonds
Probably the most nutrient-dense in the nut family, they are a rich source of fiber and protein, omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids, calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, selenium, and niacin, and of course, vitamin E, an important antioxidant that helps to neutralize free radicals.
2. Dates
Another great source of fiber and protein, dates are also rich in mood and energy boosting B-vitamins, iron, heart-healthy potassium, and thanks to their naturally occurring sugars, provide a great energy boost. Dates also contain antioxidants known as tannins, which have anti-infective and anti-inflammatory properties.
3. Cacao nibs
The mother ship of chocolate, cacao is probably one of the most nutrient and antioxidant-dense foods on the planet. Yes, really. I could write a book here, but I won’t. Cacao contains neurotransmitters that are associated with a healthy mood: serotonin, dopamine, and phenylethylamine. Is it any wonder chocolate makes us happy? In addition, cacao has been linked to improved cardiovascular health, containing polyphenols – the same beneficial antioxidants found in red wine. The key to remember here is cacao {the raw completely natural and unprocessed form of chocolate} is the superhero – not the processed bar that you’re buying at the store.
4. Coconut oil
A rich source of healthy fats that has been linked to enhanced metabolism, immune system, and blood sugar stabilization, among other things. I’ve spoken at length about my love affair with coconut oil before. Read that rant here.
5. Unsweetened shredded coconut
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, see #4 above. After all, coconut oil is a by product of coconut meat {which is what the shreds are}.
6. Chia seeds
Another favorite of mine, chia seeds are great source of fiber, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants. This is another topic near and dear to my heart. Read that tribute here.
These little balls make a great snack, pre/post-workout energy boost, after dinner treat, or a nice side with your morning smoothie. Or propaganda to bribe a four year old into doing her chores. Don’t judge.
The snowballs disappeared right about the same time the snow melted – two days later. I’m amazed they lasted that long. Probably because I put them in an unmarked stainless steel container like this one in the fridge. Genius, if you ask me.
Does the cold weather bring out the baker in you? What are your “go to” recipes? Please leave a comment below. I’d love to hear!
- 1 cup raw, soaked almonds {buy here}
- 12 medjool dates, pitted {buy here}
- ¼ cup raw cacao nibs {buy here}
- 1 tbsp. coconut oil {buy here}
- ¼ cup, plus 2 tbsp. shredded unsweetened coconut {buy here}
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract {buy here}
- 1/8 cup chia seed {buy here}
- Set aside the 2 tbsp. shredded coconut in small plate. Place all ingredients into food processor and blend for 1-2 minutes, until mixture becomes similar to very fine {sticky} pebbles.
- About a teaspoon at a time, roll into 1-inch balls and dip in shredded coconut to lightly cover entire ball.
- To make your almonds more digestible, soak in filtered water for about 8-10 hours, rinse, and drain.
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How do you reduce the sugar content of Coconut Cacao Snowballs recipe? If I were to half the number of dates. What could I use instead?
Yum! I did not have any cacao nibs so I used cacao powder instead. They taste great. Do you think instead of almond nuts you could use almond butter?
Thank for the recipe!