This little snack comes together in minutes and requires neither oven nor stove top. It is made with the same type of ingredients you would use in trail mix, but instead of pouring it all in a bag, it is whizzed up in a food processor until smooth, and then shaped into balls. It gives opportunity to add some extra flavourings to the mix, and elevates dried fruit and nuts out of the backpack and onto the table. I made two types this week, but the combinations are endless!
Cocoa Balls
About 8 dates (remove stone)
1 handful prunes
1 handful almonds
1 handful quick oats
2 heaping tablespoons cocoa powder
Blitz until smooth. Form into balls by the teaspoon. Decorate with a sliced almond if you wish.
When you are blitzing it, it will look like it will never come together. Then the processor starts flinging bits around, and then it all comes together as a paste. It takes about 5 minutes for the mixture to heat up enough for the nuts to release some oil to help the process along.
The mixture moves loosely in the food processor at the beginning.
When the nuts heat up enough from the friction, it all comes together in a large clump.
Ginger Coconut Balls
1 handful of dates (remove stone)
1 handful dried (candied) ginger
1 handful pecans
1 handful quick oats
zest of one orange
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 handful dried coconut to roll balls in
Blitz everything except the coconut. Form balls by the teaspoon. Roll balls in coconut to finish.
Everyday Cheer 