raw recipe: coconut date balls

Posted on May 30th, 2011 by mountain girl  |  7 Comments »

The other day I had a hankering for a little something sweet, and yet something that would hold me over for a while, too. After briefly scrounging around in the kitchen, I came up with this yummy snack ball recipe. It was exactly the ticket – sweet, satisfying and nourishing all at the same time. I downed half the recipe, didn’t feel stuffed, and was satisfied for the rest of the day.

Although they seem like a snack, these little balls stand alone as a satisfying meal due to the good amount of protein and healthy fats they contain. They have a seed base, which are higher in protein and lower in fat than nuts, and the coconut oil in this recipe is actually a metabolism booster – it’s a fat that burns fat. The flax meal adds fiber to this already high-fiber concoction, not to mention the omega-3 fatty acids it contributes – which are great for overall health and especially women’s health.

Existing recipes for raw date balls abound – and they are all different so I really didn’t worry about following a recipe. I just threw these together with what I had on hand. If you try them, feel free to substitute ingredients or adjust the sweetness, taste and texture to fit your liking. I used sesame seeds as the base because I love their slight savoriness in sweet recipes, but you could definitely use a different seed or nut for a sweeter taste. Almonds, cashews, and sunflower seeds would all be delicious. I can’t wait to try a few more variations myself – I might throw in some carob powder and peppermint oil for a “chocolate mint” version. And maybe I’ll try a gingery-spice version in the fall.

Here’s my basic recipe:

1/2 cup seeds or nuts (I soak mine)

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1 T flax meal

1 T coconut oil

1 tsp vanilla

a dash of sea salt

4 or 5 dates (I tend to like things not too sweet, so you may want to add more dates for a sweeter taste, or you can add a bit of stevia. We love Sweet Leaf liquid stevia, which comes in several different flavors. But you do need some dates, to hold it all together nicely.)

Blend all the ingredients together, adding a little water if you need it to make a sticky cookie-dough consistency. Roll into small balls and then roll the balls in some extra shredded coconut.

They’re done! Just try not to eat them all at once…they’re so yummy!

An added note: For Zia, I make these with sunflower seeds and just a tablespoon of sesame seeds. I roll them in coconut, flatten them to form a nice little cookie shape, then refrigerate them stacked in a tupperware. That way they keep their shape and are easy for little fingers to handle. They make a great quick and healthy snack. Best of all, she thinks she’s eating cookies. Well, she is.

P.P.S. I tried these dehydrated (or you could bake them at a really low temp) and they were extra good – it added a little crunch.

7 Responses to “raw recipe: coconut date balls”

  1. jodi says on :

    What a great recipe! I haven’t ever made anything like this before but I am going to try it. 🙂 I love all the raw food recipes you share! I bet Jacob and Judah would eat this one. 🙂

  2. carlye says on :

    Lately I have felt a prompting in my spirit to really look deeply into what I am eating. I am so food focused! I LOVE food. Starting to wonder if I’ve made it an idol in some way because the idea of giving any of it up sounds just downright horrid! LOL! But here I am. Wanting to bless my Maker with what He made. I am looking at the books in your list and noticing some books on food. You recommend those? I am needing to get some new perspective…to move forward. I am ready. Thanks for your thought-provoking post. 😉

  3. carlye says on :

    ok, now i am seeing all the healthy eating sites on your blog now too. DUH! HAHA! i will take a “look-see” at those as well. 🙂

  4. mountain girl says on :

    Jodi, let me know if you like the recipe! The boys might prefer sunflower seeds to sesame – but you never know!

  5. mountain girl says on :

    Carlye, I know what you mean about not wanting to give up foods you love!

    I think if you focus on adding healthy things (rather than subtracting everything that’s not great) it might be easier.You really can change the things your body craves if you just do it a little at a time – maybe weed out one thing at a time as you feel ready, and give yourself healthy options that you like.

    A good green smoothie with fruit is amazingly satisfying and can provide so many nutrients that you really don’t have any cravings afterwards. I’ll post some green smoothie ideas soon – maybe they’ll help! Thanks for your comments!

  6. CALEB says on :

    THEY LOOK GOOD BUT THE DATE PART, I DO NOT LIKE DATES
    THEY ARE TOOOO SWEET

  7. mountain girl says on :

    Hey Boy! Yes, I used to hate dates too when I was a kid. But they are only too sweet if you eat them plain…that’s like eating a spoonful of sugar! Better to mix them into things, or chop and use as a topping. Hey, we can’t wait to see you again!