Essentially it's a snack sized ball of blitzed up ingredients which could include dried fruits, nuts, citrus zest, coconut, oats, nut butter, chocolate chips... You really are limited only by your willingness to experiment.
I usually whip up a few batches every other week, pop them in an airtight container and slide them straight into the freezer. It might sound odd but they never truly freeze rock solid. Little MissE (2yrs) is happy to grab one frozen and munch away. I even leave the boxes on a low shelf so the girls can reach a healthy snack for themselves.
Here's my top tips to whipping these up in a flash:
- most people use a food processor, but I don't have one. I use my Nutribullet 900 and it works a treat!
- if using a Nutribullet, try to pulse. I struggle with this so I make sure I'm paying attention or you'll get a weird mush
- always layer your ingredients, especially in a Nutribullet! Later fresh dates or dried fruit AWAY from the blades. The fruit gets to sticky and will clump. You want the dry ingredients (nuts, oats, etc) to coat the blades and then it will draw in the fruit.
- I don't recommend using a blender :(
- always use fresh dates. Dried dates are too small and dehydrated for my recipes
Here's our 3 favorites!
1. Choc Oat (nut, dairy, gluten, refined sugar free)
6 fresh medjool dates
1/2 c oats
1 tbsp cocoa (or drinking chocolate, protein powder or cacao)
- remove seeds from dates, tear in half and add to the small Nutribullet cup.
- add in oats and cocoa (or your alternative powder
- screw on blade and pulse/ blitz until the mix is just starting to stick together
- tip into a bowl and scrunch with your hands, if you can squeeze a small amount into a firm ball, you're ready to roll. Or blitz again if too dry.
- roll the mixture into 12 walnut sized balls. Wet your hands if the mix is too sticky
- place into a container and freeze (because of the oats I've found these never stick together)
2. Lemon balls (dairy, gluten, refined sugar free)
1 c raw unsalted cashews (or half cashew/macadamia)
3 fresh medjool dates (optional)
Zest of one lemon
Juice of half a lemon
1 tbsp coconut oil
Note: I add the dates to help the mix stick together but you can omit and blitz the nuts a little longer so that a little bit of nut butter starts to form. This will also help the mix bind
- remove seeds from dates, tear in half and add to the small Nutribullet cup.
- add in lemon zest, lemon juice, coconut oil and nuts
- screw on blade and pulse/ blitz until the mix is just starting to stick together
- tip into a bowl and scrunch with your hands, if you can squeeze a small amount into a firm ball, you're ready to roll. Or blitz again if too dry.
- roll the mixture into 12 walnut sized balls
- as this mix is a little wetter, place the balls on a plate lined with baking paper and freeze until firm. Once firm, transfer to an airtight container and store in freezer.
3. Raw Cinnamon 'Donuts' (dairy, gluten, refined sugar free)
1/2 c raw unsalted cashews
1/2 c walnuts
3 fresh medjool dates (optional)
1/2 tsp (or more) cinnamon
1 tsp maple syrup or honey
Small handful choc chips
Note: I add the dates to help the mix stick together but you can omit and blitz the nuts a little longer so that a little bit of nut butter starts to form. This will also help the mix bind
- remove seeds from dates, tear in half and add to the small Nutribullet cup.
- add in nuts, cinnamon and maple syrup
- screw on blade and pulse/ blitz until the mix is just starting to stick together
- tip into a bowl and scrunch with your hands, if you can squeeze a small amount into a firm ball, you're ready to roll. Or blitz again if too dry.
- add choc chips, mix and roll into 12 walnut sized balls
- place into a container and freeze (these don't seem to stick together either)
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