These almond-cashew date balls are my favorite treat. They are perfect pre workout, post workout, as a nutrient dense weeknight dessert, or just to satisfy the sweet tooth. Dates are a favorite fruit of mine. They have a wonderful caramel-y flavor that I just love. My favorite part is that they are an incredibly healthy treat. I love to use as a sweetener when baking, in yogurt (non dairy of course), in homemade trail mix, on top of oatmeal and in pies and crumbles.

Dates have been around since around 5,000-6,000 BCE and are known as nature’s candy. Not only are they absolutely delicious, they are nutrient powerhouses. They contain protein, fatty acids and an array of vitamins and minerals. Including, but not limited to, Vitamin A, lutein, vitamin K, niacin, B6, folate, pantothenic acid (another B vitamin), choline (brain booster), calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc and phosphorus.

On top of all this, they help protect against tooth decay even being so high in natural sugars. This is because they contain elemental flourine, not the man made flouride that is in added to water or what is in flourinated toothpaste. (Learn how to make your own toothpaste here.)

When eaten in moderation, dates have been linked to several health benefits including: protection from free radicals, preventing strokes, heart disease and certain cancers.

These date balls are an excellent way to incorporate this amazing food into your diet. They are simple, delicious, full of good for your fiber, healthy fats and a nice snack before the gym or as a treat at the end of the day.

Here is a video on how to make them as well!

Sources:

http://foodfacts.mercola.com/dates.html

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/7348/2

http://www.medjooldates.com/faq-nutrition.asp

http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/GEPTS/pb143/CROP/DATE/date.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Phoenix%20dactylifera%20cancer

Paleo and Vegan Almond-Cashew Date Balls

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Total Time 15 mins

Servings 7 servings (3 balls per serving)

Ingredients

  

• 15 dates seeds removed
• 1/4 cup raw or dry roasted almonds unsalted
• 1/4 cup raw or dry roasted cashews unsalted
• 1 tbsp raw honey or maple syrup
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp pink himalayan sea salt
• 1/3 cup enjoy life mini chocolate chips (optional)
• 1/3 cup raw shredded coconut flakes (optional)

Instructions

 

• Take your nuts and rough chop them in the food processor. Then set aside in a medium sized bowl. Mix in salt and chocolate chips if you are including those.
  
• Put the deseeded dates, honey, coconut oil and vanilla extract into the food processor and process into a paste.
  
• Add paste to the nut mix and mix well either with your hands or a rubber spatula.
• Once well mixed, with your clean hands, form into bouncy ball sized balls. I like to roll mine in the shredded coconut to keep them from sticking together in the container later.
• Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Notes

Now...for the sake of honesty, I am assuming these would take at most 15 minutes to make. However, I had a phone call and a toddler that interrupted the process. What shouldn't have taken very long took me a lot longer.

Enjoy!