Chocolate Spice Indulgence Balls
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August 11, 2017 Updated August 6, 2019
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These chocolaty balls are naturally sweet, with a bit of spice.
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Image by: Thora Toft Prep time: 10 to 30 minutes Cook time: 0 to 10 minutes Makes: 4 servings Difficulty: Medium
• Gluten free • Dairy free • Egg free • Grain free • Soy free • -
These are easy to make and don't even require baking. You can really turn up the decadence by dusting them in one or more coatings, such as shredded coconut, or even "mock" icing sugar, made from ground coconut.
Use organic ingredients. Ensure the cinnamon is labeled certified gluten free. You want to purchase organic, non Dutch processed, not processed with alkali, and labeled gluten free. It should only contain cocoa / cacao, and no other ingredients.
Ingredients:
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• 14 Medjool Dates, pitted • 2 1/2 tablespoons Cocoa powder (non Dutch processed) • 1 to 2 tablespoons Cinnamon • 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon Cayenne pepper -
Coating Ingredients:
Note: These amounts are if you choose to make this whole batch with one coating. Reduce the amounts if you're going to use more than one.
Shredded Coconut Coating:• 1/4 cup Shredded coconut, packaged or fresh Toasted Coconut Coating:• 1/4 cup Shredded coconut, packaged or fresh Coconut Dust Coating:• 1/4 cup Shredded coconut, packaged or fresh Ground Nut Coating:• 1/4 cup Nuts of your choice Roasted Nut Coating:• 1/4 cup Nuts of your choice Cacao Dust Coating:• 1/8 to 1/4 cup Raw cacao powder • 1/8 to 1/4 cup Shredded coconut, packaged or fresh (optional)
Directions:
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- If dates are hard, cover with water and heat on the stove until almost boiling. Remove from heat, and let stand until soft. Remove from water and let cool to room temperature.
- Place the cookie ingredients into a bowl and mix until a paste forms. Chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes. You can blend this in a food processor, but note that this is very sticky, and a regular blender will not work.
- While chilling, prepare one or more coatings of your choice. See below.
- Once the date mixture is chilled, roll the mixture into 1/2" balls and roll in your coating of choice. See below for coating instructions.
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Indulge and enjoy!
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Coating Directions:Shredded Coconut Coating:
- You can use packaged shredded coconut. Or, if you have access to fresh ripe coconut, then grate fresh coconut meat to roll the chocolate balls in.
Toasted Coconut Coating:Toasted coconut it one of my ultimate favorite flavors!- Use packaged shredded coconut. Or, if you have access to fresh ripe coconut, then grate fresh coconut meat.
- Spread in a thin layer on a cookie sheet, and toast under the broiler. Watch it carefully, and stir to toss every minute, to get evenly toasted coconut.
Coconut Dust Coating:- This gives the illusion of powdered sugar with none of the excess sugar.
- Use packaged shredded coconut. Or, if you have access to fresh ripe coconut, then grate fresh coconut meat
- If it is not already very dry, then lay on a cookie sheet and dry out more in a 250 F oven for a few minutes. You don't want to let it brown, you just want to get it as dry as possible.
- Let cool. Once cool, place it in a blender or food processor, and pulse to shred finely. Be sure to use the pulse setting, as you don't want it to glob together. You want it to be loose and fluffy. If it clumps together, then lay it out on a cookie sheet or plate and press and separate with a paper towel.
Ground Nut Coating:- Finely grind the nuts of your choice.
- If using almonds, and they have skins, boil them for 2 minutes, drain and let cool slightly, and the skins will just peel off easily. Dry well, and grind.
Roasted Nut Coating:- If you want the lovely taste of roasted nuts, you can coarsely grind nuts of your choice, to the size desired.
- Lay the ground nuts on a cookie sheet and toast under the broiler. Watch carefully and stir and toss the nuts every minute or so, to get nice evenly toasted nut pieces.
Cacao Dust Coating:- You can use straight powdered cacao if you want a dark dusting.
- If you want a lighter dusting, then blend equal amounts of finely ground pale colored nuts or coconut with the cacao.
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FREE Guide10 Steps to Healthy Gluten Free Eating
The 10 Step Guide is packed full of tips, tricks, recipes and regular Member only tips to get you started on the road to living healthy without gluten.Photo by: Thora Toft
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