Gluten-free date and walnut snack

I get very excited when I’m doing this date and walnut snack, but my kiddos….are even more excited! They love those as an after-school snack (a really healthy option) packed with nutritious goodness, a real treat that can be prepared in literally as quick as 10 minutes. How can I not get excited?!

They make such a superb snack, just grab a few for work, at school, for a picnic, for travelling time, you name it.

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Just make them, I’m sure you’ll take them along everywhere you go.

If they last, ? they can last for many days in the fridge; I like them from fridge because they are nice and hard ?. If you decide to keep them outside, they won’t last long (they will just get eaten in minutes ? ?).

Dates…. we all know how yummy they are and for me dates are my sugar substitute  whenever possible for many years now.

This snack contains vitamins (A, K) and minerals as dates are such fantastic source of iron, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium and zinc, making them truly beneficial for our bones, our digestive track, our vision and our big hearts ?❤️ …. and these were only few nutritional facts about the dates that I was talking about but if we are to go to the walnuts, these are also so great and truly fantastic for us since they are so rich in polyunsaturated and omega-3 fats, packed with rare and really powerful antioxidants.

I know that a fistful of nuts a day keeps the doctor far away!! ?????

I love nuts in general but what I like mostly about them is the fact that they really improve the skin, hair and nails and apparently they are slowing the ageing process due to their high content of antioxidants. What I conclude from this is that nuts increase the life span?? I wasn’t quite sure why I don’t age any longer …. ???

But seriously now, are you eating sufficient nuts?! I know I’ve got you thinking now! ?

Okay, I have said enough and I am now sure you will make those balls that will give you that instant boost of energy which we all need around 4 p.m., don’t we?

Well, I do, and I do it badly and generally I snack on rubbish if I don’t have something quality like this.

Here is the recipe and I promise this time I will go on with the recipe and nothing else?

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Gluten-free date and walnut snack

Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Servings 4 about 35-40 balls

Author Ramona Sebastian

Ingredients

• 400 g Medjoul dates ***
• 100 g walnuts (organic)
• 45 g coconut (organic) dessicated
• 40 g chia seeds (organic)
• 1 pinch himalayan salt
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder (organic)
• 1 tbsp carob powder
• 2 grinds black pepper (optional)

Instructions

• Shell the walnuts if you have to.
• Take the stones of the dates and place them in a food processor.
• Place the walnuts in a pan on low heat and roast for few minutes, don't go too far from them as they burn quickly due to the high oil content.
• Give it a good old whizz in the processor. Add the remainder of the ingredients.
• Mix most of the desiccated coconut but keep some for later to roll on the outside.
• Take out of the food processor and make into small (1.5 cm) balls. Use the remainder of the coconut flakes to roll some of the balls or all of them.
• Keep outside or inside the fridge.

Notes

I normally keep them in the fridge so they are a little safer otherwise they will disappear way too quick?

Just make sure and promise me you will not eat them all at once, I know it's hard but try not to!

*** I use Medjoul dates because they are really 'meaty' and juicy and super delicious. But if you can't find those and your dates are slightly drier you'll have to soak them for at least 20-30 minutes.

The beauty of this recipe is that you can change ingredients tremendously according to your liking. You can also shape them differently by spreading the mix on aluminium foil put it in the fridge for 20 min until hard and then take them out and cut into the desired shapes.

I sometimes add extra superfood ingredients such as Acai berries, spirulina, chlorella, baobab or maca powder but there is so much that can be done here....

Stay tuned as I will later bring variations and combinations that you would absolutely get hooked to.

Enjoy and good day!