Cho-co-co-late Balls (vegan, without refined sugar)

Over the last few years I’ve been trying to reduce my sugar intake a lot and to eat more healthy in general. But one thing I just can’t live without (and believe me, I tried for weeks at times!) are sweets. Not so much the hard candy type but anything sticky, moist, creamy, crumbly and chocolaty. If it wasn’t for so many other reasons I’d totally agree with this saying: “Save the earth, it’s the only planet with chocolate!”

Luckily it seems like sugar-free sweets are the new big thing. I keep finding great, mostly raw, recipes for amazing sweets that look and taste deliciously unhealthy but in fact they are only sweetened with more natural sweeteners, like dates, which almost makes them healthy! My Pinterest board is filling quickly with recipes and the book “Rawsome Vegan Baking” of the blog “A Rawsome Vegan Life” is on top of my cookbook wishlist. There is so much to try!!

Delicious & healthy

Today I also want to share a recipe with you that is perfect for calming your sweet tooth, while not being unhealthy. These Cho-co-co-late Balls are sweetened with dates, which are little health bombs themselves (high in potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6 and fiber). Still I have to warn you, even though there is no refined sugar in this, dates too are rich in natural sugar and calories. So even though these are healthy, they should still be eaten like a little treat, not like a lunch. Just sayin’. But who am I to judge, I could totally eat a whole cake without blinking. ; )

Sticky Cho-co-co-late Balls

Healthy Cho-co-co-late Balls

• 180 grams unpitted dates
• 1/4 cup toasted hazelnuts
• 4 tbsp soy milk (or nut milk of your choice)
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 + 1/2 cup puffed amaranth

Soak the dates in water for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile toast the hazelnuts in a pan until skin comes off. Peel of the skins a little and set aside. Use the hot pan to melt 1 tbsp of coconut oil. Pit the dates and combine with melted coconut oil,  cocoa powder, soy milk and hazelnuts. Mix all ingredients in a food processor until it becomes a paste. Now fold in the puffed amaranth and form little balls. Leave in fridge for at least 2 hours before eating.

MerkenMerken