These healthy fruit and nut snack balls make a perfect snack anytime.
They are essentially dates, cranberries, cherries, almonds, and walnuts, and deliver the nutrition of the fruit and the protein and fiber of the nuts.
They are also very easy and simple to make.
Ingredients (makes approx. 24 balls):
40 medjool dates
¼ cup cranberries
¼ cup cherries
¾ cup almonds
½ cup walnuts
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
Optional, but recommended:
½ cup mini chocolate chips
DIRECTIONS:
Place dates, cranberries, and cherries in a food steamer.
Steam for about 10 minutes.
Place steamed fruits in a food processor, and blend them until creamed. Add cinnamon and salt and blend a bit more.
Place almonds and walnuts in a blender, and pulse until nuts are in very small little chunks, as shown.
Dump both the nuts and fruits into a large bowl, and mix and stir until completely incorporated.
If using chocolate chips:
Let fruit/nut mixture cool in fridge before attempting to stir in chocolate chips.
If you are using chocolate chips, now’s the time to mix those into the fruit mixture.
Roll mixture into little 1-inch balls with your hands, and place all on a parchment/wax-paper lined tray.
Place in fridge for 10+ minutes before using.
Michael's Test Kitchen 