A lot of people love Nutella. in case you are unfamiliar with this highly addictive spread, it is a sweet paste made from hazelnuts, sugar, and cocoa. These cacao date hazelnut balls contain similar ingredients, minus the sugar and cocoa. These energy balls contain raw hazelnuts, raw cacao powder (different from cocoa), unsweetened raisins, and dates. The dates provide the sweetness, giving balance to the bitterness of raw cacao powder. The hazelnuts a nuttiness and help give these bites some texture and chew, while the raisins add an additional level of sweetness.
Regarding raisins, which are acceptable to enjoy during your cleanse, make sure that they are unsweetened and free of preservatives. Despite their size, raisins contain a lot of energy, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Because they can be calorically dense, enjoy them in moderation. For reference, a one-half cup serving of raisins contains about 217 calories and 47 grams of sugar. A 12-ounce can of soda has about 150 calories and 33 grams of sugar. That makes them a higher calorie and sugary treat, which is why people refer to them as nature’s candy.
Hazelnuts are naturally rich in healthy fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals. They also contain zinc, thiamin, fiber, magnesium, manganese, copper, and vitamin E. Furthermore, hazelnuts contain a surprising amount of antioxidant compounds, some of which have been known to benefit heart health, decrease blood cholesterol, and reduce inflammation. A eight-week study found that eating hazelnuts significantly reduced oxidative stressed compared to not eating hazelnuts, which caused no effects.
- Prep Time:15m
- Total Time:15m
- Serves: 12 servings
- Yield: 12 balls
- Category: Full Body Cleanse Approved, Appetizers & Snacks, Raw, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Ingredients
- 8 oz Medjool dates, pitted
- 2 tbsp. raisins
- 1/2 c raw hazelnuts
- 3 tbsp. raw cacao powder
- 1 tsp. alcohol-free vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add the pitted dates and raisins to a food processor and pulse a few times to combine.
- Add the hazelnuts, cacao powder, and vanilla extract and pulse until all of the ingredients are fully incorporated. You may need to stop blending, scrape down the sides of the processor, and continue blending a couple times.
- Wet your hands with cold water and form the mixture into bite-size balls. You should be able to get 12-14 balls, which you can put on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Place the balls in the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour. Remove and enjoy immediately. Store leftover energy balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, or in the freezer for up to two months.
