Nancy’s Cherry Date Coconut Dessert Balls

YIELD: 24-30 1-inch Balls / Gluten Free
Prep time: 5 minutes to mix; 10-20 minutes to form balls and roll.
Ingredients
Dates, pitted (soft Medjool dates are best!) 1 pound
Almond butter, raw 1/3 cup
Cocoa powder, dark chocolate, unsweetened 1 Tbsp
Cinnamon, ground 2 tsp + more if desired
Cherries, dried, unsweetened, chopped ¼ cup
Coconut, dried, unsweetened, shredded ¼ cup
Walnuts, raw, chopped ¼ cup
Pecans, raw, chopped ¼ cup
Optional: additional ingredients for rolling balls: Pecans or walnuts, chopped
Coconut, dried, unsweetened, shredded Cocoa or carob powder. Amount: As needed
Method:
- Puree dates in food processor until thick paste consistency.
- Add almond butter, cocoa powder, and cinnamon; pulse until ingredients are blended.
- Add in cherries, coconut, and nuts.
- Form mixture into1-inch balls using your hands. Place balls on sheet of waxed parchment
paper.
Optional: Roll balls in desired topping.
Serve: on festive dish or platter, plain or inside dessert papers, with or without other bite-sized desserts such as dark-chocolate covered strawberries.
Store: in a cool place in an airtight container or may refrigerate.
© 2016 Nancy Emerson Lombardo, Ph.D. Original recipe by Kristina Scangas and Nancy Emerson Lombardo, PhD, following the Memory Preservation Nutrition® program. Kristina worked with Dr. Emerson Lombardo at the Brain Health and Wellness Center® and is a graduate in nutrition from Simmons College. Kristina is pursuing a career as a primary healthcare provider knowledgeable about nutrition.
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