Raw & Vegan Chocolate Coconut Balls

A tasty, decadent raw treat for dessert.

You can safely say that I am a dessert person.

Around 8:30 every night, when I'm settled on the couch next to Mr. Henderson, reading amazing gluten-free food blogs, it hits. My sweet tooth kicks in and all I want is a gluten-free sweet treat and tea. Mint Magic to be exact. My favorite tea on the planet.

But this post isn't about tea. Oh no, this one is all about dessert.

When trying to eat healthy, everyone says that sweets are the first thing that should go. For me, that's nearly impossible. You see, willpower just isn't my strong suit. I really like sweets and I really enjoy eating them. I've just come to realize that I need to make my desserts more healthy rather than depriving myself of something that I love. How hard can it be, right?

I do love baking gluten-free sweets. Chocolate chip and chai iced pumpkin cookies are two of my favorites. Sadly, both have refined sugars in them, which I have been trying to avoid since January. Because of this, my more recent post have been healthier versions of gluten-free desserts. I've been doing some experimenting.

I've achieved some great results baking gluten-free and refined sugar free. It's really not that hard. From my raw carrot cake bites, to my chocolate-orange cookies, to my vegan rice crispy treats, I've made some pretty tasty desserts lately that are totally guilt free. And, what could be better than a healthy, nutritious and super yummy dessert? Not much in my book.

What do you search for when making a healthy dessert? For me, it's all about chocolate.

Chocolate. Chocolate. Chocolate.

Sweet, decadent and delicious. Amazing, delectable and heavenly. Truly, the best ingredient on earth. Period.

When it comes to chocolate, I, like many of us out there, am a totally sucker. I melt just thinking about it. Mmm...

Knowing that chocolate is always tasty, it's making it nutritious that can be the struggle. I made it my goal with this dessert to pack in a mixture of healthy fats, protein, sweetness and chocolate. And let me tell you, I definitely succeeded.

Raw & Vegan Chocolate Coconut Balls

Raw & Vegan Chocolate Coconut Balls

When it comes to making raw food, I am not an expert nor can I call myself experienced. I have a food dehydrator that I've tried maybe three times. But when it comes to these sweet, chocolatey desserts, I'm good (probably because they're insanely easy to make, but who's counting). 

These are healthy, nutrient packed goodies that you can congratulate yourself for eating. Well, that might be taking it a little far, but still they're good for you. I promise!

ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut
• 1 tablespoon raw cocoa powder
• 6 Mejool dates, soaked for 5 minutes
• 1 - 2 tablespoons cashew butter (or any other nut butter you like)
• Raw carob chips
• Filtered water

In a food processor fitted with the s-blade, combine the sunflower seeds and pulse until they're coarsely chopped, about 10 pulses. Add the shredded coconut and cocoa powder and pulse to combine, about 5 pulses. Remove this mixture from the food processor and set aside in a small bowl. 

Place the soaked dates, with the pits removed, into the food processor and pulse until they're chopped, about 10 pulses. Add in the nut and coconut mixture and pulse to combine, another 5 pulses. Add the cashew butter and turn the food processor on so it's mixing all the ingredients together. If you have enough liquid / stickiness, a dough will start to form (give it time before you add water). If a dough does not form, add a little bit of filtered water, 1 teaspoon at a time until you get the thick dough like consistency. Note, you should scrape down the sides of the bowl and help the dough to form with a plastic spatula. 

Once your dough has formed, add in your carob chips and pulse just a few times until they are combined into the dough.

Form the dough into little balls (mine are about the size of a golf ball, maybe a little bit smaller). Place them on plate and put them into the freezer. Let cool for 30 - 40 minutes, until the treats are hard (they won't freeze all the way, so don't worry!). 

Enjoy these babies with a cup of tea, snuggled up on the couch, with a good gluten-free blog. 

Makes 10 - 12 small balls, depending on the size.

P.S. - these could also be made into cookies if you shaped them differently. Either way they're delicious!