Paleo Recipe: Snack Balls

I’m going to be honest here—one of the things you’ll miss most on a paleo diet is dessert. This reality was highlighted for me (Christine) recently at the Del Mar Fair, when I desperately wanted to buy some fudge from that little stand in the back of the floral showroom.

Somehow I resisted, even as my mom and husband indulged in a thick, decadent slice. I didn’t even take a bite, because I know my self-control would be shot as soon. Instead, I settled for a bag of kettle corn—not exactly paleo, but I could have done worse.

I haven’t been eating these paleo snack balls much lately; I’m pretty content with my little Paleo snack packs. But they are a tasty treat for those days when you absolutely have to have something sweet, and I definitely recommend them, whether you’re paleo or not.

Paleo Snack Balls

Adapted from Kim Lee

• 10 dates, pitted
• ½ cup of hot water
• ¼ cup coconut oil
• ¼ cup of almond butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup raw walnuts
• 1 cup raw almonds
• 1 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut

Throw the dates in the hot water for a couple of minutes until they have softened. Drain the water and put the dates in a food processor along with all the other ingredients. Process everything together, scraping the sides of the food processor as needed. If the texture is to dry and crumbly, add more coconut oil to bind everything together. Once everything is combined and the nuts are fairly ground up, take the dough and roll it into small balls with your hands.

Sometimes, I add cocoa powder to mix things up. You could also roll the balls in cocoa powder for a truffle-like look. Make sure to store the finished balls in the fridge, and eat them within a few days or they will begin to dry out. Enjoy!