Hot Fudge Lara Balls
These hot fudge Lara balls will not disappoint! they will also not last long in the fridge before getting gobbled down. We have to make multiple batches every time so we can all enjoy them. Have you ever had a Lara bar? These have a similar texture and taste. They are soft and chewy yet they have some texture from the nuts. I personally love cold chocolate, so you put these in the fridge, and you have a nice cold healthy chocolaty go to snack.
What is a Medjool Date?
When I first learned of Medjool dates, I was intrigued yet suspicious. Did they really taste sweet? Were they really soft and chewy like a caramel? I got one small box of dates and was very quickly back buying more. We love them. They are versatile, I use them in many different recipes, and we eat them plain right out of the box.
Medjool dates are a good source of magnesium, calcium, potassium, and other nutrients, They have also been known to stimulate the immune system, reduce inflammation improve hormone regulation. Yummy and healthy. :)
A Healthy Snack
I find that I crave a good chocolaty snack quite often. But I don't like the guilt that comes with chowing down a bag of chocolate chips. These hot fudge Lara balls hit the spot. After many other attempts of chocolaty snacks, these are simple, fast and made with wholesome ingredients. Our kids love them, my husband and I love them, and we hope you do too.
Hot Fudge Lara Balls
6 Simple Ingredients
This recipe has 6 simple ingredients.
1 cup of nuts ( almonds and cashews are our favorite)
1 1/3 cup pitted medjool dates
1 tsp. vanilla
3-4 Tbsp. cocoa powder
Pinch of salt
Optional *1/4 cup dairy free semi- sweet chocolate chips
Directions
Collect your 6 ingredients. I find it is easier to make sure I have all my correct ingredients at the beginning then finding out halfway through that I'm missing a vital ingredient.
I prefer using a food processor for this recipe, it is strong enough to blend up the dates and nuts.
Pit your Medjool dates, be sure to make sure and get the pit along with some of the dates still have the base of the stem on them.
Place your pitted dates and nuts of choice in the food processor. pulse until well blended. (You can blend until the nuts more of a nut butter or if you like chunky nuts in your Lara balls then only pulse until they are chunked.
Add cocoa powder, salt and vanilla. Pulse slow at first as to not lose all your cocoa powder out the top. Mix to desired consistency. If you like some extra crunch, mix for less time. If you want it smooth, mix longer.
Check to see if it is the right consistency to make a ball. If it is too dry add 1 tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
For that extra bit of chocolate add desired about of chocolate chips and mix well.
Roll out bite-sized balls and place in airtight container. Store in fridge for up to 7-10 days.
Simple right? No baking -- just dump, mix, and shape.
My kids all love rolling out our Lara balls, all while sampling it many times. :)
Hot Fudge Lara Balls
Prep time: 5 min
total time: 10 min
Yields: 25- 30 bite sized Lara balls
200 calories and 5.5grams of protein (per 3 Lara balls)
Ingredients
1 cup of nuts (almonds and cashews are our favorite)
1 1/3 cup pitted medjool dates
1 tsp. vanilla
3-4 Tbsp. cocoa powder
Pinch of salt
Optional *1/4 cup dairy free semi- sweet chocolate chips
Intructions
Collect your ingredients.
I prefer using a food processor for this recipe, it is strong enough to blend up the dates and nuts.
Pit your Medjool dates, be sure to make sure and get the pit along with some of the dates still have the base of the stem on them.
Place your pitted dates and nuts of choice in the food processor. pulse until well blended. (You can blend until the nuts more of a nut butter or if you like chunky nuts in your Lara balls then only pulse until they are chunked.
Add cocoa powder and vanilla. Pulse slow at first as to not lose all your cocoa powder out the top, Mix to desired consistency. If you like some extra crunch mix for less time. If you want it smooth, mix longer.
Check to see if it is the right consistency to make a ball. If it is too dry add 1 tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency. For that extra bit of chocolate add desired amount of chocolate chips and mix well.
Roll out bite-sized balls and place in airtight container. Store in fridge.
I hope you love these as much as my family and I do. Enjoy, and let us know what you think.
Comments