These are the go to chocolate fix in our house. They are miss Ellie’s absolutely favourite and she usually pinches a couple of balls worth of mix from the machine before I even get to roll them! And mister George has learned how to find them in the fridge very quickly when mummy goes out to the washing line 😉

Quick and easy to whip up and they are actually a satisfying choc fix that won’t lead to a sugar crash later down the track!

See below the main recipe for my Christmas variation too!

• 200g natural almonds OR roasted sunflower seeds
• 50g pepitas
• 30g hemp seeds*
• 30g cocoa powder (or 20g cacao)
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
• 12 medjool dates, pitted (roughly 300g)
• Mixed spice coconut sugar for dusting (optional).

*If you aren’t using hemp seeds, just use 80g pumpkin seeds.

If you are using sunflower seeds in place of the almonds, toast them first, either in a dry frying pan or under the grill in the oven until they are golden. Watch them carefully – they don’t take long!

Place almonds, seeds, cocoa and cinnamon in the food processor and process until fine and crumbly. (Speed 10, 10 secs)

Add dates and vanilla beans  through chute at the top whilst processing and continue until well combined. (Use speed 4 whilst adding the dates then increase slowly up to speed 6 for 15 sec on bursts)

The ‘wetness’ of the mixture hugely depends on the moisture content and size of the dates you use, so test the mixture – when squeezed together it should easily form into a ball. Mine was slightly too dry so I needed an addition of 1 tsp water and another quick blitz.

Tip – if your dates are really cold from the fridge they won’t be as sticky. Either allow them to come to room temperature, or pop them in the microwave for just a few seconds until they are at room temperature – they’ll bind much more effectively!

Form the mixture into small balls and then roll in a covering if you desire. We mostly leave these plain, but occasionally we make up a mix of coconut sugar and mixed spice (about a 5:1 ratio) and sprinkle it over.

Makes about 20. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. They can keep for 2 weeks … not likely in my house 😀

If you’re in a hurry and don’t have the time to roll balls, press the mix firmly into a baking dish and pop in the freezer for half an hour begged cutting into squares.

For a Christmassy flavoured bliss ball: Remove 1 date and replace it with a small handful of dried cranberries. Replace the vanilla with the finely grated zest of half an orange  and replace the cinnamon with 1/3 tsp of ground cloves.

Enjoy 🙂