You know the saying . . . "If something seems too good to be true, it probably is"? Well, these nut-free no-bake chocolate power balls taste too good to be healthy, but the list of ingredients proves they are. Dates, rolled oats, cocoa powder and soy-based WOW butter for a little nutty flavour is all they require.
For years I've seen dates come up when I am searching for healthy snacks for my kids school lunches. I made a promise to myself once they all started full time school that I would stop buying all the processed and packaged bars and cookies and bake only healthy snacks. I make all their favorites - muffins, cookies, brownies, and bread - but these are not made from grandmas recipes full of butter, sugar and love.
No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Drops Recipe
I add plenty of love, but the muffins and cookies I bake always contain fruit and oatmeal, the brownies are loaded with spinach and carrots, and the only sweet bread here is a healthy Oatmeal Banana Bread with apple sauce and very little oil.
Dates never entered the mixing bowls. I just didn't picture the kids going for raw dates. They stopped liking raisins years ago and their tastes are complicated on the best of days. But recipe after recipe for no-bake date bars, squares and balls intrigued me.
Not wanting coconut (my issue) or nuts (school, dance, gymnastics issue), I had to get a little creative with the recipe but this one marries two of the kids favorites - oatmeal and chocolate. It is a WINNER. 5 ingredients. No baking, Easy assembly. Freezes well. Kids love them.
My work here is done!
Ingredients
25 pitted dates
1/3 cup of WOW Butter
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 cup rolled oats
handful of chocolate chips (optional)
Directions
Measure all ingredients into a Cuisinart or similar food processor. Pulse until well mixed.
Scoop by spoonfuls into your hand and squish together, roll into balls or flatten into bars.
If they are too crumbly add a few more dates or a bit more WOW butter.
This recipe yielded 25 mini balls for us but you can make them as big or as small as you like. You can also roll the balls in cocoa if desired.
Even though they don’t last long at my house, they can be stored in the freezer. The kids put a couple into their snack containers for school lunches or evening snack in between activities. I love them before of after a workout. Perfect power snack!
Printer-friendly version