This is one of my family’s favorite snacks, based on Dr. Fuhrman’s Pop-Em’s . I love serving treats that are full of healthy fats and contain no refined sugar, and my daughter eats them like candy. We make several variations, but the cherry ones are my personal favorite.
I rolled half in coconut flakes, just to give them a slightly different flavor.
Cherry Date-Nut Balls
3/4 cup nuts (almonds and walnuts)
1 tbsp. ground flax seeds
4 large Medjool dates, pitted (about 1/3 cup)
1/3 cup dried cherries
flaked coconut (optional)
Grind the nuts in a food processor until they are coarsely chopped. Add the flax seeds, and pulse to incorporate. Add the dates and cherries, and process until everything is completely chopped and combined. Pinch a little of the mixture together to see if it sticks together or falls apart. If it’s too sticky, add more nuts. If it won’t form a ball, add more dates or cherries.
Form into balls about the width of a quarter. If you want, you can roll them in coconut that has been powdered (as much as possible) in the food processor. Makes about 16.
You can store these (if you can resist eating them) at room temperature for a couple of days or in the refrigerator for a week or more. For more variations, check out the original recipe.
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SusanV
Here are the original comments, posted before the blog was moved:
t. said…
Here I always fins great dessert ideas!!! I had most of the ingredients at home (no dry cherries) and just did these cute little balls for everbody’s enjoyment! Lovely!
10:27 AM, May 28, 2006
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EatPeacePlease said…
This is my kind of treat! Great post and I certainly love the cherry idea but dried cherries around here seem to all have a bunch of sugar and junk. I guess I’ll have to dry my own?!…
11:35 AM, May 28, 2006
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kickpleat said…
those look like a great sweet snack! yum.
12:28 PM, May 28, 2006
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Anonymous said…
Sounds like a bite-szed Larabar. I’m going to have to try this one!
6:03 PM, May 28, 2006
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KaiVegan said…
I’ve been meaning to make these all week. I usually make a big batch and keep them in the fridge.
Have you tried making them with other dried fruits other than cherries?
8:40 PM, May 28, 2006
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Joe said…
Very cool snack idea!
9:55 PM, May 28, 2006
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I am an Edu-Dame said…
Wow – these look fantastic! What other variations could you recommend?
10:54 PM, May 28, 2006
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michelle said…
These looked so cool, I made them straight away! I added some prunes to mine to make them more sticky. Mmmm, they’re so moreish…
8:22 AM, May 29, 2006
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Yogamum said…
I’m so excited to try these — I have all the ingredients in the pantry! Thanks for a great recipe!
8:35 AM, May 29, 2006
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SusanV said…
Hi T–How great that you had the ingredients on-hand. Glad you enjoyed them!
Leslie, check in your local health food store and see if you can find the unsweetened cherries. If not, maybe just a few of the sweetened ones will add enough cherry flavor.
Thanks, Kickpleat!
Anon–I have actually made them into Larabar-shaped bars to take hiking. They’re so much cheaper than buying the bars!
Kaivegan–I’ve made them mostly with dates and coconut, but I’m considering buying some dried apples and bananas and adding some of them. I’m thinking I could bring the calorie content down with the apples–if they hold together right.
Thanks Joe! Gail, I’ve made them with cinnamon and with cocoa power, for different flavors.
Michelle, I like prunes. I’ll have to try them that way.
You’re welcome, YogaMum!
4:25 PM, May 29, 2006
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Virginie said…
How funny ! I posted a recipe like this one about the same day. I’ll try with the cherries & coconut. Thank you.
3:14 PM, June 02, 2006
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Anonymous said…
For Medjool Dates I have found that http://www.sphinxdateranch.com has the very best.
5:01 PM, August 22, 2006
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Anonymous said…
My goodness. I just made these, subbing dried cranberries for the cherries and adding some soy protein powder. I’m desperately trying not to each the whole batch!
Sandi
I don’t have a food processor, so I made them with a Vitamix, on variable speed. This worked fine with the banana cashew balls, but was more of a challenge with these, I guess because the batter is drier. Eventually the Vitamix stopped, but by that time it was almost mixed through, so it worked out, although next time I would pre-chop the dates and cherries. These were FANTASTIC…I think maybe even better than the banana cashew balls. I hope the Vitamix hold out again next time. Thank you Susan for the recipe. This is a keeper!!
Leslie Anderson
We love this recipe and also the cahew banana cookies. You said you did variations. So I wondered if youd share some options??
Michael
Hey Susan,
Thanks for posting this delicious recipe! I’ve just started to eat completely vegan and the Date Nut Balls are an excellent snack. They’re also really easy to make.