Date Nut Balls (Paleo, SCD, GAPS, grain free, dairy free, refined sugar free)
 
 
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Ingredients
  • 1 cup hazelnuts
  • 2 cups blanched almond flour (I use Honeyville)
  • 1½ cups pitted dates
  • 4 tablespoons cold ghee, or fat of choice
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1-2 teaspoons of vanilla extract (optional)
  • Ingredients for Optional Variations: rum, coconut sugar, cinnamon, unsweetened coconut, raw cacao powder
Instructions
  1. If dates are dry, soak them in warm water for 15 minutes. Drain, carefully slice in half to remove pits, and coarsely chop. Set aside.
  2. Add hazelnuts to a food processor and pulse until chopped.
  3. Add all other ingredients and pulse until mixture looks like small crumbs.
  4. Test mixture by giving a small handful a squeeze and see if it holds together. If so, it's ready. If not, add a little more ghee or vanilla extract.
  5. To form into balls, use a mini spring-loaded scoop, or scoop by tablespoonfuls. Shape into a ball with fingers.
  6. Enjoy as-is or with the following variations:
  7. Rum Balls: Add a few tablespoons of rum to the mixture.
  8. Coconut: Roll in unsweetened coconut.
  9. Cinnamon-Sugar: Mix 2 tablespoons of cinnamon with 1 tablespoon of coconut sugar. Roll balls into mixture.
  10. Chocolate: For dark chocolate lovers, roll balls in cacao powder OR mix a little coconut sugar with the cacao to sweeten it up a bit.
Recipe by my BIG FAT grain free life at http://mybigfatgrainfreelife.com/2011/11/date-nut-balls-grain-free-dairy-free-refined-sugar-free.html