Most healthy treats don’t taste like treats at all. After nibbling on a raw vegan “chocolate”, trying to convince myself that it’s a slab of Lindt in disguise, I usually end up doing the midnight run to Engen and eating a whole box of Jolly Jammers in the car to make myself feel better. (Which totally works, by the way).
However, there’s one recipe in the universe that produces a healthy treat so perfect that I would choose it over any biscuit, chocolate or dessert. Coming from a girl who used to ask for Jolly Jammers for her birthday every year, this is not a statement to be taken lightly.
Kate and I got this recipe from our mom, the ever-inspiring domestic goddess in our family. It’s super easy, requires just three ingredients and is a bazillion times more delicious than any store-bought date balls, which are usually laden with butter, cocoa and sugar. All you need is:
1 cup of rolled oats
1 cup of chopped dates
1 cup of desiccated coconut
You could literally memorise this recipe, and it’s the perfect amount for the average blender (in our case, a NutriBullet). Start by adding the chopped dates to your blender and a splash of water (just less than half a cup). Whizz it up to get a nice paste. Next, add the oats and a third of the coconut. Whizz again. It should become a really thick consistency that starts to make your blender strain a little. Depending on the type of oats you use, you might need to add a little more water – make like Jamie and experiment.
Next, squish the mixture into balls between your palms and roll each one in the rest of the coconut. Pop them in the fridge to set for a couple of hours, and you’re done. They keep well for about a week, but will most likely be demolished in a day. Serve your date balls of happiness with a hot cup of tea and live your best life. Let us know how yours turn out!
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