These delicious little sweet treats can be eaten as a snack to replace chocolate. I cannot give enough praise for these snacks. They are high in fiber, delicious, vegan, gluten-free, wheat-free, dairy-free and also contain good fats and protein from the nuts to counterbalance the sweetness of the dates. The addition of lime & zest also offers a counterbalance to the sweetness of the dates and adds just enough tang.

Ingredients:
8 Medjool dates – pitted and roughly chopped
2 tsp raw carob powder
100g ground almonds (or ground toasted pumpkin seeds or other nuts)
– make fresh ground nuts/seeds in coffee or nut grinder
*Zest of 1 lime– chopped
*Juice of ½ lime

Coating choices:
Coconut - unsweetened sulfite-free shredded or desiccated coconut
Whole sesame seeds – black or brown
Carob powder

*Substitute: may use orange, grapefruit, lemon or other citrus fruit in place of lime.

Method:
Add dates, carob powder and lime zest to food processor. Mix until smooth paste. Add ground nuts or seeds and mix thoroughly.

Chill several hours or shape right away. Moisten hands with cold water. Form mixture into uniform bite-sized balls. Place on either parchment or waxed paper. If mixture is too sticky refrigerate ½ hr.

Coat and roll balls in coconut or sesame seed.

Cover up and refrigerate (for up to 3 days).

nutty minty carob fudge balls