03

Jan

0

10-MINUTE-NO-BAKE NUT & RAW CACAO BALLS / CAKE

This is a quick, delicious alternative to just raw chocolates – great if you are pushed for time and need something in a hurry. You can use a food processor, but a power blender will do the job very well. Walnuts are a true super food (brain food, cancer fighting properties, contain rare anti-oxidants, healthy fats, B vitamins, improve reproductive health in men, improve metabolic parameters in people with type 2 diabetes, good for weight control …. to name just a few of the benefits).

Ingredients

• 3 cups walnuts
• 20 – 30 pitted, chopped dates (depending on how big they are; if using a power blender you don’t need to chop the dates)
• 2/3 cup raw cacao powder
• 15 g raw cacao butter
• 1 – 2 teaspoons water
• 2 – 4 tablespoons (or to taste)  xylitol, coconut blossom sugar or honey
• natural vanilla powder or extract
• pinch of salt
• 1 – 2 tablespoons rum or brandy (optional)

Method

1. Slowy melt cacao butter over a bowl of hot water (make sure it does not get too hot, you should be able to comfortably stick a finger in the melted cacao butter)
2. Roughly grind the walnuts in the blender or food processor – don’t over process them, otherwise they get oily
3. Add water, salt, dates, cacao powder, vanilla, xylitol, rum (if using) and pulse or use stamper to push down into blender blades – to start mixing
4. Add the melted cacao butter and process all together until lumpy – do not over-pr0cess
5. Once mixture starts to look like cake dough, test a little of the mixture between thumb and index finger to see if it sticks together easily
6. Turn mixture onto a plate and press cake into shape or roll small balls and place into little paper cups
7. Place into fridge until set (approx. 30 minutes), however you can eat it straight away, if  you need  to serve it immediately
8. Freezes well.