These delicious fruit and nut balls may look a little impressive, but trust me, they're incredibly easy to make and taste amazing. The combination of roasted nuts, oats, and coconut, blended with sweet, chewy dates, a hint of sea salt, and that luscious dark chocolate coating, is simply divine.
The secret to these balls lies in the texture inside. We achieve a satisfyingly 'rough' texture by skipping the food processor and simply mixing the ingredients together with our hands. The result? A mouthwatering blend of roasty, chunky, chocolaty goodness.
For storage, these are best kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month. Although, they probably won't last that long, especially if you have others in the house.
I hope you love these! Feel free to ask any questions and please let me know if you make it @gatherandfeast
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Ingredients
Dairy-free, Vegetarian, Vegan, Egg-free 
30 minutes (+ setting time) 
12-16 - 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup roughly chopped roasted almonds
- 1/2 cup flaked coconut
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or paste
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil, or olive oil, or butter
- 1 cup pitted Medjool dates (Alternatively, if Medjool dates aren't available, use 1 cup packet of pitted dates soaked in boiling water for 5-10 minutes, then drained)
- 200g dark chocolate
Method
- Preheat your oven to 180°C/350°F.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the oats, almonds, coconut, chia seeds, vanilla, and coconut oil. Mix well to combine.
- Spread the mixture onto a paper-lined baking tray and bake at 180°C/350°F for 8 minutes or until golden. Remove from the oven and set aside.
- In the same mixing bowl (no need to wash or rinse), add the pitted dates, the toasted mixture, and a pinch of salt. Mix well with your hands to combine.
- Scoop out tablespoon-sized portions of the mixture and roughly form them into balls with your hands. Place the formed balls onto a tray and transfer to the freezer to set.
- Melt 2/3 of the dark chocolate over low heat. Once melted, add the remaining chocolate and remove the pot from the heat. Stir until all the chocolate has melted.
- Remove the balls from the freezer and coat them in the melted chocolate. Top with a sprinkling of chia seeds.
- Transfer the coated balls to the fridge to set for a few hours or overnight.
- Store in an airtight container or jar in the fridge. Enjoy!
NOTES
- If Medjool dates are not available, you can use regular pitted dates. Just soak them in boiling water for 5-10 minutes to soften them before using.
- Wetting your hands slightly with water can make it easier to form the mixture into balls without sticking.
- Aim for uniform-sized balls to ensure even coating with chocolate and consistent serving sizes.
- Store the Chocolate Fruit & Nut Rough Balls in an airtight container or jar in the fridge. They should stay fresh for up to a week.
- If making ahead, you can also store them in the freezer for longer-term storage. Just thaw them in the fridge before serving.
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