If you’re in any Paleo/Whole30/Vegan circles, no doubt you’ve heard about the Lara Ball? And if not, well then, let me enlighten you.
This is quite simply one of my all time fave snacks for when you’re trying to be good (so you’re not spontaneously making fudge, or homemade custard to eat out of a mug, or tackling that tub of Haagen Dazs in your freezer – yup – been there). I hadn’t made them for a while and then when a group of girlfriends were keen on a month of paleo, I remembered my long lost friend and made some last night. And I’ve eaten about 24 in the last 8 hours.
So Lara Balls. So good, so sweet, so healthy, satisfying and ah, they just hit the spot when you need it most.
WHAT YOU NEED:
- 1.5 cups Almonds (I know they’re expensive at the mo, but trust me)
- 1.5 cups Dates (pitted, always pitted)
- 3 or 4 tablespoons soft/melted Coconut Oil
- 2 tablespoons Raw Organic Cacao Powder (optional)
- However much you feel like adding Chia Seeds (optional)
- Again, however much you feel like adding fresh Coffee Grounds (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
Easy as. You throw your almonds into a food processor and switch on FULL BLAST. It’s loud. Really loud. So switch it on and run out the room. Once it calms down and those nuts have been crushed into small cous cous-like prices, add your dates. Then your coconut oil and then the optional extras. And blend blend blend. (My hubby loves the coffee ones, I’m not such a fan, but cacao and chia seeds – YUM!)
Once everything is nicely mixed, grab them in your hand and squish them into balls and pop them in the fridge. If you find they’re too dry then add a touch more coconut oil so they hold firm when you make balls. On the flip side, if they’re too oily, no harm, you can simply use less oil the next time. And when I say ‘next time’, I mean the next day because you’ll probably finish them all today.
Enjoy xxx
Image credit: www.chocolatecoveredkatie.com
