Cranberry-licious Balls
 
Prep time
Cook time
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My belated Christmas Special Recipe... but don't fret dear Nakeds this recipe can be eaten anytime as a delicious treat! What do you think of when you hear cranberries? I always associate cranberries with Christmas because of the American tradition and love affair with the deliciously sweet cranberry sauce that accompanies the famed roast Turkey! You won't find Turkey here but you will find deliciously healthy plant based wholefood recipes. Dried cranberries are a wonderful naturally sweet addition to treats, trail mixes and in salads and rice dishes. My Cranberry-licious Balls are perfect for the kids lunch boxes as it is nut-free and refined sugar-free and great for an after gym workout snack! Just remember Nakeds, dried fruit is very high in sugars so everything in moderation even healthy snacks!!!!
Author:
Recipe type: Snack
Cuisine: Raw
Serves: 20
Ingredients
  • 200g pitted medjool dates
  • 200g shredded / desiccated organic coconut (150g for filling, 50g for rolling)
  • 150g dried organic cranberries
  • 2 tablespoons raw cacao
  • 2 tablespoons coconut flour
  • 1 teaspoon maca powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 50g extra virgin coconut oil
  • pinch of sea salt
Instructions
  1. Line a baking tray with aluminium free baking paper. Set aside.
  2. Place pitted dates in a bowl of warm filtered water to soften and set aside for 10 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile in a dry grinder or thermomix pulse shredded coconut for several seconds. ** If you are using desiccated coconut there is no need for this step. **
  4. Place 150g of the pulsed coconut into a large mixing bowl while setting aside the remaining 50g in a small bowl, to be used later for rolling the balls.
  5. Add cacao, coconut flour, maca, cinnamon and salt to the mixing bowl.
  6. Using a food processer or thermomix pulse dried cranberries for several seconds, alternatively roughly chop and add to the dry ingredients.
  7. Strain softened dates (retaining the date water) and place into a food processor / thermomix to prepare the date paste. Blend on medium speed while adding a tablespoon at a time of retained date water to the paste to obtain a smooth thick consistency. ** Remember to add more water to allow the blades to move (and not burn out the motor). **
  8. Add the date paste and coconut oil to the dry ingredients, stir to combine.
  9. Using a dessert spoon; spoon a small palm sized amount of mixture into your hand and roll in to a tight ball. Roll ball in desiccated coconut and place on the lined baking tray. Continue with the remainder of the mixture.
  10. Place in the freezer to set for half an hour and transfer to an airtight container.
  11. Can be stored in the fridge or freezer depending on your willpower!
  12. ENJOY NAKEDS!
Recipe by Kathy Gardiner | The Naked Gardiner | Writer + Illustrator + Advocate at https://thenakedgardiner.com/cranberry-licious-balls/