Date Balls - several varieties

 From Love and Lemons.  Every Day by Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathew’s

I’ve only tried the Matcha Pistachio ones … EXCELLENT!  But the others look like they’re definitely worth trying.  Love the whole food, no added sugar approach! 

For all of them, start with 10 soft Medjool dates and 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt.  If the dates seem dry, cut into 1/2s or 1/4s (which you should do anyway) and let them soak in hot water while you prepare the other ingredients.  Reserve the water so you can use a tablespoon of it if the batter needs to be moistened.

INGREDIENTS:   For all of the following, 10 dates and 1/2 tsp sea salt, as above, then:

MATCHA PISTACHIO:  savory and delicious

1.5 cups almond flour

1 cup shelled pistachios

1/3 cup cashew butter (or 1/3 cup cashews soaked in hot water, then drained)

1/4 tsp matcha powder (used vanilla matcha)

1 Tbsp water (date water if those were soaked)

Roll in: 1/3 cup crushed pistachios plus 1/4 tsp matcha powder

TAHINI SPICE: 10 dates and 1/2 tsp sea salt

1.5 cups shredded coconut

1/3 cup tahini

1 cup sesame seeds

2 Tbsp maple syrup

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground cardamom

Rollin: 1/3 cup sesame seeds

COOKIE DOUGH:

1.5 cups oat flour

1 cup walnuts

1/3 cup almond butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 Tbsp water

Fold in: 1/2 cup chocolate chips

CARROT GRANOLA:

1.5 cups rolled oats

1 cup walnuts

2/3 cup peeled and chopped carrot

1.3 cup almond butter

1/4 cup dried currants

1/2 tsp cinnamon

PB&J

1.25 cup oat flour

1 cup peanuts

1/3 cup PB

3 Tbsp water

Roll in: 1/2 cup crushed freeze-dried strawberries

LEMON COCONUT

1.5 cups shredded coconut

1 cup macadamia nuts

1/3 cup cashew butter

1.5 Tbsp lemon zest

1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

1/4 tsp ground turmeric

Roll in: 1/3 cup shredded coconut and 1/2 tsp lemon zest