Do you have a sweet tooth like us? Well these are your saviour.

Sweet, filling, and super tasty.

Healthy, nutritious and delicious.

Take them to a party as pictured above, or place in a feature bowl on the coffee table for your guests when they pop around for a coffee (as seen in the photographs below).

Not only are they scrumptious, but they are also super-duper healthy for you packed full of nutrients which I will speak about later.

Recipe

Ingredients

500g dried dates
3 tbsp natural peanut butter, tahini or any similar nut butter (macadamia would be delicious)
1/2 tbsp chai powder or cinnamon powder
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup sesame seeds (plus approx 1/2 cup extra to coat the balls)
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup chia seeds

Method

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until mixture forms a paste.
Take 1 tbsp of mixture at a time and roll into a ball using both hands.
Place the extra sesame seeds on a plate
Roll balls in the seeds to coat
Store in an airtight jar
Does not require refrigeration
You could also coat the balls in coconut.

Make some gifts

The most loveliest of ways that you can tell someone that they are special to you is to make them something. Here, I have placed some of these treats into mini jars and packaged with a chalkboard heart label. I hope my friends will like them!

Nutrition

These are a great little sweet treat that provide long lasting energy. Perfect as a mid morning are afternoon snack to get you through those ‘yawn’ moments.

Dates: Full of fibre for a healthy digestive system. Fibre is also important to help control weight, eliminate toxins and reduce blood sugar levels and cholesterol. Dates contain 15 minerals and are particularly rich in potassium, magnesium, selenium and calcium. They are also high in antioxidants which may help to prevent cancer. In particular, dates are high in carotenoids which gets converted to vitamin A in the body which is an important antioxidant to help prevent cell damage and builds the immune system. As well, dates are high in Vitamin B6, niacin, riboflavin and folate and are also low in fat.

Chia seeds: Very high in fibre and contain protein and iron. They contain high levels of antioxidants. They also contain Omega 3 oils which are essential for keeping skin healthy, reducing inflammation and protecting our heart from heart disease.

Cocoa: Very high in potassium which is essential for keeping our blood pressure from becoming too high. It also contains iron, manganese, magnesium, copper, and phosphorous as well as small amounts of calcium, zinc, selenium, riboflavin and niacin.

Peanut Butter: Packed full of protein and monounsaturated fats.

Sesame Seeds: These are delicious little bursts of nutrition. Loads of fibre, manganese and copper and a good source of calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, vitamin B1 and zinc. What is most exciting about sesame seeds is that they contain tryptophan, and amino acid that gets converted in the brain to the neurotransmitter ‘serotonin’. Neurotransmitters help to transport electrical messages from nerve to nerve in the brain and other cells. It is also very important in enhancing our mood and regulating sleep. What a bonus!