Featured Blueprint

Chocolate Date Balls

What I would use:

1 carton Pitted Dates

1 bag dried cranberries

1 bag vegan chocolate chips

1 bag pistachios

1 bag of almonds

Hemp Seeds (optional)

Tips and Tricks:

ALWAYS, and I do mean always, check for pits even in pitted dates. A pit will take down your food processor in seconds. And it is a nightmare at best to fix. 

Switch up the nuts or dried fruit you use. Maybe swap for dried blueberries, or sub walnuts for almonds. You can add coconut flakes, or peanuts. Switch this up however you want. 

You will absolutely need a food processor for this. There is no other way. I suppose you could try to hand chop all these ingredients. But that is hardly a time saving recipe. Food Processors range from 35$ to upwards of a few hundred. This does not have to be a pricey purchase. Honestly, even the small little kitchen aide one will work, it will just require a few batches. I used this one for years and years when I lived in a small studio in Hollywood and had limited cooking tools. It will get the job done. Beyond this recipe, this tool investments will pay for itself repeatedly. I have used a few different brands over the years. I recommend Kitchen Aide as it is a really great brand that is made in America. 

Brand Recommendations:

Melissa’s Produce is a great online option. They are THE expert in all things produce, and you can find a wide variety of dried fruits, seeds, and nuts. They also supply a lot of the inventory of produce that is carried at Trader Joe's. 

Kroger and Trader Joe's have great vegan chocolate chips at a fraction of the price of Whole Foods or Other high priced specialty stores.

Trader Joe's has a great variety of dried fruits and nuts and are a fraction of the price of other stores. 

My Method:

This Blueprint is so simple. It is also the blueprint my clients most request. It is a crowd favorite. Kids absolutely love it. It is essentially like making your own energy bars in ball shape form at home.

Step one: Plug in the food processor.

Step 2: Pour in all ingredients.

This is where a tiny bit of detail is important.

I always pour the Dates in first. They are the main binding agent for this dish. And they are also the item that requires the most processing, while being the stickiest. It works best for this ingredient to be put in first.

Next pour the chocolate chips in if you are using them. This is because they are going to help bind everything as they soften and melt a little bit. It helps to have them at the bottom so that they can be processed and distributed more evenly throughout in the first blend.

Layer remaining ingredients as you wish.

Step 3: Blend.

You will want to blend all ingredients until the dates and chocolate chips are small, diced pieces. This takes maybe a minute. Let the mixture sit for about 3 minutes allowing the newly chopped up chocolate chips to melt into the other ingredients. Blend again for another minute or two, further breaking down and blending the mixture. Let rest for another 2 to 5 minutes. Blend a final time for a minute or two.

At this point all the ingredients should be well folded into each other and in small, diced up pieces. There will be some loose debris of nuts and dried fruit. But you will mix that all together with the more blended mixture in a bowl after blending. 

Step 4: Hand mix all ingredients in a bowl after blending. 

Step 5: Roll into golf ball or smaller size balls depending on what your preference is. 

Step 6: Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes to let chocolate harden. 

1. Step 7: Eat date balls.