Cheerful Wednesday – Super Simple Date Cashew Butter Balls, Gluten-Free, SCD, GAPS

 Making the Middle of the Week Better

Starting Bottom Left, Clockwise: Coconut inside & outside, coconut inside, inside plain & coconut outside, pecan inside & outside, pecans inside & both pecans & coconut outside, pecans inside & coconut outside

Every week I’m going to have Cheerful Wednesday. You’ll find an upbeat post, a fun and/or simple recipe, or just good news about eating gluten or grain-free. On this first Cheerful Wednesday I have a Super Simple Date Cashew Butter Ball recipe for you that has three ingredients – yes, just three – and won’t take long but, well, my mouth starts watering when I think about eating more of these.

Recipes for date balls are out there but this one’s a bit different. I didn’t add any sweeteners, did add cashew butter and it gives a creamy texture along with a bit of protein, and cinnamon for some spice. I’m sure other nut or seed butters would work but I like cashew butter because it’s very creamy and fairly neutral in flavor.

I made a variety of versions with just coconut and pecans. Mix it up with your favorite dried fruits and nuts or seeds. The combinations are endless. Try adding dried apricots and rolling it in crushed sunflower seeds. Or add raisins and roll it in crushed cashews. My favorite’s the version with coconut inside and out. My husband’s is the one with the works: filled with pecans and rolled in both pecans and coconut.

Give this a try the next time you’d like something sweet.

Super Simple Date Cashew Butter Balls

1 cup whole dates, loosely packed (I used these)
2 Tablespoons cashew butter (I used this)
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Measure one cup of whole dates, pit then cut in chunks. (I used medjool dates.) Add dates, cashew butter and cinnamon to the food processor and process until it’s smooth. Mine formed a ball (see photo below) and I knew it was done.

To add shredded coconut, about 3 Tablespoons for the whole batch would work, put it in now and pulse just until combined. About the same amount of 3 Tablespoons chopped raw or toasted nuts would be good but for them, remove the date mixture from the processor and work the nuts in my hand. Roll into balls about the size of a walnut then roll in the toppings of your choice. Store at room temperature; they aren’t as good cold from the fridge.

Makes about 8 balls.

Linked to: Gluten-Free Wednesdays, Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays, Simple Lives Thursday, Allergy Free Wednesdays, Gluten-Free Monday, Raw Foods Thursdays, Real Food Wednesday, Gluten Free Fridays

8 comments

  1. These look super simple to make…I just need to find some dates! I love Lara Bars…so these should be a hit! I am visiting from Allergy Free Wednesdays! :-)

    • Shannon says:

      Thanks for stopping by. They taste like Larabars but, I think better. The bit of cashew butter gives them a melt-in-your-mouth feel. :)

  2. Diana says:

    Delicious!
    I will have to try these. My husand loves dates so I am always looking for fun recipes to incorporate them in snacks and deserts:)
    Visitng from allergy free wednesday!

  3. Oh, these look wonderful! The cashew butter must be just velvety smooth and creamy. Yummy! Thanks so much for sharing them at Raw Foods Thursdays. I’m going to feature them this week!

  4. [...] Super Simple Date Cashew Butter Balls by Shannon of Enjoying Gluten-Free Life [...]

  5. These sound super yummy! Got them tweeted and pinned!

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