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–+ servings
Quinoa Chocolate Snowball 2

Chocolate Quinoa Snowballs

These vegan, gluten-free chocolate quinoa snowballs make an easy, no-bake dessert for holiday celebrations and also double up as energy balls. 
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine Global
Servings 16
Calories 144 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3/4 cup quick oats (gluten-free or sub with regular quick oats)
  • 1/2 cup almonds* (raw)
  • 4 tbsp cocoa powder (pure, or sub with Cacao powder)
  • 1 cup quinoa (cooked and at room temperature or cold)
  • 7 medjool dates
  • 1 tbsp almond butter**
  • 1 tbsp jam (choose from strawberry, raspberry, apricot, or orange marmalade)
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1/3 cup dried cherries (can sub with dried cranberries)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut flakes (dried)

Instructions
 

  • Add quick oats and almonds to a food processor and process till the two ingredients have turned into a meal-consistency mixture--about 4-5 minutes. There should be no visible oat or almond shreds. It is helpful to scrape the sides of the food processor to bring any unprocessed bits in the middle. Add cocoa powder and process till well mixed.
  • Add the cooked quinoa, medjool dates, almond butter, jam, maple syrup, dried cherries, and vanilla extract. Process till well mixed. The mixture may bunch up into a big ball. 
  • Take the mixture out onto a plate. It will be a bit sticky. Also take out coconut flakes in a separate plate.  Smear some coconut oil or water on your both palms and divide the chocolate-quinoa mixture into 16 equal parts. Form the balls and roll them in the shredded, unsweetened, coconut flakes. Transfer to an airtight container and cool in the refrigerator for at least two hours before serving. Enjoy!

Notes

*if allergic to nuts, substitute almonds with pumpkin or melon seeds
**can substitute almond butter with either coconut oil or sunflower seed butter
Want it sweeter: add 1-2 more dates.
Want to increase the chocolate quotient--add 1/2 tbsp additional cocoa powder 

Nutrition

Serving: 1ballCalories: 144kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 3gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 218mgFiber: 3gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 100IUCalcium: 40mgIron: 1.3mg
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