Coach Nicole's Cocoa-Nut Buddies
(73)
  • Minutes to Prepare:
  • Minutes to Cook:
  • Number of Servings: 24
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups roasted, unsalted almonds3/4 cup dates, pitted3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder3 tsp vanilla extract1/4 tsp sea saltup to 1/4 cup water, divided1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (optional)
Directions
Place dates, almonds, cocoa powder, salt, vanilla and 1 Tbsp of water in a food processor
Pulse on/off for several rounds, approximately 30 seconds.
Pulse on/off for longer intervals for about a minute until mixture is mixed enough that it begins to stick together. (If it remains loose and unpacked, added water a little at a time between pulses to moisten.)
When thoroughly combined and "sticky," remove from processor. Roll into 1-inch balls and then roll through unsweetened coconut.
Serve.
Refrigerate for a week.

Serving Size: Makes 24 1-inch balls
Servings Per Recipe: 24
Nutritional Info Amount Per Serving
  • Calories: 76.1
  • Total Fat: 5.2 g
  • Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
  • Sodium: 20.1 mg
  • Total Carbs: 6.6 g
  • Dietary Fiber: 1.9 g
  • Protein: 2.2 g

Member Reviews
  • CD13860773
     2-3 dates have around 27 grams of sugar. - 6/2/13

    Reply from COACH_NICOLE (6/12/13)
    That is naturally occurring fruit sugar, not added sugar.

  • AEBROWNSON
     Seems like you could roll it in ground almonds or cocoa powder as well as coconut. - 7/27/12

    Reply from COACH_NICOLE (7/27/12)
    Great idea! Ya, the coconut is totally optional. These are easy to make, store and eat without rolling them in anything extra. I just add the coconut b/c I love it! :-)

  • 13610511
     Plus they have almost 2 grams of fiber per ball, and low carb! - 9/2/12
  • CD12322716
     Sounds really yummy! Is the coconut included in the nutritional info/calorie count? - 7/29/12

    Reply from COACH_NICOLE (7/30/12)
    Yes, coconut is included in the calories. It only adds 6 calories per ball.

  • JOANOFSPARK
     oh, yummy........this is so easy.......well, in terms of easy and hard....it is...but I love it cause it tastes so good...and those dates and almonds are so good for us....:) - 6/2/13
  • KIRSTYCA
     Omg these are so yummy - thanks for the inspiration. Also a hit with my little girl. - 2/8/13
  • LIZNIX1
     These are my new favorite on-the-go snack - especially for early mornings on the way to the gym or yoga class. I think the key is to make sure the almonds are roasted. It brings out the flavor and makes them easier to process. - 3/13/14
  • SCTF75
     Looks good and I'm a fan of date and nut bars. However, to call this sugar free isn't exactly correct... Dates have sugar (glucose and fructose). They just don't contain sucrose. - 6/2/13
  • ARIZONASHELL
     I was curious if you had a suggestion as to what I could replace the dates with and still keep the calories down? - 2/7/13

    Reply from COACH_NICOLE (2/8/13)
    Actually the nuts are more caloric than the dates, so maybe use fewer nuts?

  • SARAHANN88
     So easy and so yummy. I'm not a fan of the ingredients by themselves but all rolled up into one they are delicious. My 4 year old boy thought they were great too. Didn't quite have enough almonds (only 1 cup) so i added a 1/2 cup of macadamias as well. - 12/15/13
  • AMASCHING
     I found this recipe difficult to make. It was messy, I had a hard time getting them the right consistency and they looked terrible. I did like the taste though. - 6/22/13
  • AMSHARK
     Sounds like sugar plums without the sugar. "While visions of cocoa-nut buddies danced in their heads..." I'm adding this to my holiday cookbook. - 10/22/12
  • CD6114535
     I did put my almonds in a 300 degree oven and roasted them until I could really smell them. Then, in the food processor. I ended up using a whole 1/4 cup of water, partly because my dates were on the dry side. They seem very nice, though I couldn't get the coconut to stick to them very well. - 11/16/14
  • CHARITY1973
     Wow, these have been made three times now in our house! We love these nut buddies and have used hazelnuts and almonds both. Next to try is macadamias and maybe apricots. We did soak the dried fruit first to soften and used the soaking water for the recipe. Rolled in sprinkle for colour and fun! - 8/31/13
  • CD13973153
     These sound soooo good, but as a diabetic, not so good.
    - 6/2/13
  • NGSMART1
     We make these all the time now for dessert. Yes, they still have a lot of sugar, but at least it's all coming from fruit. A great variation is to use carob powder instead of the cocoa. Also try rolling them in a mixture of cayenne and paprika. Makes a great treat for Christmas. - 2/13/14
  • CD13967464
     I worked previously with the addition of a little cinnamon - 6/2/13
  • LIVINGSIMPLY355
     These look so yummy!
    Is there something I can swap the dates for? I do not like them too much and do not have any on hand right now. - 6/2/13
  • DYNAMICDEB53
     Yummy - 4/23/13
  • CECELW
     I gotta try these, I don't like dates but I can tolerate raisins...I already have pretty much everything I need to make these today. - 4/23/13
  • CD12799443
     Could you use protein powder in place of the cocoa? - 2/7/13
  • SRIVERS1
     These are really good . Made these last Christmas for gifts. I rolled them in coconut & some in coco & some in walnuts & some in Sea Salt, I am going to make them again this year. - 10/21/18
  • PEGGIE0203
     Delicious! I found them a bit tricky to roll into balls, I probably should have added a bit more water. It helped to wet my hands in between rolling a few times.
    I plan to add these to my Christmas goodies plates this year. - 11/2/17
  • 2AWESOME4U
     We have a recipe similar to this, ours also calls for a bit of rum. For those that want a little more of an indulgence - 9/6/15
  • LSIG14
     These are very tasty, but to say they are "completely sugar free" is so wrong...Fruit sugar is still sugar! - 10/21/14



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