Protein Balls

(aka: Date & Walnut Truffles) (Dairy, Sugar & Gluten Free)

Ingredients

2 cups dates (soften in boiling water for 1 hour)
2 cups walnuts (blended to make crumbly)
11/2 cups desiccated coconut (add to walnut mix)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract

Optional Version: Chocolate Protein balls – my personal option
Add 1/2 cup cacao nibs & 1 heaped dessert spoon cocoa

Method:

1. Boil water and pour over dates – set aside for 1 hour
2. Blend/process walnuts & coconut to a crumbly mix
3. (Add cacao nibs & cocoa here and blend (if making the chocolate version)
4. Strain hot water from dates and gently squeeze out excess
5. Add in salt, vanilla and dates
6. Blend until mixture is combined
7. Roll into balls and toss in coconut to coat
   You could also roll these into logs as a healthy snack option instead of a chocolate bar
8. Refrigerate for 1 hour prior to serving
   

Store in fridge (or freezer if you want them to last longer than a week or hide them from the kids!)

Optional: replace walnuts with almond meal or any other type of nut/meal
TIP: You can keep the water from the soaked dates and add it to your next pasta sauce instead of sugar