I'm trying REAL hard not to become date obsessed. I always see them out during the holiday season, so I picked some to experiment with and am now wondering why they aren't more popular.
Or maybe they are, and I've just been living under a rock?
Regardless, I've been having fun and all my experiments have been delicious! Even the kids think so. Ryan went nuts for these small cookies, eating most of them after school on Friday before I could even grab my camera!
My idea here was to make something similar to Dark Chocolate Coated Cashew Balls but different. Different in taste and form. It took a couple tries but I think I got it!
These were tasty and the cranberry taste came through wonderfully. The small dab of jelly made them festive too!
Here's what I did…
Ingredients
- 50g of dates (about 5)
- 50g of dried cranberries
- 50g of shelled walnuts
- 10g (2 tbsp) cocoa powder
- pinch of salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon Low Sugar Strawberry Preserves
Instructions
Put all ingredients except the preserves in you processor or magic bullet. Pulse until most large chunks are broken up and then process until everything comes together kind of like a dough.
Roll the dough into loose balls approximately 12g a piece. Then press your thumb or forefinger in the center to make a small impression.
You can use any jelly or preserves you like. My favorite is this low sugar Strawberry.
Homemade from chia seeds would be yummy too! 🙂
Dollop a small amount in each impression.
That's it!
Really,
My batch made 12, again, minus taste tests and such. 🙂
📖 Recipe
No-Bake Chocolate Cranberry Thumbprints
Ingredients
- 50 g of dates about 5
- 50 g of dried cranberries
- 50 g of shelled walnuts
- 10 g 2 tablespoon cocoa powder
- pinch of salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon Low Sugar Strawberry Preserves
Instructions
- Put all ingredients except the preserves in you processor or magic bullet. Pulse until most large chunks are broken up and then process until everything comes together kind of like a dough.50 g of dates, 50 g of dried cranberries, 50 g of shelled walnuts, 10 g 2 tablespoon cocoa powder, pinch of salt, ½ teaspoon vanilla
- Roll the dough into loose balls approximately 12g a piece. Then press your thumb or forefinger in the center to make a small impression.
- You can use any jelly or preserves you like. My favorite is this low sugar Strawberry.1 tablespoon Low Sugar Strawberry Preserves
- Dollop a small amount in each impression.
- That's it!
Barb
These look wonderful - I love dates. I want to make these right now, but I am at work... I have all the ingredients at home to make them. I can even see them made into truffles by dipping in dark chocolate!
Susan
These were sooo good! Replaced the dried cranberries with dried cherries - since that what is in my pantry. Delicious!
Thanks for the recipe!
My two year old loved helping make them.
Aggie
Um...yes please. Loving the sound of these.
liz
Thanks so much Roni for the response! I am beyond thrilled to try these now...again thank you..your the best! 🙂
roni
Hi Liz - I just took belinda's advice and tried sunflower seeds in a mini batch and they worked wonderfully!
Liz
I love reading your blog:) That being said...I have a peanut allergy and can't use the walnuts but I want to make these for the Holiday. Any suggestions on what to substitute that with? Thanks 🙂
Teresa
Dates are the bomb! We've been making our own home-made versions of LARABARS, and love 'em. I've made a chocolate-peanut butter flavored version with oatmeal, nuts, and seeds that tasted so good that I'm going to bring them in ball-form to Christmas with my family as a sweet treat. They taste like truffles, but they are a sneaky healthy snack. 😉
Ellen Morris
These sound so yummy! Also going to try the dark chocolate cashew ones. I was reluctant to open this recipe as I find many no bake cookies contain peanut butter as the binder.(Major allergy) You are so clever!Love your blog.
Belinda
These sounds perfect. I will need to replace the nuts with something, maybe sunflower seeds.
Thanks for sharing with us!
Liz
Wow, these sound healthy and delicious! I love dates. Definitely trying it. LOVE your blog, by the way. I'm trying to be healthier so love getting ideas from you 🙂