I am somewhat healthier than many of the recipes on this site would suggest. As much as I dislike dietary labels, I would define myself as having a primarily plant-based diet, with a fair proportion of it being raw.
My latest new toy is a dehydrator from Lakeland, which I am loving experimenting with, and am getting to grips with all sorts of raw snacks and treats. It costs pennies per hours to run, and at this time of year takes the edge off the chill in my unheated kitchen.
If you do not have a dehydrator put these on a radiator overnight or into a cooling oven after you have finished cooking something else. They are just as good not dried out, but considerably stickier.
I found that my food processor would not grind the flax seeds, so ran them through a spice grinder.
Recipe: Chocolate, Orange, Date & Seed Energy Balls
Makes about 20
Ingredients
75g dried apricots
75g dried pitted dates
25g flax seed – ground
25 g mixed seeds – I used pumpkin and sunflower
2 heaped tsp cocoa powder
2 tsp peanut butter
zest half an orange- I used a SevillePlace the apricots and dates into a bowl and cover with just boiled water and allow to soak for a few minutes. Drain, reserving some of the soaking water.
Place all the ingredients into a food processor and blitz. Add a little water if needed until the mixture comes together into a ball.
Take walnut sized amounts and roll into balls. Slightly squash into discs and place in the dehydrator.
Dehydrate for 6 – 8 hours until firm and not sticky to the touch.
If you do not have a dehydrator leave overnight on a radiator or in your oven as it cools down. Dust with cocoa powder if still sticky.
To make these nut free either leave the peanut butter out, or use Speculoos spread in its place.
Many thanks to Lakeland who gave me a dehydrator for review.
Sending these to
Karen & Kate’s Tea Time Treats where the theme is citrus
Laura & Nazima’s One Ingredient where this month the theme is orange.
We Should Cocoa, where the theme is no added sugar.
Another one for Dolly & Laura’s Calendar Cakes – theme New Year, New You!
Another one for Caroline & Ros’s Alphabakes, with a letter of D! (Dates and dehydrated)
Seville oranges qualify for Ren’s Simple & In Season.
And Ricki’s Wellness Weekend.
I do love a recipe that fits in with many challenges, so satisfying. I have been keen to get dehydrating after reading Mission Explore which has a recipe for apple & blackberry fruit leather. Your date, apricot and cocoa version with orange zest and seeds sounds absolutely great. I know I would love it and am impressed by your ability to eat so healthily. I do fancy trying these using the Speculoos which is now a staple of my cupboard.
Thanks for entering One Ingredient :)x
I feel so much happier when I eat well Laura, although I still love my treats! Moderation is the key thing!
Those look wonderful Helen. I love raw fruit bars.
Am adoring the dehydrator! It is the next gadget you need!
Clever idea to use a radiator as a pseudo-dehydrator. This post has inspired me to step up and post my own recipes for nut and date balls/bars. I’ll have to play with orange and flax seed now – sounds yum.
Well I want the recipe to be accessible, few people have a dehydrator, you can do without but they are very sticky!
I did not actually think about how many I could get it into, although they werr devised for We Should Cocoa and the others just fitted.
That’s an impressive number of challenge entries Helen. The addition of apricots sounds like a nice one ad peanut butter too. I’m trying to imagine what they would be like dehydrated – sounds interesting. Thanks for linking this to We Should Cocoa.
7 events! That’s got to be a record! I can vouch these were very tasty.
smirk :)
I love my dehydrator and this is a lovely recipe to add to my collection. Thank you. :)
What a clever idea and a nutritious snack. I love the idea of a dehydrator. I may have to try one out! you must be having fun trying out different fruits. thanks for entering the one ingredient!