Date Balls

Sometimes a bar is just too much snack for a 3 year old. Enter the date ball. A limited ingredient, smaller version of the date bar, these are closer to Larabars but I think they have more texture and less fruit.

Like the date bars, this recipe has some flexibility. The flax meal could become nut meal. The coconut could become dried fruit. Unlike the date bars, the dates are the only "sticky" ingredient and I'm not sure other fruits can replace them here.

The mixture will appear too dry when you mix it. While you should add a little warm water if it just won't hold together, make sure to try pressing it into balls first. It won't roll into a ball like dough, it needs to be pressed and shaped with your fingers. Because these are dried than the date bars, I store them at room temperature.

Date Balls

1/2 cup pitted dates (soaked in hot water for 10 minutes if they seem dry and drained)
1/4 cup rolled oats
2 Tablespoons flaxseed meal or nut meal
2-1/2 Tablespoons chia seeds soaked in 5 Tablespoons water for at least 1 hour
1/4 cup flaked coconut or dried fruit

Process the dates in a food processor or blender until finely chopped. Add remaining ingredients and pulse until combined. Press into balls approximately 1-inch in diameter.