Since going gluten free I have been baking for my husband but looking for other recipes to satisfy MY sweet tooth. There are many versions of these on the net, I looked at alot of them them then threw my own concoction together testing the flavours until I was happy with it. These are “cakey” in consistency but light, chocolaty but not too sweet or rich and they are yummy. This recipe made about 18 quite large balls, it could easily be halved.
2 cups cooked quinoa
1 cup dates
1/2 cup walnuts (or sunflower seeds)
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons cocoa
3 tablespoons coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 – 1 1/2 cups (approx) coconut
extra coconut for rolling
Put the dates and walnuts in a food processor and process till crumbly. Melt the coconut oil. Add all ingredients to dates and walnuts, starting with the one cup of coconut. Process till a consistency of dough that can be formed into balls, adding extra coconut if mixture too soft. Roll in coconut and chill.
Chocolate Cranberry Quinoa Balls
The second time I made these I changed the recipe a little. I used 1 cup of quinoa, omitted the peanut butter, increased the coconut to 2 cups, added 1 cup of cranberries.
I chilled these then dipped in melted dark chocolate combined with 2 tsp coconut oil. Chill and keep refrigerated. These were wonderful too.
Ooooo …. that does sound yummy. I’ll pin it for later reference. I have a delicious recipe for pumpkin choc chip cookies too which I keep in the freezer and just take one out now and again when I just want a little something …. 🙂
I still havent made the psyllium bread yet – no walnuts – going to organics this week to get some though and will report back. Have a great week Wendy!
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Cool 🙂 You have a great week too, I hope the sun keeps shining for us all!
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Don’t typically read recipe posts but I really like quinoa, so I paused to read. Thanks!
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You are welcome 🙂
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You’ve just solved my Chirstmas rumball dilemma! Add in some sultanas and a dash of rum essence (maybe?) and excellent! I’d leave out the PB though. Not a fan really. 🙂
Can I just say, YOU LEGEND YOU! 😀
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Lol, ya reckon?! These are really nice and could be adapted lots of ways, just taste it in the processor bowl and tweak as you go 🙂
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And what’s the bet my very non-hippy family will never know the difference! 😉
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No, they absolutely won’t lol – these are every bit as good to taste as the ones of old 🙂
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I found a lemon slice recipe like that. No artificial sugar and no bikkie base! WIN! 😀 I can’t wait to try these beauties!
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Another way to incorporate more quinoa into my diet. Thanks for sharing!
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You are welcome 🙂
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Fantastic recipe! Thanks for sharing!
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You are welcome 🙂
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What an interesting way to use Quinoa! Great idea.
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Absolutely easy and lovely to eat. I took out the peanut butter, and used rice bran oil because I did not have coconut oil. I will try next time with coconut oil. Thanks from New Zealand
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Hi Sue, I am glad you liked them! Thanks for commenting and letting me know.
Wendy, as far away as Marlborough 🙂
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(bugger…Wendy keeps coming up with these gorgeous creations and I keep eating them…I am going to have to pretend that the dogs got into the jar…”
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I must admit I have eaten the whole bowl full myself but the great thing is, there’s not a shred of guilt 🙂
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I have to be very careful because my natural instincts are to polish off the bowl on a regular basis. I was once a large narf7 and don’t want to return there any day soon so I have to keep a vigilant eye on myself sometimes. Its not so much that these babies are guilt free, it’s me developing the habit of overeating again. I am sort of a foodacholic who is on her own 10 step program but as an alcoholic would say “I am just 1 bowl of tasty snacks away from jumping back into the fray with my boots on”. Gotta watch my natural instincts 😉
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Ah ok 🙂 You have done very well! I am rapt, I have lost 5 kg since going on the Blood Type Diet 5 weeks ago….even with a bowl of balls!! I am definately not an over eater but am carrying too much weight so I am happy to be finally losing it.
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I was 100kg not so long ago and had trouble walking around the kitchen let alone the block. Now I walk 5km a day with the dog and still have energy to boot. I think I would rather suffer the fact that I can’t eat a lot of “tasty” things than go back to how I was. Well Done on your weight loss! 5kg is awesome and it certainly makes you feel amazing to see those damned scales going in the right direction for a change doesn’t it? 🙂
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Sure does! You have done brilliantly and should be really proud of yourself. I find there are plenty of healthy tasty options for things now, dates satisfy a sweet craving as well as anything. I will be happy on my present diet, no going back.
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It’s always good to find someplace where you feel comfortable and that works. I think most people don’t realise that diets don’t fit everyone. They might work for a select few but everyone is different and what works for one person is highly unlikely to do the same for the next so you just have to tinker around with your appetite, what you like to eat and work within those parameters if you are ever going to stay on any type of weight loss plan in the long term. I think adding exercise was the big weight loss factor for me. Walking Earl would make ANYONE lose weight 😉
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Yes, I agree. My problem is definately lack of exercise. The diet is helping with pain in my joints so hoping I can get alot fitter in the near future! I used to walk 12 km a day and now can barely hobble around the garden.
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I know what you mean. I spent most of 2010 hobbling around with my knee in various stages of “swell”. I was thinking at one stage that I would need surgery just to keep walking around and after mum died of a heart attack in 2012 I decided that I wasn’t going to carry on like that and started working on my diet and exercise. I couldn’t walk up our driveway without stopping about 4 times to get my breath back but now I almost sprint up but I had to get to this in small increments. It’s all “live and learn” stuff but there is light at the end of the tunnel and my knees don’t ache like they used to and my hands aren’t sore any more so there must be some good coming of it 🙂
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Wow, good on you, that’s a big improvement for you!!!! There’s hope for me yet then 🙂
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You get me every time with chocolate. 🙂 This sounds delicious enough that I may have to hide them to have any for myself.
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Nothing wrong with chocolate 🙂 🙂
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