Chocolate, orange and buckwheat crunch balls

We would feel guilty about eating so many of these crunchy, flavourful, enticing treats if we didn’t know that they were so healthy.
Buckwheat is rich in rutin, a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect your body and brain from inflammation and collagen degradation.

Ingredients - MAKES 18

• 6 medjool dates, pitted
• ½ cup (125 ml/4 fl oz) boiling water
• 1 cup (200 g/7 oz) buckwheat groats
• ½ cup (40 g/1½ oz) cacao powder
• 1 cup (100 g/3½ oz) desiccated (shredded) coconut
• 2 tablespoons almond butter
• 2 tablespoons tahini
• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean powder*
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• finely grated zest of 1 unwaxed orange
• pinch of Himalayan salt
• 1/3 cup (60 g/2 oz) raisins, coarsely chopped
• 2 tablespoons cacao nibs*

Coating

• ¼ cup (20 g/¾ oz) cacao powder
• 1/3 cup (30 g/1 oz) desiccated (shredded) coconut
• ½ cup (70 g/2½ oz) pistachios, finely ground

Method
1. Soak the dates in water for 10 minutes, or until softened.

2. Toast the buckwheat groats in a dry frying pan over low–medium heat for 3–4 minutes, until golden brown and nutty. Set aside to cool.

3. Place the dates and any remaining liquid, cacao powder, coconut, almond butter, tahini, vanilla, cinnamon, orange zest and salt in a high-speed blender. Blend until the mixture begins to
bind together.

4. Transfer into a medium bowl. Add the cooled toasted buckwheat, raisins and cacao nibs and
stir to combine.

5. Divide the mixture into 18 even portions. Roll into balls. Roll six balls in cacao powder, six in desiccated coconut and six in finely ground pistachios to coat.

6. Place on a tray and refrigerate for 1 hour, or until firm.

NOTE
These can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator. Alternatively, you can freeze them for up to 3 months.

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from Planet Organic Blog http://ift.tt/2hx7ABW
via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods