Chocolate Coconut Date Oat Balls - Take 2 (DF, GF)

 

These snack balls have a nice peanut butter flavor  !!!  I like these so much I want to just keep eating them !

These are a variation of my Chocolate Peanut Butter Coconut Banana Balls and This recipe

Ingredients:
1 cup dates

 1/2 to 3/4 cup hot water (depending on how dry the dates are)
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1/4  cup Hershey's Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/8 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup natural peanut butter (no sugar) - I used chunky

2 cups Quaker Quick Oats
1 cup  Unsweetened Shredded Coconut  (I use Bob's Red Mill)

Directions:

Soak the dates in the water for about 15 minutes to soften.

Blend the dates (with water) in a blender or food processor until well combined.  I actually leave some date pieces....this makes them chewier.

In a bowl, combine the blended dates and all other ingredients and mix everything together until well combined.

Form into balls and store in fridge.  Each day these balls tend to get more flavorful.  I like these better after they have been in the fridge overnight.

I've started using the  Farberware Cookie Scoop for forming the snack balls, instead of using my hands.  It is not as messy and the balls are a more uniform size.

My favorite food processor is the KitchenAid  7-Cup Food Processor. 

For blenders, I use both the  Vitamix Blender and Ninja Master Prep Professional Blender