Greetings!
We are home safe and sound from Alberta and are running on little sleep.
I am downing French Press like the best of ‘em, but I’m not even sure this is going to save my lack of sleep. Time changes are always hard to adjust to, aren’t they?
I am also suffering from a bad case of I-miss-my-family-blues.
As I mentioned last week before I left to visit my family, I am featuring a holiday cookie special on the blog called ‘Favourite Vegan Holiday Cookies’ where I promised to show you holiday cookies with a wholesome, vegan twist.
![holiday cookie holiday cookie](/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/holidaycookie_thumb.jpg)
I’ve already showed you My Favourite Snickerdoodle…last week.
![20101124IMG_32372 20101124IMG_32372](/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101124IMG_323721.jpg)
I will be making a list on my recipes page of all the holiday cookies that I make, so be sure to check that out.
I also made Auntie Angie’s Soft Peanut Butter Cookies…
![20101126-IMG_3514b 20101126-IMG_3514b](/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101126IMG_3514b.jpg)
Today I’d like to move to a cookie a bit more unconventional…
First of all, it is a ball.
It is no bake.
It is dipped in chocolate.
It is vegan.
It contains no added sugar.
![20101126-IMG_3423b 20101126-IMG_3423b](/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101126IMG_3423b_thumb.jpg)
These are also adapted from my Glo Dough balls that I sold at the Farmer’s market this past summer.
This unexpected delight is the perfect holiday party appetizer to serve on a cute little tray, stuck with red and green toothpicks. I served something like this at my Ugly Christmas Sweater Party last December 2009.
I made these last week before I left for my trip and it took all my restraint to wait to blog about them.
The first thing I did when I got home from the airport last night was pop one of these bad boys out of the freezer and into my mouth.
I needed a chocolate fix.
And fast.
I shoved that cookie ball into my mouth and had a moment of sheer bliss as I stood in front of the freezer with my luggage in one hand and balls in the other.
Peace at last.
![20101126-IMG_3423 20101126-IMG_3423](/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101126IMG_3423_thumb.jpg)
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Chocolate Dipped Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls
Adapted from my Raw Chocolate Chip Cookies from May 2009. Stick idea from Joy the Baker.
Ingredients:
- 2/3 cup cashews
- 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp regular oats
- 3/4 cup whole grain spelt flour (or other flour)
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 5 pitted medjool dates, chopped
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 3-5 tbsp pure maple syrup, to taste
- 3-4 tbsp dark chocolate or my homemade raw chocolate, chopped
- 1/3 cup dark chocolate, melted, for dipping
Directions: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a non stick mat. In a food processor, process the cashews and oats until a fine crumble (see picture below). Now add in the flour, kosher salt, and roughly chopped pitted medjool dates. Process until fine.
Add in the vanilla and pure maple syrup and process until the mixture comes together in a ball.
Transfer to a large bowl and stir in the 3-4 tbsp of chopped dark chocolate. Roll into balls and stick with toothpicks.
In a double boiler or carefully in the microwave, melt 1/3 cup of dark chocolate in a small bowl. Be careful not to burn. Now roll each ball into the chocolate and place on parchment paper lined baking sheet.
Freeze for 1 hour to set. Serve immediately.
Yield: Approx. 25 balls.
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![20101126-IMG_3398 20101126-IMG_3398](/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101126IMG_3398_thumb.jpg)
Process the oats and cashews until a fine crumble forms like above.
Now add in the flour, dates, and kosher salt:
![20101126-IMG_3402 20101126-IMG_3402](/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101126IMG_3402_thumb.jpg)
Process until fine.
![20101126-IMG_3404 20101126-IMG_3404](/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101126IMG_3404_thumb.jpg)
Now add in the pure maple syrup and vanilla. A ball will form.
![20101126-IMG_3406 20101126-IMG_3406](/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101126IMG_3406_thumb.jpg)
Now add in the chopped chocolate and process until incorporated. Alternatively you can stir this in a bowl if the mixture is too sticky for your processor.
![20101126-IMG_3412 20101126-IMG_3412](/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101126IMG_3412_thumb.jpg)
Shape into balls and stick with a toothpick!
![20101126-IMG_3413 20101126-IMG_3413](/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101126IMG_3413_thumb.jpg)
They already taste delicious, but we must dip them in chocolate.
![20101126-IMG_3414 20101126-IMG_3414](/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101126IMG_3414_thumb.jpg)
This is 1/3 cup melted dark chocolate.
![20101126-IMG_3422 20101126-IMG_3422](/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101126IMG_3422_thumb.jpg)
Dip half way and place on the parchment.
![20101126-IMG_3423 20101126-IMG_3423](/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101126IMG_3423_thumb.jpg)
Now freeze the balls for 1 hour to set. Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve immediately.
![20101126-IMG_3442 20101126-IMG_3442](/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101126IMG_3442_thumb.jpg)
These have a nutty flavour thanks to the cashews and spelt flour and a great texture thanks to the chunks of chocolate. They taste like a healthier cookie dough that is wholesome but won’t give you the dreaded sugar crash. They don’t taste exactly like cookie dough, but they are delicious anyways.
And perfect straight out of the freezer.
Mmmmm.
![20101126-IMG_3427 20101126-IMG_3427](/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101126IMG_3427_thumb.jpg)
The other day, my nephew asked me, ‘Auntie Angie, why do you take pictures of your food?’
I stopped and laughed for a moment and thought about my strange ways.
I also realized that I had turned into the token weird Aunt. I knew it was bound to happen.
![20101126-IMG_3450 20101126-IMG_3450](/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101126IMG_3450_thumb.jpg)
I looked at him eagerly awaiting my reply and said,
‘Because taking pictures of my food makes me happy….just like you do.’
And then I distracted him with a cookie.
It worked for now, but there will be many more questions and I need to think of answers.
I think I shall go clean out my freezer now.
….wow. Yes. I wish there was a way to make these non-vegan but I guess with the raw-egg factor it’s not a great idea. Hmmm…time to get creative : )
What would be the advantage of making these non vegan? Not trying to be mean, I just don’t get the point.
Oh I’m sorry I didn’t mean to offend anyone!!!! I just meant, since I’m not a vegan, I was wondering if I could make them with more traditional cookie dough. That’s all! Sorry again!
Bad flights certainly require a treat! Maybe I will make these to ease the pain of flying tomorrow :)
I love the red and green toothpicks. What a festive touch! It’s all about the details, right?
Mmm cookie dough, so craving that now.
A few months ago I dipped chocolate chip cookies into chocolate and determined one thing – it was so rich and delicious that I actually ended up eating LESS. Best diet trick ever.
Oh Ange, you never cease to amaze me with your vegan baking skills. At first glance, I thought the cookie dough balls were STUFFED inside dates….those would’ve been humongous dates :)
Omigosh those are the BOMB! I love cookie dough. Especially dipped in chocolate! Although I basically like anything dipped in chocolate haha ;)
At Thanksgiving, with a camera strapped around my neck, I got the question about 5 times. My answer: Food is pretty :)
As are your cookie dough balls!
Okay, those are the prettiest balls I’ve ever seen (ha)!! Too cute! These would be PERFECT for any holiday party!
Great answer Auntie Angie!!!! Kids are so cute….
I know this is really really immature, but I’m tired and wasn’t concentrating properly, and kind of skipped over half of one of the sentences, so the only bit I read was:
“and had a moment of sheer bliss as I stood in front of the freezer with my luggage in one hand and balls in the other. ”
Hehehehehehe.
They look really delicious!!! It’s a pity I don’t have a clue if I can get most of the ingredients where I live (Japan!)
Hahaha, that line made me snigger too!
I wondered if anyone would catch that!
Those look so good! Mmm…! :)
Haha I always get asked why I’m taking photos of food! And strange looks from everyone else! :P
These look great Ange!!!!!!
These look delicious!! I think distracting your nephews with food is a good enough way to stop the questions for now hehe :) I’m glad you had a safe trip home!
Mmmmm… cookie balls on a stick! “Weird aunt”- hehehe I love it, I got looks from adults at Thanksgiving dinner… I guess they didn’t have the gusto of a young child to ASK why ;)
You just took this recipe OVER THE TOP!!!
That looks very tasty and easy. Any time chocolate is layered upon chocolate, it’s a good day, yes?
Oh my gosh!! Awesome! These would be a great gift to fill a large mason jar with…I have a slight obsession with mason jars. :)
And to the kitchen I gooooooo :D You never can go wrong with chocolate chip cookie dough!
those cookies make me happy too! Simple and easy and GOOD! Anything dipped in chocolate is good, right? Hope you get to bed early tonight. Rest up friend. :)