chocolate-tahini balls recipe
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Recipe type: healthy snack
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 10
 
The longest active part of this recipe is shelling the pistachios. Do it ahead of time if you can and these come together quickly. There is also a 20 minute wait time as the balls chill before coating with the cocoa and nut-seed mix, which you can use to prep the coatings. The original recipe makes 10 balls -- not much. Since you're messing up a food processor anyway, you might as well make a double recipe. The balls keep for a month in the fridge.
Ingredients
  • ⅔ cup plus 1 tablespoon unsalted, shelled raw pistachios, divided
  • 4 Medjool dates, pitted
  • ⅓ cup tahini
  • 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, divided
  • 1 tablespoon freshly toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
  2. Pulse ⅔ cup pistachios in a food processor until coarsely chopped, then add dates, tahini, maple syrup, salt, and ¼ cup cocoa. Process until the mixture balls up. It will be sticky and soft but not gooey enough to stick to your fingers too much. It should hold its shape.
  3. Divide this large ball into half, then divide each half into five pieces evenly, making a total of ten balls. Roll them smooth between your palms gently. Chill in fridge for about 20 minutes to firm.
  4. Grind sesame seeds and remaining pistachios (1 tablespoon) or chop finely. Set aside in small bowl. Put remaining cocoa in separate bowl and set aside.
  5. Retrieve the balls and roll them again to smooth, then dip one half into the cocoa, then the other half into the nut-seed mixture. I did a mix of some half-and-half dips, some nuts-seeds only, just cocoa, and then dumped the cocoa and nut mix together. Whatever works!
  6. Keep chilled. These keep for a month in the fridge. The original recipe recommends to wrap each ball separately in plastic wrap to chill. I didn't bother and just used an airtight container without crowding the balls too much.
Recipe by story of a kitchen at https://www.storyofakitchen.com/healthy-snacks/chocolate-tahini-balls-recipe/