These powerballs make a great little snack or treat. There are two versions…
1. The Chocolate/Peanut Version (pictured):
I recently bought my first bar of unsweetened chocolate (100% cacao)…and to steal vocabulary from my 5-year-old, it tasted disgusting! 
However, in some magical way the combination of ingredients in this recipe below make the cacao taste like “regular” chocolate. I have to thank a 100 Days of Real Food reader for introducing me to a version of this recipe. I would have never thought to put these items together and now we can’t stop eating them!
- ¾ cup tree nuts (I used pecans)
- ¾ cup dried pitted dates
- 2 tablespoons of peanut butter (an all natural PB is recommended – the only ingredient necessary is crushed peanuts)
- 3 tablespoons 100% cacao (unsweetened chocolate bar – Ghiradelli makes one that I found at 2 different grocery stores in the baking section)
Combine all ingredients into a food processor and blend. Form into balls (makes about 10 – 12 depending on size) and serve immediately or keep refrigerated. For a slightly different variation without peanut butter check out the chocolate torte recipe.
2. The Peanut/Honey Version:
This recipe is from a friend of a friend and you can get creative with adding extras.
- 1 cup peanut butter (an all natural PB is recommended – the only ingredient necessary is crushed peanuts)
- 1 cup honey
- 3 cups rolled oats (oatmeal)
- 1 cup of nuts or dried fruit (or whatever your heart desires)
- Crushed nuts, granola cereal or unsweetened coconut
Mix the first four ingredients together thoroughly. Form them into balls (makes about 10 – 12 depending on size) then roll them in the crushed nuts, granola cereal, or unsweetened coconut. Serve or refrigerate.
[...] that will require recipes (which I will include in future posts): Triscuits with homemade hummus, powerballs, and homemade granola [...]
[...] than a minute. (Note: these nuts are also a delicious replacement for the plain pecans used in this chocolate Powerball recipe…just add two teaspoons of water instead of using the peanut [...]
How do I make these w/ no nuts or peanut butter? Do you have any ideas?
Just leave out the peanut butter (similar to this recipe http://thefoodillusion.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/recipe-chocolate-torte-with-whipped-cream-and-chocolate-sauce/) and how about trying sesame seeds or pumpkin seeds instead of pecans? Can Ella have those?
I just made the first version and they’re very good. They were extremely easy to make. My boys even at them.
Made the chocolate/pb version last night (for a bit of dessert after making your grilled pimento cheese sandwich!), and it was fantastic.
Your daughter was not wrong about the taste of the 100% cacao by itself. (I couldn’t resist tasting it!).
I can happily eat 75% dark chocolate with a smile on my face, but that was just terrible. However, mixed up with the dates, pecans and peanut butter – it definitely works.
Once this batch is gone, I’ll try the oat/honey version. It sounds good, too.
I know the dates work magic with that bitter unsweetened cocoa…the version I am currently addicted to though is this one made into little balls: http://thefoodillusion.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/recipe-chocolate-torte-with-whipped-cream-and-chocolate-sauce/
[...] and last, but certainly not least…the chocolate torte recipe which I like to turn into little chocolate powerballs. I can barely go a day or two without eating a couple of [...]