Candy Cane Coconut Balls
Have you ever agreed to bring a snack to an event and then forgot all about it until the last minute? No, I’m on my own in this? Sigh, I hope not.
The first time I made these I needed something quick and reasonably healthy. In the spring I put together a lemony version, but it was December and I wanted something festive and a little firmer than the original, so, I made a few strategic substitutions and Candy Cane Coconut Balls were born!
I tend toward a mostly grain free diet, so, if I am making a treat it tends to be coconut or nut based, which are naturally gluten free. Coconut is one of my favourites because it goes with everything, sweet, savory or anything in between. It is also a nutrient rock star, combining fibre, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals in all it’s low carb glory.
While coconut is not a complete source of protein, it contains 17 of the 20 amino acids and is a great source of threonine, which is used to protect the liver, central nervous system and cardiovascular system. Heart protective snack food? You betcha!
I was glad I had a few dried goji berries tucked in the pantry for just such a festive culinary emergency. They don’t call these babies a superfood for nothing. Along with being tasty, gojis are among the top of the class when it comes to antioxidant value with an ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) score of 3, 290.
These treats are sweetened with maple syrup, but you can go ahead and use honey, or even stevia drops to provide a sugar free alternative.
I boiled the kettle while I measured the coconut butter and coconut oil into a small stainless steel bowl and turned on the burner to high. Once the burner was hot I shut it off as coconut has such a low melt point. I chopped the gojis and let them soak while I measured the remaining ingredients into a medium sized bowl, mixed in the melted coconut mixture and drained gojis and tucked it into the fridge while I quickly showered. Once I was dressed and beautiful I scooped and rolled the balls and was out the door!
Candy Cane Coconut Balls
Ingredients
- 1½ cups unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup almond flour
- ¼ cup goji berries + ¼ cup boiled water
- 3 tbsp coconut oil
- 3 tbsp coconut butter
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1½ tsp peppermint extract
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Chop dried goji berries into halves or quarters, cover with boiled water; soak for about 10 minutes.
- In a heat proof bowl, melt coconut oil and coconut butter.
- In a medium size bowl combine remaining ingredients, mixing until well combined.
- Once melted, add coconut butter mixture.
- Drain goji berries and stir into coconut mixture.
- Place bowl in the fridge for 10 – 15 minutes so mixture is easier to roll.
- Using a melon baller or teaspoon, scoop mixture and roll into balls.
- Store in refrigerator.