Everything has sugar in it nowadays. It is so hard to find a special treat to give my kids that is not loaded with crazy amounts of it or filled to the brim with preservatives and chemicals. I used to love going through the Dunkin' Donuts drive-thru and just getting my little ones a munchkin for a treat, just for fun or to reward good behavior on our outings (and sometimes I still do it!), but the ingredient list is so scary... (here's a link for those of you who are interested http://www.fooducate.com/app#!page=product&id=52D85144-6309-C641-40EB-9AF7FD70B169 )

These no bake, 10 minute date balls are a treat that I can actually feel good about giving my kids...and myself!

The sweetness is provided by Medjool dates and raisins, and almonds and pumpkin seeds give a little boost of protein midday. And because I like to roll these treats in different "toppings", they create a celebratory feel! Not quite munchkins....but still really delicious and good for you!

Raw Date Chocolate Treats:

Time: 10 minutes Yield: about 2 dozen

Ingredients:

12 Medjool dates

1 Tablespoon unrefined coconut oil

1/2 cup almonds

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1/4 cup raisins

2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

a pinch of salt

1 Tablespoon water

Method:

Take the pits out of the dates, and process in a food processor until it forms a ball. Remove the ball and set aside. In your now empty processor, add the rest of the ingredients (except for the water) and mix until it becomes a fine, crumbly mixture. Pull apart your date ball and scatter small blobs on top of the crumbly mixture. Add the water, and blend until smooth.

Roll the "batter" into walnut size balls and roll into toppings of your choice. For this batch I rolled them into hemp hearts, chia seeds, shredded coconut and sprinkled with cinnamon. These are great frozen as a cold treat, or just eaten right away!