Coconut Cherry Choc Balls

Posted by thesensitivefoodie on September 25, 2014 in Dairy Free, Egg Free, Gluten Free, Paleo, Vegetarian | 2 Comments

Sometimes you just really need a sweet treat, and these Coconut Cherry Choc Balls are the bomb! Enough healthy ingredients to lessen the guilt and all the yumminess! I was craving chocolate today badly! So decided to whip up a healthier version of a cherry bounty bar.

I was watching the new show on TV “Bringing Sexy Back” the other week, I wouldn’t normally watch it, it was just that I was home sick, and it came on and I just couldn’t be bothered changing the channel. But I’m so glad I did. I thought it was an Aussie version of a show that used to be on, where people had a full makeover including plastic surgery to ‘make them perfect’ and that show really bothered me, but this one was just about motivating people to get healthy, lose weight and regain confidence in themselves. The one I watched was about a mother in QLD that was a model in her younger days, but had fallen into some bad habits and put on a lot of weight, it wasn’t the weight that was the issue, her confidence was shattered. She wouldn’t look in a mirror, and asked her husband to close his eyes when she took her clothes off, and I was so sad for her. They had a trainer moved into the house for a week to help get into an exercise routine and healthy eating plan. From there she did 14 weeks on her own, living a normal life; going to work, raising 4 children, etc and learning to incorporate exercise and nutritious meal prep. I was completely blown away by the transformation in her, in 14 weeks she lost a whopping 26kg and was like a new invigorated, happy, confident woman.

It really helped to get me motivated to keep going with my weigh loss plan, if she can do it, so can I! I enjoy going to the gym and going for walks, there is a great 7km walk near me that is along the river. But I’m toying with the idea of going to a Zumba class, have you tried it? If so, do you enjoy it? It looks like fun, but the idea of dancing in a room makes me nervous, actually it’s the idea of dancing sober that terrifies me most, and it’s probably counter productive to go to a class after a couple of tequila shots for courage 🙂

This tonsillitis/flu bug has held me back, 2 weeks and I still have inflamed tonsils and am exhausted, but I’m at least keeping up with the healthy eating, and then as soon as I’m up to it, I’ll start hitting the gym. I’m so keen to get going, but I know I need to let my body rest and recover first. But we all need treats every now and then, and my doctor recommended I eat dark chocolate before bed to help stop me from coughing, and if it’ doctors order, who am I to argue 🙂

Suitable for: gluten, dairy, egg free diets. Vegetarian/Vegan friendly

Ingredients – makes 12 

• 2 cups desiccated coconut
• 1/2 cup dried sour cherries, chopped
• 1/2 cup LSA (ground linseed, sunflower seed & almonds)
• 3 tablespoons Acai Powder (I got this from the health food shop – if you can’t find it, you can leave it out)
• 150ml coconut cream (make sure you really shake the can first)
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1/3 cup dry powdered sweetener of choice. I used coconut sugar, but could use maple sugar or icing sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla essence or paste
• 1 block dark chocolate (I use black & gold organic dairy free chocolate)
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil

Method

1. Mix all ingredients EXCEPT last 2 on the list (all except the dark chocolate and tbsp coconut oil – they are for the coating). Mix well, and then form into balls. Put them into the fridge to set for about 20 mins.
2. Heat a saucepan of boiling water on the stovetop, and then place a heatproof bowl over the top. to melt the chocolate. Add the chocolate and the coconut oil, and stir until completely melted. Carefully remove the bowl and put not the bench so you can coat the balls.
3. Get a baking tray ready, and place a sheet of baking paper on it, so that the balls won’t stick to it (I forgot this step, and it was a paid to remove them).
4. Get the balls from the fridge and roll each ball into the chocolate until completely covered and then place onto the baking paper. Repeat until all balls finished. Pop them into the fridge to set.

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