CRISPY NUTELLA DATE BITES
Dates, often referred to as nature's candy, are a marvel of sweetness plucked right from the earth. Just imagine the sheer wonder when humans first discovered these sweet, succulent treasures thousands of years ago. Not only are dates a natural delight, but they also come packed with fiber and antioxidants, making them perfect for sweetening recipes or crafting bite-sized desserts, like these crispy Nutella date bites.
As a personal anecdote, when I was expecting my daughter, I eagerly delved into all-natural ways to encourage labor. And without fail, dates came up as a method to naturally facilitate cervix dilation. So, I started enjoying a date a day after reaching full-term pregnancy, and, lo and behold, my labor was swift and smooth – just 10 minutes of pushing before she made her debut in the world. I can't say the dates were the sole reason, but I like to believe they played their part.
What makes this recipe truly delightful is its ease and simplicity. With leftover dates often lying around, it's a quick fix for that post-meal sweet craving. These little date bites are sweet, hazelnut-rich, and carry a hint of bitterness from unsweetened cocoa powder, creating a harmony of irresistible flavours.
Ingredients for Crispy Nutella Date Bites:
8 dates (soft Medjool dates are best)
1.5 tbsp hazelnut butter (or sub for any nut butter of choice)
2 tbsp cacao powder
Pinch of salt
1-2 tbsp water (or more to adjust consistency)
Brown rice cereal
*Makes 16 crispy nutella date bites
Step 1: Pit and Halve
Pit dates and cut in half.
Step 2: Make chocolate filling
Combine hazelnut butter, cacao, salt and water. Mix well until it is creamy like whipped butter.
Adjust water, cacao and nut butter to your liking. (Note: of course this isnt a sweet mixture. It is meant to be a soft and salted nutty chocolate to complement the sugar in the dates).
Step 3: Fill dates
Fill date halves with whipped chocolate
Store in the fridge until chocolate and dates harden to achieve chewy texture.
Step 4: Crispify!
Once you are ready to eat, pour some brown rice cereal onto a plate. Dip each into rice cereal to enjoy. Note: Dipping into the cripsy cereal before you eat is not necessary but rather to maintain optimal crunch. If you want ready-to-eat, dip and stick it in the fridge but keep in mind that the rice cereal may get a bit moist if stored in there too long.
Tips:
Make sure your dates are fresh and large enough to fill with mixture.
If you have leftover cacao/nut mixture, combine with oats, chopped nuts, chopped dried fruit, maple syrup and roll into energy balls.
For an energy boost, add 1/2 tsp maca powder to your mixture.Pack these in small reusable containers and have as a pre-energy workout or in place of chocolate.