Melt-In-Your-Mouth Brownie Bombs

Need an excuse to eat chocolate? Well, let's review the health benefits of cacao and cinnamon. Just kidding! I'm not going to put you through any of that and delay your work in the kitchen. I've already talked about the goodness cacao, cinnamon, and nuts have to offer so I'll jump to dates, the main ingredient of these precious brownies.

Dates Health Note
Rich in magnesium, iron, potassium, B-vitamins, the naturally sweet and moist fruits can help you build blood cells, strengthen your bones, and balance your blood pressure. They have tons of fiber too so it's a very good idea to introduce your friends to raw foods by offering them desserts made with dates. You know they will thank you for it! Dates will also come to your rescue whenever you need an energy boost. Carry a bagful of them with you to have something to reach for when you forgot your pre-workout snack or whenever you just need an afternoon "pick-me-up". Of course, an even better alternative is to take along some brownie balls ; )

Ingredients:

(Makes 13-14 walnut size balls)

12 medjool dates

1/2 cup pecans (or walnuts/almonds)

2-3 tbsp almond butter (or walnut/pecan butter)

1/4 cup cacao powder*

~ 1 tbsp cacao nibs*

Optional:

small pinch of salt

vanilla

cinnamon/shredded coconut/lucuma powder/ground nuts, etc. for rolling

*if your body doesn't respond well to cacao or you just want to avoid caffeine, use carob powder instead of cacao and skip the cacao nibs

Preparation:
Remove the pits from the dates and place all ingredients but the cacao nibs in the food processor. Process until you get a fairly smooth texture. When you pinch some of it in between fingers it should hold shape. Add the cacao nibs and process for a few more seconds just to mix them in there without braking them down. Using  your palms form the paste into small balls and roll them into cinnamon, etc. They're very soft freshly made and firm up quite a bit in the fridge.
Serve them as is or with vanilla ice-cream. Yes, it is Heaven on Earth.