for a while these became a weekly snack staple at our house. partially because they’re delicious. largely because i can make then in 5 minutes! recipe from the blog Minimalist Baker.
Prep Time: 5 min | Bake Time: 0 min | Yields: about 12 snack balls
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups packed (~32 dates) dates, pitted (soak in warm water for 10 min if not sticky and moist)
- 1/2 cup peanut butter (creamy is best)
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
Directions
If your dates are not sticky and moist, soak in warm water for 10 minutes and then drain. Otherwise, proceed.
Check to make sure there are no accidental pits in your dates. Add dates to a food processor and pulse until the date bits clump into a ball. If any big pieces remain, use a knife or spatula to push them down, then turn the machine back on to pulse.
Add peanut butter and oats and pulse a few more times until incorporated, stirring and scraping down sides as needed. If you prefer denser bars, add more oats.
Scoop out 1 Tbsp amounts and roll into a ball and place on a baking sheet or plate. Transfer to freezer to set.
Variations
If making bars, transfer to a parchment-lined 8×8 dish and press down until flat after blending. Slice into 8-10 bars and store in the fridge or freezer to keep fresh. They can be a little flimsy at room temp, so be gentle with how you stack them.
Feel free to spice these up as much as you like with other kinds of dried fruits, cocoa powder . . . get creative!