Holiday treats don’t have to be bad for you!
My ritual at Christmas used to be baking lots of holiday cookies, brownies and fudge to give away to family and friends. Since I have gone through a transformation in my diet I no longer want to make these types of treats so I have been trying very hard to come up with a delicious alternative! I have tried countless recipes that fell short. They were healthy but disgusting or delicious but still had ingredients that would make me feel guilty. Then it hit me! I had a recipe already in my arsenal that I could tweak to make it more festive. The delicious cacao balls I make could easily be transformed into a healthy version of a bourbon ball. The result was delicious yet good for me. A success in my book! Try it with or without the bourbon or perhaps substitute rum for the bourbon. Get creative with the toppings and see what happens! It is bound to be delicious!
Healthy Bourbon Balls (or Rum Balls)
Ingredients:
2 cups nuts (any kind will do just make sure that they are raw and unsalted)
2 cups dates
3 Tbsp. cacao powder
3-4 Tbsp. cacao nibs
1 Tbsp. vanilla
3-4 Tbsp. bourbon or liquor of choice
Toppings to roll the balls in: ground pistachios, ground candy canes, unsweetened cocoa powder or unsweetened coconut
Instructions:
Place dates and nuts in food processor until combined.
Add cocoa powder, cacao nibs, vanilla and bourbon mixing well.
Roll into balls approximately 1 inch in diameter and roll in the topping of choice.
Store in the freezer pulling them out 5-10 minutes before serving.
