Trail Food - Chocolate Cherry Balls

We usually whip up a batch of energy balls once a week. They make a great hiking snack, and well yeah, a great evening snack. Who doesn't love the combination of chocolate and cherries? These are super easy and fast to make.

Ingredients:

20 pitted dates

1 cup dried cherries

1 cup almonds

1 TB flax seeds

2 TB cocoa

1/4 cup almond flour

Notes on ingredients:

• I buy 365 brand dates from Whole Foods. They are less expensive than Medjool dates. 
• I buy 365 brand dried cherries also from Whole Foods. They are sweetened. If I find a local source for unsweetened dried cherries, I'll switch to those. The dates provide enough sweetness.
• I used almonds, but you can also use other nuts. I've made this recipe with walnuts before.
• Flax seeds are totally optional. Sometimes I use chia seeds instead. Or neither.
• I recently bought King Arthur Triple Cocoa Blend online. Very tasty!
• Ground nut flours don't last as long as whole nuts. So, if you don't think you'll make balls often, you could either try making very finely ground chopped almonds in a food processor, or maybe use cocoa powder instead. I use Bob's Red Mill almond flour.

Instructions:

• This is what has worked for me - using a very small food processor.
• Soak dates in a bowl of hot water for 10 minutes. Remove, but save some of the water.
• Blend almonds by themselves in a food processor. Remove and place in a bowl.
• Blend dates by themselves.
• Add dried cherries to the dates and blend some more.
• Add back the almonds, flax seeds, and cocoa to the mix and blend some more.
• If the mixture looks too dry to shape into balls, add a tablespoon of water at a time until you get the right consistency
• Form the mixture into balls - for me this makes 16-18 balls. 
• Pour the almond flour onto a plate. Roll each ball in the almond flour.

These can probably be stored in the refrigerator for a week, but I personally pop them in the freezer, and then pull out a couple every time I go hiking.