If you ever miss candy or chocolate bars we have a great alternative for you in these delicious, snickers style stuffed dates made from whole foods only.
You can keep these chocolate covered dates in the freezer and eat them straight from frozen for a truly decadent experience. The chocolate ganache doesn’t go completely hard when you freeze it, but instead goes scrumptiously gooey, sticky and sweet.
Health Benefits
These snickers stuffed dates are truly bountiful in wonderful health benefits.
The 3 basic ingredients of Brazil nuts, maple syrup and carob powder are all loaded with nutrition, making these stuffed dates a truly guilt-free dessert or snack.
However, they are not low calorie and come in at around 120 cals per piece, so you may have to exercise (if you can) portion control and stick to a couple at a time.
Health Benefits Of Dates
Dates in themselves are LOADED with nutrition. They are one of Nature’s superfoods that will give you instant energy, are filling and satiating, and make great workout fuel.
Other benefits of dates include:-
- Lower Cholesterol – Dates are high in both soluble and insoluble fibre, which helps to lower bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
- Bone Health – Dates are high in nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus, both of which are vital to the maintenance and growth of bones and teeth.
- Antioxidants – The high antioxidant levels in dates make them a great way of combating oxidative stress in the body caused by all manner of environmental toxins.
- Anti Inflammatory – Like most plant foods, dates are anti inflammatory and help to fight and combat chronic inflammation in the body caused by the environment of disease.
Carob Benefits
Carob powder is a great alternative to cacao powder as it is healthier and caffeine free. Cacao beans contain caffeine and can give you the jitters or make you anxious, if you over indulge.
You don’t necessarily need to use carob powder in this recipe as you may have problems getting hold of it. In this case you can use cacao powder instead. You usually can find carob powder in health/whole food stores, or online.
Other carob powder benefits include:-
- Cardiovascular – Carob is high fibre and helps lowers the risk of high blood pressure, high triglycerides and stroke.
- Helps Prevent Infections – The antioxidants in carob may help prevent viruses and harmful bacteria reproducing in the body. It also helps speed up the healing of existing infections, specifically (and interestingly) colds and flu.
- Strengthens Bones – Containing 3X more calcium than milk, carob is a fantastic way to maintain bone and teeth health.
- Helps Digestion – Carob is a fibrous fruit that can help protect your digestive system by supporting the secretion of bowel movements and stomach secretion. Carob is also an effective way to help ease diarrhea.
- Balances Blood Sugar – Carob is a low glycemic index food and can help regulate blood sugar.
- Good For Fertility – Carob may help with male fertility by increasing the number of sperm when eaten in moderation, but daily.
Maple Syrup Benefits
Maple syrup is by far the superior, healthier alternative to refined sugars because it actually contains nutrients in notable amounts. It doesn’t contain many vitamins, but it does contain minerals, some in good amounts.
These include:-
- Manganese (33% of your daily amount in just 1 tablespoon).
- Zin
- Copper
- Calcium
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Potassium
Variations On Stuffed Dates
The recipe we have created here is the healthiest way to eat this sweet treat as it’s RAW foods compliant. Eating your foods as raw as possible maximises health benefits, digestion, energy production and nutritional content.
You can however make variations on these snickers style stuffed dates by subbing your Brazil nuts for other nuts such as walnuts, pecans or peanut butter.
Another variation to the chocolate ganache coating would be to use actual melted chocolate to dip your dates into. This would result in a hard and crispy, rea chocolate coating that sets. However, this will only be healthier if you were to use a very dark cacao content chocolate, otherwise you will be contending with lots of added refined sugars.
Snickers Style Stuffed Dates Made From Whole Foods
Equipment
- Chopping board
- Chopping knife
- Mixing bowl
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 12 Medjool dates
- 12 large Brazil nuts or peanut butter for a more authentic, Snickers taste
- ½ cup carob powder
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ¼ tsp cinnamon powder
- Vanilla essence to taste
Instructions
- Take a sharp knife and cut lengthways your dates to de-seed. Be sure not to go all the way through, but allow enough space to be able to insert your nut filling easily. Lay on a flat surface ready for stuffing. Be sure you also have your freezing tray ready and big enough to contain all your dates in one layer with plenty of room around the edges.
- Now insert your Brazil nuts or squish in your peanut butter into your dates and squish the sides of the dates over the nuts to seal them in comfortably. Try to create a seal with the dates that covers the nut, but it doesn't matter too much if you can't completely cover them as it will just mean the chocolate ganache will get inside.
- Now make your ganache by mixing all your other ingredients together until they form a smooth paste. You should add the carob to the bowl first, then add the other ingredients as you stir.
- One date at a time, dip them and completely cover all sides of your stuffed dates with your chocolate coating. You can do this with your bare hands or with a couple of forks, depending if you fancy getting your hands dirty.
- Lay your dates side by side in your tray. If you have any extra chocolate coating, feel free to spoon onto the top of your dates. The coating will naturally start melting down the sides of the dates, but don't worry about this as you can spoon it up later on after freezing.
- Now freeze your dates for a couple of hours and eat straight from frozen.
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