Embark on the joy of creating homemade chocolate coconut hazelnut balls, a delightful treat perfect for sharing during the holiday season and all year long. Whether you’re enjoying them yourself or gifting them to loved ones, these easy and delicious treats are sure to bring pleasure and satisfaction.

Coconut and dark chocolate are the stars of this recipe, each bringing their own unique health benefits. Coconut provides a good source of healthy fats, particularly medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are known for providing quick energy and supporting metabolism. Dark chocolate, rich in antioxidants, particularly flavonoids, supports heart health and can even boost your mood.

With familiar ingredients and simple steps, this recipe offers a wholesome and sweet choice to enjoy. 

These Chocolate Coconut Balls are a perfect blend of rich chocolate and coconut flavor, offering a luxurious treat that’s easy to make and even easier to enjoy. Perfect for any occasion, they’re sure to be a hit!

Ingredients

1 cup finely shredded coconut
3 tbsp coconut oil
3 tbsp maple syrup
Pinch of salt (optional)
20 g hazelnuts (12 units, roasted)
90 g dark chocolate
15 g extra hazelnuts (to mix with the melted chocolate)

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, combine finely shredded coconut, coconut oil, a pinch of salt, and maple syrup. Mix until a sticky mixture forms.
2. Allow the mixture to rest in the fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes to ease shaping.
3. Meanwhile, roast hazelnuts in the oven at 350°F for 10 minutes.
4. Once cooled, insert one roasted hazelnut into each coconut ball.
5. Melt dark chocolate and set aside.
6. Finely chop a handful of roasted hazelnuts and combine with the melted chocolate.
7. Generously coat each coconut ball with the chocolate hazelnut mixture.
8. Chill the chocolate coconut hazelnut balls in the fridge for another 30 minutes before serving.

Yields: 12 Servings

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Fridge Time: 1 hour

Nutritional Information

Per 1 Serving:
Energy: 144 calories
Protein: 1.25 g
Fat: 11.12 g
Carbohydrates: 10.98 g
Fiber: 1.4 g

Storage

• Store your chocolate coconut balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• Serve as a delightful treat or pack them into decorative containers for homemade holiday gifts.

Elevate your holiday table with a delightful twist on the beloved classic sweet potato pie. This innovative recipe offers a seamless fusion of comforting flavors and wholesome ingredients, making it an ideal addition to your Thanksgiving and holiday season celebrations.

Inspired by the traditional sweet potato pie, this rendition introduces a creamy and indulgent layer of whipped cream cheese, adding a velvety richness that perfectly complements the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes. The result is a pie that’s not only delicious but also visually stunning, with its bright orange hue and creamy topping.

Sweet potatoes, the star ingredient, are packed with nutrients, including vitamins A and C, potassium, and fiber. They are known for their antioxidant properties and their ability to support immune health and eye health. Including sweet potatoes in your diet is a great way to enjoy a naturally sweet and nutritious food that can be prepared in a variety of delicious ways.

This Sweet Potato Pie is a beautiful and delicious way to celebrate the flavors of the season. Whether served at a holiday meal or enjoyed as a special treat, it’s sure to be a hit with everyone at the table. Enjoy!

Ingredients

For the sweet potato layer:

• 4 medium-sized sweet potatoes (~560 g)
• 3 tbsp (45 g) melted butter
• Zest of a fresh orange
• 3 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/8 tsp salt (optional)

For the cream cheese layer:

• 150 g cream cheese
• 3 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/4 cup milk or cream

For the garnish:

• Extra orange zest for garnish
• 3 slices of fresh orange

Directions

1. Clean the skin of the sweet potatoes thoroughly. Using a hand shredder or food processor, finely shred the sweet potatoes.
2. Preheat the oven to 365°F (185°C). Line a circular baking pan with parchment paper.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine the shredded sweet potatoes with melted butter, fresh orange zest, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt. Mix well until all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
4. Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking pan. Press down gently to create an even cake-like layer. Cover the pan with parchment paper to retain moisture.
5. Bake for 50 minutes. Remove the parchment paper covering the pie during the last 10 minutes of baking to achieve a golden finish.
6. In another mixing bowl, blend the cream cheese, maple syrup, and milk or cream until smooth and whipped.
7. Once the sweet potato layer has cooled, spread the whipped cream cheese evenly over the top to create a luscious topping.
8. Garnish the pie with extra orange zest and slices of fresh orange or according to your own preference.

Yields: 8 Servings

Prep Time: 40 minutes

Baking Time: 50 minutes

Nutritional Information

Per 1 Serving:
Energy: 207 calories
Protein: 2.52 g
Fat: 11.1 g
Carbohydrates: 25.29 g
Fiber: 2.1 g

Vegetarian, Gluten-Free

Storage

• Store any leftovers of your sweet potato pie in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
• Enjoy this delightful dessert as a perfect ending to your festive gatherings or as a sweet and wholesome treat any time of the year.

Don’t let overripe bananas go to waste! With this recipe, you can easily transform them into a delicious banana applesauce that forms the base of healthy and flavorful fruit and oat bars. This simple and wholesome treat is perfect for both kids and adults as a snack anytime and anywhere.

Bananas and oats are the stars of this recipe, each bringing their own set of nutritional benefits to the table. Bananas are rich in potassium, which is essential for maintaining healthy blood pressure levels, and they provide a good amount of fiber, which aids in digestion. Oats, on the other hand, are a fantastic source of complex carbohydrates and fiber, which help keep you full and provide sustained energy throughout the day. They also contain beta-glucan, a type of soluble fiber that has been shown to lower cholesterol levels.

Incorporating more fruits and whole grains like oats into your diet is a smart move for your overall health. These bars are not only nutritious but also a flavorful snack option that you can enjoy guilt-free. They are perfect for busy mornings, an afternoon pick-me-up, or even a light dessert. Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups (120 g) old-fashioned rolled oats
2 large overripe bananas (approximately 230 grams cleaned and cut)
3 large apples (approximately 400 grams cleaned and cut)
2 small sticks of cinnamon
Juice of half a lemon
1/4 cup of water
2 tbsp. of maple syrup (optional)

Directions

Banana Applesauce:

1. Clean and cut overripe bananas and apples.
2. Combine with cinnamon, lemon juice, and water in a saucepan.
3. Simmer until soft, then mash into a smooth purée.
4. Optionally, add maple syrup and simmer until thickened.
5. Let cool before using in oat bars.

Fruit Oat Bars Part:
6. Roast the rolled oats on a hot pan for about 10 minutes or until fragrant.
7. Transfer a portion of the roasted oats to a blender, finely blend, and then return it to the working bowl.
8. Add the banana applesauce to the oats and stir to create a sticky mixture.
9. Spoon equal quantities of the mixture into a rectangular silicone cup or any preferred shape, shaping them into bars.
10. Press the mixture until it takes the form of a rectangle, similar to store-bought bars.
11. Let the bars sit in the fridge for an hour or until firm.
12. Serve and enjoy these healthy, homemade fruit and oat bars!

Yields: 11 Servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 10 minutes pan cooking + 20 minutes pan cooking

Nutritional Information

Per 1 Serving:
Energy: 73 calories
Protein: 2.22 g
Fat: 0.89 g
Carbohydrates: 19.23 g
Fiber: 2.7 g

Storage

• Store your fruit bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
• These bars are not only nutritious but also a flavorful snack option that you can enjoy guilt-free!