Healthy Chocolate Pops

Lately the adventure in my kitchen has been 1) sneaking healthy ingredients onto my sons plate without him knowing and 2) making food look “fun” to eat.  Well… I stumbled upon this incredibly delicious snack idea!  Your kids will love it and it will keep them coming back for more!…the best part is they will be thinking they are eating a chocolate cake pop!

I have made the “other” cake pops before and I can tell you these are so much easier to make and fun to eat.  These are made with all raw ingredients, which means no baking is required.  Simply combine the ingredients, decorate with a cute colorful craft stick and you can enjoy them guilt free.  With all raw ingredients this means your child is getting unprocessed, whole food, full of protein, the good fat, and low in sugar.  I have found that giving my son a “healthy chocolate pop” is a much better option over store bought processed snacks.  These healthy chocolate pops keep him satisfied, in a good mood and content and not bouncing off the walls.

I feel like such a good mommy when my child gets something tasty good and also so nutritious!  (and its okay to sneak a few pops yourself — they are that good!).

photo credit: Karla Gilbert

Ingredients:

• 1 cup nuts (I use almonds, you can use almond meal also)
• 15 dates
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup cocoa, depending on taste (just be careful as too much can add bitterness)
• 1 tbs coconut oil (optional but it does help to bind)
• 2 tsp water

Step 1  Into a food processor or vitamix- add your nuts and process until crumbly. (A bit chunky is ok)

Step 2  Add your pitted dates and raisins, process again.

Step 3  Add cocoa and optional coconut oil, mix again and then add your water with as much as you need to bring it all together in a dough like consistency.

Step 4  Press into a small lined, lidded container and chill in the freezer for at least an hour.

Step 5  Serve as balls or insert some paddle pop sticks and turn them into pops!

FYI:

I store mine in the freeze and serve on the frozen side, that way you can make a big batch and always have on hand

These do contain nuts so be wary around those with allergies or as before including as a school snack

So if there is one thing you must whip up this weekend, then this is it… go on it will only take 5 minutes!

adapted from: http://blogs.kidspot.com.au

Laundry Mom~Naomi♥