5-Minute 3-Ingredient Dark Chocolate Fudge Balls

How are you doing today?  It's Monday and I know Monday's can be kinda tough.  But just think back to all the fun you had this weekend.  Well, hopefully. 

I had a fun weekend!!!  I went to two yoga classes and met up with a fellow Phoenix blogger, like I mentioned I would be doing.   But like a maniac trying to rush out the door, I forgot my camera on the way to my meetup with Madeline of Greens and Jeans, but she was smart enough to remember hers.  Good thinkin', girl!  Madeline & I had a lovely time drinking coffee and having girl talk.   I need more of these types of afternoons because they recharge my batteries.  Thanks, Madeline :)

Of course I hung out with Scott & Skylar and also spent some time in the kitch and whipped up a few goodies which I know you're chomping at the bit for.

But first, I am really glad everyone enjoyed the Weekly Recaps & Highlights Post.  It helps you get caught up to speed with all the eats and recipes I made in a streamline format, so if you missed it, check it out.
Today's recipe though is Dark.  Very dark.  Just as dark as the Raw Vegan Dark Chocolate Coconut Snowballs I made.
And takes about as long....5 whole minutes.  And only requires a VitaBaller, food processor or Magic Bullet.  

But first, I need to give major props to Katie for helping me remember how easy it is to make your own raw bars, balls, and treats.  She's been on a major rampage lately making everything from Fudge Babies to Peanut Butter Babies to Mounds Bar Babies.  She has been a very busy, chocolate-goodie, creating machine!  Not to mention her great work with Operation Kindness.

But she reminded me of my post I did a few months ago about making your own LaraBars.   A little light on pics but very good content & info to ensure LaraMaking Success.  I was getting ready to move, close on a house, board a plane for a day trip, it was a hectic time to say the least.  Miss Weed has been getting in on her own MamaBar action lately, too.

It's really a snap to do, and so I decided to pimp up my game over here and get to work on some Dark Chocolate Fudge Balls!

5 Minute Raw Vegan Dark Chocolate Fudge Balls (adapted from Katie's Fudge Babies as duly noted above)

1/4 c raw cashews (not soaked)
1/2 c medjool dates, pitted (I used 6 medium medjools.  Not huge ones, medium-sized.  Mine are from TJ's and some of their containers have the huge medjools, but these were not.)
1 Tbsp Dark Cocoa Powder (I used Hershey's Dark)
Yields: 13 Balls, feel free to double, triple, quad the recipe.  I like working with smaller batches that way if I want to tweak flavors or textures, it's easier for me.  But suit your pretty self!

First, grind your cashews into a fine powder.  The finer the better.  Then add the pitted dates.
Grind again.

Add your 1 Tbsp Dark Cocoa (or Cocoa).
Or, Don't add in any Cocoa and keep your Balls Blond (TWSS)
Grind again.  I have always felt that a 2:1 ratio of dates to nuts works best when making raw bars.  And as I have mentioned before, as a Vita-Mix user, you know when you have achieved Perfect Raw Dough Consistency when the whole wad spins around like a tennis ball inside the canister.  It can happen in a matter of a second, so watch closely and don't overblend.  You will soon go from dough to chocolate puree. 
 I took my dough wad out
And see, when it's The Right Dough Consistency, it will all just pop outta the canister, no gloppy-n-sloppy canister cleaning required.
Because it was 94F here this morning, the dough was feeling a little too warm to work with so I roughly divided into ball shapes with a spoon and popped the plate into the fridge for an hour.
Came back and formed 13 beautiful dark balls
3 Ingredients: Cashews, Dates, Dark Cocoa Powder
Oh wait 4 Ingredients: TLC added with each one of these too!

Optional Add-In's & Extras (and Katie has mentioned some of these too):
Add Vanilla, Hazelnut, Peppermint, Almond, etc. Extract
Roll finished product in Carob, Coconut, Cocoa Nibs, Cocoa Powder, Powdered Sugar
Add in Carob, Coconut, Cocoa Nibs to the "dough" mixture
Shape into logs, bars, balls, squares, hearts, Gingerbread men, stars, Christmas Cookie Cutter shapes
The sky's the limit, get creative!!!!!!!!


So you'd like to see a dinner or a vegetable, ok I can oblige.  Hugh Jass Salad with brock, cauli, tomatoes, cukes, yellow peppers, and topped with my Homemade Slaw Dressing.
And as if the Dark Choco Fudge Balls for Dessert weren't enough...

....I popped a few Raw Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls, too.
We're just full 'o balls around here.   (TWSS)

Yoga Today is Parsva Bakasana (Side Crane Pose).
For all you right handed people, don't forget to work your left/less-dominant side.  It needs more work than the right, so don't neglect your little lefty-sided self.


Tip of the Day:  Katie, my lovely & sweet friend, is having an amazing Give Away so go check it out!  
And don't forget to check out Katie's Operation Chocolate-Covered Kindness Project, too!

Plus, Michele is having a Give Away, too!



And Congrats to Abby who won my Chia Seeds Give Away!!!!  Enjoy 'em girl!


As a yoga teacher, I have my own very strong and committed personal practice but there's something about practicing among other like-minded souls that recharges me and gives me the sense of community that I yearn for here. For those of you that run, bike, do yoga, or do "individual sports", do you prefer to do them on your own or with someone else?  Does having a running partner or power walking buddy help, or does it just take away from your own solitude, or does it just depend?  What do you think?

Stay Tuned For Some TJ's finds and 2 Softserve Versions...