Stephanie Tourles: Raw and Wholesome Holiday Treats

Almond-Raisin Cocoa Bites

Here’s a decadent yet wholesome recipe for a rich and chewy “holiday nosh” that will delight every dark chocolate lover on your list. Healthful chocolate? You bet! These tasty little snacks are full of fabulous, sinfully delicious flavor — slightly bitter and not too sweet. They energize, nourish, and provide a balanced form of energy; they’re just the right size for popping into your mouth whenever you need a bite of get-up-and-go power.

These chocolaty treats also make great party favors when served on a holiday platter in tiny foil cups. Or give these taste temptations as a gift. Simply line a small, pretty tin or decorative box with colored cellophane and place two dozen little Almond-Raisin Cocoa Bites inside. Cover with a layer of plastic wrap. Keep refrigerated until party time or presentation as a gift.

Ingredients:

1 cup raw almond butter

1 cup dried currants or small raisins

½ cup raw cocoa (cacao) powder

3 tablespoons raw agave nectar or raw honey

1 tablespoon purified water

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:
1. Mix the almond butter, currants, cocoa, agave or honey, water, and cinnamon together with your hands in a medium bowl. Mash the mixture thoroughly, forming a stiff dough ball. Pinch off small pieces of dough, and roll into bite-sized balls about 1 inch in diameter.

2. For the best flavor and consistency, allow the balls to set for 24 hours before eating.

3. Store the balls in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator and consume within 2 or 3 weeks. They may be individually wrapped, using waxed paper or plastic wrap, and taken with you to enjoy as portable energy bites.

Yield: About 42 bites

A good source of: Heart-healthy fats, antioxidants, blood-building iron, boron, potassium, sulfur, calcium, zinc, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, vitamins B and E, protein, natural sugars, fiber, and gently stimulating caffeine and cinnamon, which increases circulation and blood flow.

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Stephanie Tourles is a licensed holistic esthetician who has been practicing and teaching healthy living for more than 20 years. She is also a certified aromatherapist, with extensive training in the nutritional sciences, and is the author of Raw Energy and Organic Body Care Recipes, among other books on natural body care. Stephanie lives in Maine with her husband and pets. You can find her Web site at www.stephanietourles.com.