Tea Time Treats

Sweet Balls of Nuts

Not so long ago I came across a recipe for what was named Tahini Balls and it spiked my interest, as it did not involve any cooking. I am pretty rubbish at making desserts and I always get a bit put off by the quantity of butter and sugar that gets put in. I also like rustic cooking without exact measures, so baking is out, as you really have to be precise for perfect result.

I made a batch and discovered that these balls were the perfect partner to a cup of tea/coffee and also as an after dinner sweet treat. Being bite sized portions also means you can have one or two and meet your sugar cravings but not go overboard and feel guilty. Sometimes a tea time treat involves cakes or biscuits or some other sugary naughtiness which are bad for your teeth and for your waistline. These options have never really appealed to me as I don't have a sweet tooth. I sometimes crave dark chocolate but I invariably feel a little queasy after consuming even the smallest amount as it's so rich! So I decided to experiment and come up with my own version of this recipe, to maximise the health factor and reduce the sugar aspect.

A batch of these balls will take very little time to make, if you have the ingredients in stock and they store very well in the fridge. Just one with a cup of comforting tea will sort you out with a zing of energy and as long as you brush all the stickiness off your nashers, they won't damage your teeth....

Ingredients:

Sticky dates [stoned]
Cranberries [dried]
Agave Syrup *
Tahini paste [sesame seed paste]**
Ground Almonds
Roasted/toasted chopped hazelnuts/almond or any other nut of your choice
Dessicated unsweetened coconut / Sesame seed for the coating

You can vary the quantities you put into the mix but essentially the sticky dates, the syrup and the paste will be the binding agents that hold the dry ingredients together.

Just chop up half a block of sticky dates into small bits as well as the cranberries. Bung them into a bowl then add a handful of the nuts. Mix in 2 large tablespoons of agave syrup and then the tahini paste. Mix this sticky mess and slowly add a couple of tablespoons of ground almonds at a time until the mixture is dry enough to handle and roll into balls.

Now wash your hands! Then put out a bowl with clean cold water in it - this is to wet your hands from time to time [this will stop everything sticking to your hands in between rolling the balls out]. Put out another bowl with the coconut or sesame seeds, to roll the balls in and coat.

Take a teaspoon of the mixture at a time in the palm of your hands and roll in a circular motion into a ball and drop onto the coconut/sesame seeds - shake the bowl around to evenly coat the balls then place in a clean container.

Coconut and Sesame balls

I think the dates and the tahini paste are the main ingredients for these balls and everything else can be varied according to your taste. I've tried these with dried cranberries, dried blueberries, dried chopped up apricots and a variety of different nuts.

*I think that the agave syrup is the best option as a sweetener instead of honey or sugar as it is a low GI natural sweetener. It comes from the sap of a plant and it is essentially fructose [the sugars from fruits and honey]and dextrose and these are less cariogenic than sucrose i.e. not as bad for your teeth! You can but it from health food stores and most supermarkets these days. It goes a long way as you need less of it than normal sugar or honey as it is much sweeter. I sometimes pop in a tiny teaspoon into tomato based sauces to cut through the tartness. You can drizzle it over porridge or use an an sweet alternative in any dessert recipe.

** Tahini paste is made from sesame paste and is very high in calcium and most of the B vitamins. It has the consistency of peanut butter and a distinct flavour. It is also very high in calories so should be consumed in small amounts. It is used with chick peas to make hummous and is great in salad dressings or mixed with yogurt as a dip.

In terms of the dried sticky fruits or any sticky sweet treats like these - remember that the length of time that sugars are stuck to your teeth make a huge difference in the amount of damage they do as does the frequency of their consumption. So don't eat them intermittently throughout the day and don't forget to brush your teeth! The texture and consistency of sugars that you eat makes a difference to getting holes in your teeth. For example - did you know that crisps can some times do more damage as the starch from potatoes sticks to teeth and if they remain there for a while they can ferment into sugars that cause cavities. These balls are definitely a better option than crisps, cakes or biscuits for your tea time needs.