Healthy rum balls!

With just a few weeks until Santa arrives and pre-Christmas get togethers beginning to pop up all over the place, I thought I would share with you my healthy version of a familiar favourite . . . raw cacao rum balls. 

Christmastime is a time for family traditions and of course for indulging our senses. Rum balls are a familiar festive treat enjoyed by many and are traditionally made from crumbled cake or biscuit combined with cocoa and a moist binding ingredient such as jam or condensed milk, with of course the addition of dark rum to the mix. While the chocolate truffle variation is usually made from thickened cream and dark chocolate. This Christmas, why not try your hand at making this easy-to-make nutritious version made from wholefood ingredients. These dark and rich rum balls are deliciously fudgy and guilt-free, bursting with vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, plus high quality protein and healthy fats. Plus they happen to be sugar, dairy and gluten free! . . However, be warned, you may have to start a new rum ball tradition with your family this Christmas!

This recipe has been developed for the Thermomix but could be adapted to be made using a food processor or high speed blender. 

ingredients

50g dried goji berries

50g raisins (or sultanas)

20-30g dark rum, to taste* 

20g chia seeds

50g raw cashews or almonds

50g raw walnuts 

120g dried dates, pitted

30-35g raw cacao powder*

1 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract

pinch Himalayan or sea salt

extra raw cacao or crushed raw nuts, to coat (optional)

* if you are prefer a milder flavour reduce the quantities of raw cacao & rum

method

1. Place a small shallow bowl on the TM bowl (with lid on), zero the scales and weigh in the dried goji berries and raisins plus the dark rum. Set aside and allow to macerate for as long as possible to soften the goji berries, stirring occasionally.

2. Add whole chia seeds to the TM bowl and grind for 20 seconds on speed 9. Next add the raw nuts and grind for 5-10 seconds on speed 8 into a fine meal. Be careful not to grind the nuts for too long into a paste, as this could make the mixture oily.

3. Add all remaining ingredients, including the rum-infused goji berries and raisins to the TM bowl and combine on speed 8 for 15 seconds, or until the mixture comes together well and is fudgy. If the mixture is a little sticky allow it too firm up in the refrigerator before shaping into balls.

4. Using a tablespoon of mixture per ball, shape into approximately 15 balls. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to eat. To serve, roll in extra raw cacao powder or crushed raw nuts.

Enjoy & Merry Christmas! Please let me know what you think with a comment below :)