Raw Fruit/Nut Trail Snacks

We’re thinking of going on a big hike this weekend and, in preparation, I’m (of course) thinking about snacks for the trail. These dried fruit and nut balls rolled in coconut were inspired by my dear friend Karen and her dear sweet boy Oliver. The three of us took Maizy to the dog park the other day and Karen brought these delicious snacks for us to eat in between taking Maizy to the off-leash area and Oliver to the playground. I couldn’t remember the recipe, nor did I think about looking up a recipe, so this is just a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants experiment that turned out well. I like some of the vegan fruit/nut bars you buy at the store, but they’re so expensive and there’s the packaging to think of too. These are a great alternative and you can make them with only your most favorite fruits and nuts! Karen says they’ll store in the fridge for about a week.

The Recipe:

1/2 cup raw almonds

1/2 cup raw cashews

3/4 cup dried pitted dates

1/2 cup dried goji berries

1/2 cup dried cherries

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1/4 cup (or less) water

These ingredients are just the ones I had in the house and could be substituted for anything else you have lying around. I think my dream combo would be almonds, cranberries, dates, and cherries, but these ones are quite tasty.

Blend nuts in food processor until they are finely chopped. Add the dried fruit and chop until it, too, is finely chopped. Add the water, as needed, a little at a time. Blend until it is the consistency of a slightly chunky very thick paste.

Pour 1/2 cup of shredded coconut onto a clean plate. Now, the messy part! Roll the paste into balls with your hands in whatever size you prefer (the balls I made were about 1.5 inches in diameter). In retrospect, this might be less messy if you chill the paste first (give it a try if you prefer)

Roll the balls in the coconut to fully coat the outside. This adds flavor and makes it so they’re not so darned sticky!

Store in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to pack them up for a hike, or a packed lunch, etc. Little powerhouse balls of protein, vitamins, and fruity sweet goodness!