Snack #4: Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dry roasted peanuts, unsalted
• 10-12 dried dates, pitted
• 2 tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tbs.  homemade creamy peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

Directions:

1. Place nuts in food processer and process until they are completely crumbled.  Be careful you don't let these go too long!
2. Empty nut crumbs into a bowl.
3. Check to make sure dates are pitted. If they are not, slice each date in half, then remove pit.
4. Place dates in food processer and run until they are completely ground up and very sticky.
5. Add the nuts back to the food processer, and add in the cocoa powder, peanut butter, salt, and vanilla.
6. Pulse until mixed together, scraping the bowl a couple of times. You'll know it's done when it's sticky and you can form it into a ball. Make sure not to overprocess! If the dough is not sticky enough to stay in a ball, then empty the food processer and process a couple more dates. Then add everything back in and pulse to combine. If the mixture is too oily, then empty the food processor and process 3-4 more tbs. of nuts. Add everything back in and pulse to combine.
7. Roll the mixture into balls, then place into an air-tight storage container. Store in the fridge.