Dried Fruit & Nut Treats

3 Kinds of Treats

Having to watch my sugar intake puts me on the lookout for sugar-free or no-sugar-added dessert options. These simple energy bites are ideal for snacking any time of day and will be enjoyed by both young and old members of the family.

Treats

They come together with just 4 ingredients and the most complicated part in making them is pulsing the ingredients in a food processor. The best part is that they don't need to be refrigerated or frozen and can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container.

Here's how simple the process is. 

1. Choose 2 dried fruits, 1 roasted nut and 1 item in which to roll the treats.
2. Pulse your fruit and nut choices in a food processor or Ninja chopper until the dough forms a big ball.
3. Make walnut-sized balls and roll around to cover in the 4th ingredient.
4. Place in pretty cupcake wrappers, store in an airtight container at room temperature and they're ready for a tiffin box or a grab-and-go snack.

Apricot and Raisin Treats

Ingredients

1 pkg. dried apricots

1/2 cup golden raisins

1 pkg. honey-roasted sliced almonds

Directions

1. Pulse almonds in a food processor and reserve half the crumbs for later use. 
2. Add apricots and raisins and process with remaining half of the almonds until the dough forms a ball.
3. Make a log of the dough and pinch off walnut-sized balls.
4. Form balls with wet palms and roll in reserved almond crumbs.

Ginger and Kiwi Treats

Ingredients

1/2 cup crystalized ginger bits 

1 pkg. dried kiwi

1/2 cup roasted sea-salted cashews

1/2 cup unsweetened desiccated coconut

Directions

1. Soak dried slices of kiwi and ginger bits in water for 20 minutes, drain and chop kiwi into smaller pieces.
2. Pulse cashews in a food processor. 
3. Add kiwi and ginger to cashews and process until the dough forms a ball.
4. Make a log of the dough and pinch off walnut-sized balls.
5. Form balls with wet palms and roll in desiccated coconut.

Blueberry and Date Treats

Ingredients

1/2 cup dried dates, chopped 

1 pkg. dried blueberries

1/2 cup roasted sesame seeds

Directions

1. Pulse dates and blueberries in a food processor. 
2. Add half the sesame seeds and process until the dough forms a ball.
3. Make a log of the dough and pinch off walnut-sized balls.
4. Form balls with wet palms and roll in remaining sesame seeds.

Enjoy!