Christmas is around the corner–time to celebrate with some tasty treats. Whenever I think of Christmas, the first thing I do is to make Holiday Carob Balls. They’re my favorite way to enjoy some healthy fudge. They’re sweet and nutty, and so easy to whip up. It’s fun to watch my family’s eyes light up whenever I bring them out. All our Christmas guests do the same thing once they get their first bite.
Holiday Carob Balls are a slightly decadent dessert, which is why I make them into small balls. They’re higher in fat than many of our HealthBites desserts, so I usually serve them alongside a festive fruit salad.
Why carob and not chocolate? Carob is naturally a sweet food so it doesn’t need the extra sweetening that chocolate does (due to its bitter taste). The primary reason, however, is carob does not contain caffeine or theobromine, stimulants from the methylxanthine family. Medical studies have linked theobromine to an increased risk for tumor growth and breast cancer. Carob is also free of tyramine, an amino acid found in chocolate that often triggers migraine headaches.
Carob can be used in any recipe that calls for chocolate. The taste isn’t identical, but it’s very similar. Think of it as a close cousin that’s loaded with healthy perks in every bite. I hope you’ll find them a delicious treat to add to your holiday table.
Holiday Carob Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup walnuts ground fine
- 1/2 cup tahini
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/3 cup carob powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp peppermint flavoring optional
- 1/2 cup additional ground walnuts (optional) for topping, if desired
Instructions
- Grind nuts in your blender til fine or use a hand-operated nut grinder.
- Empty ground nuts into a medium-size mixing bowl.
- Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
- Form into small balls.
- If desired, roll some balls in ground walnuts for a topping.
- Arrange balls on a baking sheet lined with wax paper or parchment paper.
- Freeze for several hours or overnight.
