5.14.2011

Carob-Coconut Bites



I've been looking for EASY snack recipes lately. There are all sorts of power bar and lara bar recipes out there (there are a bunch of great ones in Kitchen Stewardship's e-book Healthy Snacks to Go), but they require the use of a food processor. I have a food processor, but it's not very good at grinding nuts, and it's really loud. Often I'm making snacks while Caedmon is sleeping, so that's not really an option. That's why my favorite recipe from Katie's e-book is the Peanut Butter Kisses. You just mix together a few ingredients, form into balls, and put in the fridge until firm.

I need more recipes like that.

So I went looking here, thinking there must be something that falls into that category, and this is what I found! They were called "coconut balls" but I'm calling my adaptation Carob Coconut Bites. They are delicious, toddler friendly (no caffeine since it's carob instead of cocoa, no chunky nuts to choke on, and just slightly sweet so I don't feel guilty letting him eat it), and EASY. I mean, seriously easy.

This is how easy they are. I decided to make them in the midst of the busiest week I've had in a long time. I was STARVING due to lots of dancing, so I needed some filling snacks. I thought this would be a good choice since it has lots of healthy fat. But I got interrupted before I could form the mixture into balls, so it sat in the mixing bowl, covered with a cloth napkin, for two days. Periodically, I would dig in with a spoon and take a few bites. The ingredients are perfectly fine sitting out at room temperature, so if you don't get to it right away, it's totally ok! My kind of recipe!! The only downside was that when I did finally form them into balls, there were so few because I had eaten so much of it with a spoon! But it's so easy that I think I'll make them again soon.

If you're wondering what carob is, stay tuned for a "Word of the Day" post soon. I'll tell you all you need to know. :)

Now on to the recipe....

Carob-Coconut Bites

ingredients:
1/2 c. carob powder (or cocoa)
3 c. shredded unsweetened coconut
2 pinches of salt
3/4 c. coconut oil, at room temp
1/2 c. local honey, preferably raw
1 t. vanilla (I bet almond extract would be tasty, too, but start with less)

method:
With stand mixer or a spoon, mix together carob, coconut, and salt. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix thoroughly. (I used a mixer but I'm sure a spoon and a strong arm would work, too.) Form into balls with a spoon or your hands. (I should have used my cookie scoop! Next time!) Refrigerate 3o minutes before eating, and store the fridge to keep firm.

Let me know if you try this, I'd love to hear some feedback. :)

This is part of Feed Me Tweet Me Follow Me Home Friday, Weekend Gourmet, and Monday Mania, and Real Food Wednesday, and Pennywise Platter Thursday. Check them all out for more real food recipes and ideas!



What's your favorite homemade snack recipe?

7 comments:

  1. Hello.I saw your blog while browsing..and this coconut carob caught my interest cause it looks so good and the ingredients are simple.my favorite homemade snack recipe:
    http://www.cookiedropletsetcbymarelie.com/2011/05/life-is-what-we-make-it-and-no-bake.html

    hope you can visit me.Im your new follower

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  2. These sound scruptious!! I don't think I've ever tasted anything with carb before, but I like that these are no-nut so I can share them with the boy with no fear.

    I'm excited to finally get rolling on learning some new real food recipes now that my kitchen is almost in order. I signed up for the GNOWFGLINS course and I'm just starting to read about making sourdough and I can't wait to try it!

    Btw, there was a power bar recipe you mentioned the last time we visited, but I can't remember anymore exactly how to make them. If you have any clue what I'm talking about, could you post the recipe or a link to it? Reading about these Carob-Coconut Bites made me think of it. :) Hugs for you and your sweet munchkin!

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  3. These are delicious! I'm always looking for high-protein, nut free snacks, that taste good and these fit the bill. I had a 6 year old visiting this morning and she helped me make them. We stuck them in the fridge while we watched Cinderella and then ate some. She kept asking for more.
    I used cocoa powder instead of carob and palm oil instead of coconut oil, because that is what we had in the house, but they turned out fabulous.
    Thanks for posting!

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  4. Sharon, was it an almond power bar with dark chocolate on top? here is that recipe: http://www.elanaspantry.com/power-bars/ but I use honey instead of the agave and stevia. if that wasn't it, i'll rack my brain! here is a good granola bar recipe, too: http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2010/04/08/recipe-connection-soaked-granola-bars/ (there is a link to download it on that page)

    Hugs to you guys, too! So excited for you to start making sourdough! it's super fun!

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  5. Awesome! I love carob and am always on the lookout for recipes that use it. I have a tin of it just sitting at home, so I'll use it in this recipe. I also have a lot of coconut oil to use up as well. I bet these would be good pressed into a pan and cut into sort of raw brownies.

    Thanks for sharing the recipe!

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  6. Your carob coconut bites look scrumptious - and I love it when delicious is healthy too! Thank you for linking up to Feed Me Tweet Me Follow Me Home Friday last week. I've followed your blog. It's nice to 'meet' you, and I hope that you will link up again this week.

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  7. Thanks Joanna! I think the almond one might have been it- I was thinking it was nut-free, but I do remember discussing that I accidentally gave Zeke something with almonds and he was totally fine, so bars with almonds were probably just fine to share as well. I book marked both and I'll give them a try!

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