ORANGE AND CINNAMON BITES
Vegan, gluten free, nut free, soy free, wheat free.
Ingredients List:
DRY INGREDIENTS:
2 cups Gluten-free Oats
1/4 cup Chia seeds
2 Tablespoons Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Salt
WET INGREDIENTS:
2 cups Pitted Dates chopped
Zest and juice of 1 Orange
For the chocolate*:
2 cups Cacao Butter
Zest of 1 Orange
2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup/Coconut Honey
1/2 cup Cacao powder
1/2 cup Cocoa powder
Pinch of Salt
Tools:
Food processor
Silicon tray
1/2 and 1 cup measures
Tablespoon and Teaspoon measures
Bowl and glass jug for melting chocolate
Method:
Add the dry ingredients to the food processor. Blend on high until they resemble crumbs.
Add the wet ingredients.
Blend to combine all of the ingredients well.
If it does not form a 'dough' when rolled in your hand, add more syrup, juice or dates if too dry, if it is too soggy, add more oats until a ball is formed easily in the hand without crumbling or sticking to your hand.
Set this mixture aside
MAKING/MELTING THE CHOCOLATE:
(if you are using shop bought chocolate, melt it and skip this part of the recipe)
Take a bowl and a glass jug, put the jug inside the bowl, and add hot water to the bowl (not into the jug)
Add the CACAO BUTTER to the jug, stir well until melted. You may need to top up the water to keep it warm enough to melt the butter.
Once it is liquid, add the ORANGE ZEST and the MAPLE SYRUP and SALT.
Now put the seed and oat mixture into your silicon tray, flatten out until level.
Pour the chocolate all over the mixture, making sure to cover the entire surface.
Pop it into the fridge or freezer to set the chocolate. It will take between 1/2 - 1 hour depending on where you set it.
Remove it all from the silicon tray once it is completely set and cut it into chunks.
Store in an airtight container in a cool place, the fridge is best. but it can be stored in a cool cupboard.
+Can be exchanged for Sunflower Seeds, or Nuts
*Can be exchanged for 2 large bars of any chocolate of your choice.
You can make your own chocolate using any flavours. We have done orange here, but you can use chilli, mint, coffee or plain chocolate. The sky is the limit really.
Adjust your base mixture too if required. We used orange and cinnamon here, but you can use cherry, raisin, almond, walnut, peanut butter and even ginger. Let your imagination run riot! :D
Let us know how you get on.
We look forward to hearing what you decide to make.
Why not try to make this into chocolate balls! Messy fun for kids!
