Recipe ReDux Post # 15 Almond Coconut Rolled Dates

The Recipe ReDux theme for July is travel snacks and we were encouraged to post our favorite creations of treats/mini meals for on the go.  Fruit, turkey jerky, baby carrots and home made protein bars are standards in our household but another portable recipe I developed recently is centered around dates (literally!).  I buy and enjoy medjool dates from Trader Joes and use them in salads, smoothies, in my Date Walnut Protein Bar recipe and even as a snack by themselves.  In the past I  have also noshed on store bought coconut rolled dates as naturally sweet dessert and those were the inspiration for this recipe.  But I took it one step further by dipping them in almond butter (which has been jazzed up with some vanilla and brown sugar) BEFORE rolling them in coconut and the result was insanely delicious :) I generally keep these on the fridge for the long term, but they will travel well if you put them in little muffin liners and then into a baggie or container to take with for a few hours journey.  Hope you enjoy these at home or on the road and check out the rest of the tasty travel fare created by the talented Recipe ReDux group!

Ingredients:

12 pitted whole medjool dates

¼ cup creamy almond butter

¼ cup finely shredded unsweetened coconut

1 teaspoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

parchment or wax paper

12 whole almonds (optional, I used honey roasted)

Directions:

Mix the almond butter, vanilla and brown sugar in a small bowl. Spread the coconut out on a piece of parchment/wax paper (or clean plate) and set aside another empty piece of parchment/wax paper (or second clean plate) to set the finished dates on.  Dip each date in the almond butter mixture to coat, roll in coconut, place one almond firmly in the center for decoration and set on paper/plate. Repeat this step 11 more times for a total of 12 rolled dates. (note: one rolled date will need about 1 teaspoon almond butter and 1 teaspoon coconut to be completely coated). Chill in the fridge if not serving immediately.

Makes 12 servings

Serving size: 1 rolled date  Calories 110 Protein 2 g Carb17 g Fiber 2 g Sugars 14g Fat 5 g Saturated fat 1.5 g Sodium 25 mg

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