Mock-Chocolate Brownie Balls

-School Safe, Kid Friendly

Is chocolate your Frienemy? If you know me, then you probably also know that it is my! It’s so delicious and is loaded with good antioxidants, polyphenols and feel-good magic; these are my friends. But it’s also addictive, got caffeine and is high in anti-nutrient – mainly phytic acid. Phytic acid binds to minerals and impedes their absorption. That’s our enemy.

So what to do? To eat chocolate or not to eat? Well, I’ll leave that up to you. As for me, I try to minimize its consumption as much as possible, especially when it comes to kids’ recipes. And so I fake it. The chocolate that is. I use carob powder instead. It’s has a shy list of nutrients as well and does not contain phytic acid. Its taste and consistency is similar to cacao and you could fool an unsuspecting soul with it making them believe it’s real the real deal. But even then, trust me, there is nothing in the world that tastes just as divine as chocolate. Oh well.

With that said, here is my healthy mock-chocolate version of a chocolate brownie. Will it fool you? I made it school-safe and omitted nuts. I also don’t want to use dates in every recipe so I switched it up with organic dried apricots. Yum!

Ingredients

2C Cooked chickpeas
2C Organic Dried Apricots* (you can also use dates)
5tbs Melted coconut oil
4tbs Hemp seeds
4tbs Pure maple syrup
1tbs Apple Cider Vinegar
2tbs Carob Powder
1tbs Vanilla Extract
1/2tsp Clove powder
Pinch of salt
~If you’re making it for home and not school, add 1/2 cups well-chopped walnuts at the very end (Optional)

2tbs Coconut flour
Handful of small chocolate chips (Optional)**
Coconut Flakes for coating

Instructions

1. Add all the top ingredients on the list in the food processor until you see it turning into dough. Do a taste check and adjust the sweetness if you like with more maple syrup.

2. Place the dough in a separate bowl and add coconut flour and chocolate chips if using.

2. Massage the dough until it starts to thicken and you can start making the balls.

4. Sprinkle coconut flakes on a separate plate. Make the balls and coat them in the coconut flakes.

4. Refrigerate for an hour and enjoy.

*Please try to use organic dried apricots because they are dark in color and not orange like the non-organic ones. This helps the brownie look more chocolaty and is healthier anyway.

** Since I’m making these balls for my kids to take to school for a snack, I like to add a handful of chocolate chips. It really makes the recipe taste like real brownies and no harm is done from a few tiny chocolate chips found in each ball.