Chocolate-y Pecan Date Coconut Treats

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Chocolate-y Pecan Date Coconut Treats

Amazingly tempting treat that will keep you going under extreme circumstances (like the RKC Certification Workshop). These can also help you make friends if you share them.

Course: Snack

Cuisine: Paleo, Primal, Travel

Keyword: energy snack, travel snack

Ingredients

1 c pecans Raw, shelled pecans, loosely packed
12 dates I prefer the gloriously gooey Medjool variety
3 T cocoa powder I added a little extra for dusting at the end
4 T coconut butter Artisana calls it Coconut Butter, Tropical Traditions calls it Coconut Cream Concentrate - its the same thing
4 T coconut shredded, unsweetened (Plus extra if you want to roll them in it)
1 pinch cayenne pepper Optional - but delicious!

Instructions

This recipe absolutely positively requires the use of a food processor. Even if you are using a large and powerful one, I would suggest doing the initial chopping/mixing in batches, this is a thick mixture full of healthy fatty oils. A good strategy is to put all the ingredients into a bowl, mix it by hand, then drop 1/4 of it at a time into your processor - eventually mixing it all together at the end.
When you have a food processor that is full of this amazing energy-giving paste, its time to get creative - you can form it into little bars, balls, patties etc. Personally I prefer to make little truffle-looking servings. After you have rolled them (quickly, they're MELTY!) into whatever shape you want, dust with cocoa powder, coat with coconut shreds, or squish a pecan half into the top. Store in airtight containers in the refrigerator. For particularly oily batches, I like to put a little "bedding" of shredded coconut mixed with cocoa powder in the bottom of each box.
I made sure to have a chilled box of these in my backpack EVERYDAY of the RKC weekend - they really kept me going. Other participants and instructors really enjoyed them too - so here is the recipe as promised. Enjoy and please put your own personal spin on them.

Notes

These are best stored in the refrigerator. I sometimes refer to them as "little healthy fat bombs", in other words, they are a good for you snack, but DON'T eat them all at one sitting... seriously... that would be bad.