Carob, Fig, and Almond Balls

I knew this recipe was a winner when I heard "These are delicious!" from a chocolate-loving coworker at our picnic last week. I'm not usually the one to bring dessert, but I needed an opportunity to taste-test our latest pantry product: carob powder. 

Carob powder is a lot like cocoa powder but different in some significant ways. It's naturally sweet and doesn't contain caffeine or other compounds that can cause headaches and health issues for some people. The flavor is lighter, more malty, and more caramel-like than cocoa. You can substitute it 1:1 for cocoa powder in recipes, though you'll want to decrease the sugar if you do that. Or simply add it to yogurt, smoothies, and even savory dishes (like this carob black bean dip I'm excited to try). The carob powder we carry at Full Circle is sourced from a sustainable carob orchard in Australia, and their website offers lots of recipe suggestions if you're looking for further inspriation. 

I went simple and relatively healthy for the picnic with a batch of carob, fig, and almond balls. I chose these for the fact that they are free of added sugars and made almost exclusively with items from Full Circle! And taking just 20 minutes start to finish was a nice bonus as well.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dried figs
• 3/4 cup almonds (or mixed nuts and seeds of choice)
• 1/2 cup dried unsweetened coconut (optional but delicious)
• 2 T. carob powder
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• Generous dash of sea salt
  

The recipe also called for 2 T. coconut oil, but I didn't feel that it was necessary and would leave it out if I made these again. 

Instructions:

Simply soak the figs in warm water for 10 minutes to soften them, then pulse in a food processor with the other ingredients. I processed them just enough to form a paste but left some small chunks for texture. 

Form the paste into balls and roll in a dish of carob powder to coat. (The point here is to highlight carob powder, but I can confirm that coating them in cocoa powder is a delicious option as well!) 

Refrigerate for an hour to firm up. Serve to your friends and tell them where they can go to find (nearly) all the ingredients!

These balls store well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, though you may need to recoat them before serving as the powder will absorb.

-Justine