Coconut Date Rolls

There is a point in every single day where I am craving something sweet. Most of the time, I can grab a piece of fruit and take care of my craving, but sometimes I need something a little bit more. In the past, I would stash candy in the house for those occasions, but since starting to eat better, I've needed to find healthier, more natural alternatives. This super simple recipe for coconut date rolls has quickly become one of my go-to recipes. You can often find these pre-made at natural food stores, but in my experience, my homemade creations are better than the store bought ones!

Ingredients:

Adapted from The Green Market Baking Book

2 cups fresh unpitted dates* (I recommend the Medjool variety)

1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

*It's important to get unpitted dates. I've found pitted dates to be too dried out to form balls properly.

Directions:

1. Pit dates by slicing them lengthwise and removing the pit

2. Chop dates thoroughly with knife. Dates are very sticky, so I prefer to use a knife rather than a blender or food processor

3. Combine chopped dates and coconut in a bowl

4. Form into balls with hands

5. Store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 1 week