Goji Balls ~ Best Snack/Dessert Ever

by Cindy Harrington, CNC, CHS, CINHC, CYT
Center for Nutritional Healing

We're all looking for healthy snack and dessert options. But they're very hard to find because so many options are high in sugar and salt, not to mention chemicals that serve as preservatives and dyes. Goji Balls are a delicious and nutritious low-sugar, low-carb option and there is no refined sugar, flour, dairy, corn, soy, or chemicals. They're also great to take to a party, picnic or road trip.

I was introduced to Goji Balls at Firefly Cafe, a charming vegan restaurant in Boyertown, Pennsylvania. You don't have to be vegan to find many scrumptious dishes on the menu. As far as dessert goes, Firefly Cafe makes the very best Goji Balls. Call ahead to make sure they have them ready before you go, because they sell out quickly.

Goji berries are considered to be a "superfood," full of nutrients with many health benefits. The shredded coconut and seeds offer healthy fats that nourish our bodies, our brains, and give us a feeling of satiety. The berries and seeds have fiber which helps maintain healthy digestion and elimination. Throw in a tablespoon of cinnamon or three tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder, if you wish. If you have sensitivity to honey, replace it with another sweetener like pure, organic maple syrup or high quality stevia.

Here's a simple recipe. It takes about 15 minutes to make about 24 small balls, 16 medium-sized balls.

1 cup pumpkin, flax, sesame and/or sunflower seeds
2 cups unsweetened, shredded coconut
1 cup Goji berries
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tbsp. raw honey
1/2 cup pure water

Put the seeds, coconut, berries, vanilla extract, honey and any other ingredients in a food processor and run until food is incorporated and powdery. You may have to stop, scrape the sides, and rerun the processor a few times.

Add about 1/2 cup pure water and rerun. Again, you may have to stop, scrape the sides and re-process until you have a thick, sticky dough.

Roll dough by hand into small or medium-sized balls. A nice option is to roll each ball in shredded coconut or cacao nibs.

Place balls in a container lined with wax or parchment paper. Cover and chill for 1 hour. Then enjoy!