Coconut Walnut Cacao Bites
2April 2, 2013 by Kimberly Beauchamp, ND
I had a hankering for something sweet on my way home from CrossFit this morning and this combo just kind of came to me. I planned on making them with cashews but I only had walnuts. Guess what? The walnuts worked!
I had to beat my children back from eating the last remaining cookie. That one’s for Daddy.
And yes, these are Paleo-friendly.
Ingredients
1 cup raw walnuts
1 T cocoa powder (non-alkalized)
1 T Cacao Nibs
1 T coconut oil
5 medjool dates (take the pits out!)
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup shredded coconut plus more for rolling
Directions
Combine all ingredients in food processor and pulse until well combined. The consistency should be about that of your standard cookie dough.
Remove from bowl by rounded teaspoon-fulls. It helps to get your hands wet here as you roll them into balls, pressing firmly so they hold together.
Roll each cookie in the extra shredded coconut.
Makes about 1 dozen.
Try not to eat them all in one sitting.
Eat Happy!
Ask Doctor Mama 
Just placed an order for cacoa nibs last night based on your last treat recipe! I’ll have to make these, too. Would you mind explaining why non-alkalized cocoa powder is important? Thanks!
Sure! Alkalized cocoa has been treated to increase the pH of the cocoa, making it less acidic and astringent. Studies have shown that the process of alkalization substantially decreases the antioxidant capacity of the cocoa, though. So if you’re eating chocolate for its health benefits (which is the real reason we all eat chocolate, right?), you won’t get all those good substances if you’re using alkalized cocoa products.