Cacao-Coconut Plantain Rice Balls
[Vegan]

Cacao-Coconut Plantain Rice Balls [Vegan]

I love love love sweets. I’m a big cupcake, frosting, and chocolate brownie kind of gal. I’m not much into chewy, fruity candies or ice cream, but put a red velvet cupcake or molten lava cake in front of me and I’m a goner. Luckily, I’ve found a solution: no-bake cacao... I love love love sweets. I’m a big cupcake, frosting, and chocolate brownie kind of gal. I’m not much into chewy, fruity candies or ice cream, but put a red velvet cupcake or molten lava cake in front of me and I’m a goner. Luckily, I’ve found a solution: no-bake cacao treats! Enter medjool dates. Medjool dates are so sweet and sticky, they totally satisfy that craving. But, where’s the chocolate? Enter cacao powder. Cacao is a type of tropical tree that produces chocolate in raw form. Unsweetened cacao can be found at grocery stores and is a total God-send. Cacao powder gives you that chocolate taste without the added sweeteners and sugars. I actually feel cheated that I didn’t know about this in college. It would have saved me 15 pounds! After playing around with flours and oats, I thought to myself “what about something spiralized?” Enter plantain rice. Plantain rice is savory and sweet all at the same time. By toasting the plantain slightly, you get rid of that pre-ripe bitterness. Plus, the texture of toasted plantain rice is a bit hearty and sticky, thanks to the starchiness of this fruit. When the plantains, cacao, medjool dates, and coconut flakes are mixed together, the result is the absolute perfect sweet dessert. Then, the salted pepitas really put the cherry on top. Next time you’re craving something sweet, make a few batches of these rice balls. They can be eaten immediately or placed in the refrigerator to harden a bit more. Of course, I couldn’t wait for the chilling process, so I stuffed a few in my mouth and they just really hit the spot. With a little creativity and planning ahead, you can say goodbye to those chocolate-induced comas and say hello to a thin waist and a happy, satisfied tummy. Read More