A quick and easy recipe for cherry coconut chocolate chip dough balls. They’re the perfect healthy treat or snack.
Those sound good don’t they?
They are and we’ll get to them in a second but first, guess who got back on the strength training bandwagon today? Me, me, me!
After 2 weeks off, I felt my back was recovered enough to finally give stage 2 of NROLFW a go and it felt great during the workout. I made sure to focus on keeping my abs tight with each move to stabilize my back. Let me tell you though, it’s a lot more work to have to focus intently on doing that with every.single.rep. but obviously, it’s worth it to avoid re-injury and probably what I should be doing anyway. I also toned down the starting weights. While I knew I could go a little heavier on some of the moves, I want to be smart about getting back into lifting and not strain myself from day 1. I’d rather be able to lift lower weights than hurt myself and be sidelined again.
So far I like stage 2 and the new exercises. The dreaded step-up is one of the two moves that carried over from stage 1 though, go figure. The last move in the workout is the horizontal cable wood chop. I don’t have a cable system that is mid-chest at home so the home gym version says to lay on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor and just simulate the movement with a dumbbell or kettle ball. Well, I tried that and I definitely don’t think I’m doing it right because I don’t feel any sort of “burn.” Can anyone out there describe this move better? I also definitely have a new favorite for this stage, the one point dumbbell row.
It feels like warrior 3 in yoga but with a strength element, I love it.
Stage 2 is 8 workouts long so hopefully in about 3 weeks I’ll have an update on progress. Fingers crossed for good health until then!
Now, on to the good stuff.
I took Averie’s method and created my own raw dough ball flavor.
Cherry + coconut + chocolate chips.
Larabar needs to come up with this cherry + chocolate chip flavor. These taste almost like a combination of their cherry pie + chocolate chip brownie bars except less “datey” and more “doughy.”
They are perfect for popping a couple after dinner and calling it dessert. They’re also perfect for quick fuel pre-workout. I used them as both yesterday.
This made 15 balls. My mission is to eat them all before leaving for a 36 hour trip to Seattle on Wednesday. For some reason I don’t think it will be a problem.
Cherry Coconut Chocolate Chip Dough Balls
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup almonds
- 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup + 1/8 cup dried cherries
- 2 tablespoons shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 3 tablespoons dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon agave
Instructions
- Process almonds and oats together in food processor until almost a fine flour.
- Add all other ingredients except chocolate chips and pulse until mixture comes together.
- Fold in chocolate chips and roll into balls.
- Keep refrigerated.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
This will be a much easier transition for that recovering injury! Ugh!
I realize this is coming late, but I take a 10 lb weight (go up once you get the hang of it) and kinda start in a halfway squat position with the weight in both hands holding it by my left knee (just the side I start on). Then, I raise it above my right shoulder or past, arms extending so going from knee to opposite raised position, keeping my arms straight. You get a little of a twist in your abs.
(In answer to your “Can anyone out there describe this move better?”)
And these dough balls look awesome! I want to make them for my vacation next week for hiking in the mountains. They look great for a pick me up, while not eating a granola bar every day
Better late than never b/c I seriously never figured that move out. Thank you! This makes much more sense now :) The dough balls would be perfect for hiking, hope you make them, they are my favorite combination yet!
Wanted to come back and tell you that I loved them and I will be making them again. I am having trouble finding chia seeds in my store so I omitted them, but would love to add them when I do find them. Also, I had trouble with them sticking together so I used a tablespoon to scoop then knock out onto my counter so they were Energy Domes. Even my husband and 2 year old wanted more. Thanks!
Yay, glad you liked them! Most natural food type stores will have chia seeds but they’re defniitely not a must in the dough balls. I had a little trouble getting them to stick together too, popping the dough into the freezer for 10-15 minutes seemed to help a bit. I should edit the recipe to say that…
these look awesome and thanks for mentioning me.
I also have this raw vegan cookie dough bites recipe based on the original, it also uses coconut
https://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2011/06/no-bake-coconut-chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-bites.html
I bet the cherries in yours are stellar. Choc + cherries is SUCH a good combo!
I’ve made that coconut version before too, love it! I haven’t met a raw dough ball I don’t like yet ;)
these look absolutely delicious! and they seem so easy…these are definitely going to be on the menu soon!
Wow! This look really delicious and sweet. I have bunch of cherries here! I love chocolate with cherry!
I’m obsessed with cherries and chocolate together! Definitely making these :)
Yay for a cookie dough recipe without dates! Thanks for sharing! :)
I know what is on the agenda this weekend for a sweet treat. Looks delicious!
I loooove raw dough balls, especially in the summer. You are doing awesome things with them! Cherry and coconut…yum!
These seriously look amazing, I love the shredded coconut addition :D