Date and Quinoa Pops

Yield Makes 20 pieces

Author Nishma Shah

Prep time

10 Min

Cook time

5 Min

Total time

15 Min

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Date and Quinoa pops

A good snack for children. Very quick to make.

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Ingredients

Fusion

• 400 grams (4 cups) pitted dates
• 30 grams (1 cup) puffed quinoa or popped amaranth
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 20 cake pop sticks
• Optional vegan chocolate coating
• 100 grams (1.5 cups) melted vegan dark chocolate
• 10 pieces roasted almonds
• 2 tbsp medium desiccated coconut
• 1 tbsp cocoa nibs

Instructions

1. If the dates are in a block, loosen them up and check for pips.
2. Coarsely chop the roasted almonds.
3. Roast the puffed quinoa in a pan on low heat for 5 minutes. They should become crispier and fresher.
4. Add the dates, cocoa, and quinoa in a food processor.
5. Use an “S” shaped blade to blend the mixture until it becomes like a dough.
6. Take about half tablespoons of mixture and shape it into a ball with your hands.
7. Repeat step 3 until you have 20 ball-shaped pieces.
8. Apply the cake pop sticks.
9. The remaining steps are optional.
10. Melt the vegan chocolate.
11. Coat the date and quinoa pops with melted vegan chocolate and remove any excess chocolate.
12. Add toppings by swirling five pops in the chopped almonds, five in the desiccated coconut, and five in the cocoa nibs and place them on non-stick paper and refrigerate them. (You can of course use other toppings of your choice, or none at all, or create a thicker chocolate coat by repeating step 7 before applying any toppings).
13. Once the toppings have firmly stuck to the vegan chocolate, the date and quinoa pops are ready.

Notes

Instead of cocoa powder, carob powder can be used. You can substitute puffed quinoa with puffed amaranth.

I have very fond memories of various desserts made from dates when I was living in Mombasa, Kenya. Due to the hot tropical weather, the chocolate would melt almost instantly. The dates and cocoa mimic the flavor and texture of a gooey chocolate covered with nuts, desiccated coconut, etc.

 Nishma Shah - London, UK. Vegan Chef & Educator. Co-

founder of Jain Vegans and founder of Shambhu's. London, UK

Disclaimer: Some or all allergens may not be listed

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