Something sweet, with cardamom

I’ve been obsessed with making healthy chocolate treats lately. I love this recipe because it’s simple but so satisfying! 

When I was a kid, my mom and I used to make desserts with dates quite often. They’re a great natural sweetener and packed with flavor. Dates also have numerous health benefits — they’re high in fiber and rich in protective antioxidants. They may promote heart health, boost energy, and provide a boost to both fertility and overall hormone health. 

The combination of dates with chocolate and peanut butter in this recipe gives it a caramel flavor. It actually reminds me of a Snickers bar but without all the processed ingredients.

I specifically included flaxseed as it may help fight inflammation, promote hair growth, and benefit womens’ fertility by supporting ovulation, restoring hormones, and potentially boosting conception. 

The trick with this recipe is to use good-quality chocolate and peanut butter. 

I added a Persian spin to the recipe by dusting the top with cardamom. This gives it a bit of extra exotic flavor. If you don’t have cardamom, cinnamon works too. 

I like to create these in batches to have on hand when I’m not feeling 100% and craving chocolate. Josh is also a big fan and oftentimes he specifically requests them. I like being able to whip them out of the freezer and surprise him with them. That is, if he hasn’t sneakily eaten most of the tray after a series of “be right backs…”

The best part is I feel no guilt when eating this tasty treat! 

Ingredients

• 10 dates
• Cinnamon (a sprinkle)
• Cardamom (a sprinkle)
• 3 tablespoons flaxseed
• Peanut butter
• 10 walnuts or pecans
• 5 pieces of Dove chocolate (or your favorite chocolate) 

Instructions

Remove the pits from the dates and cut them in half lengthwise. 

Place a walnut or pecan (or nut of your choice) inside the date.

Spoon peanut butter generously into the pocket of the date then sprinkle or dip into flaxseed.

Melt chocolate in the microwave for 15 seconds at a time or on low heat in a saucepan. Be careful as chocolate burns easily!

Spoon chocolate on top of the peanut butter, covering the peanut butter with a nice thick layer.

Place on a plate or baking sheet and sprinkle with a light dusting of cinnamon or cardamom.

Set into the freezer for 1 hour or until firm.

Enjoy! And try not to eat them all in one sitting! 

Hi there, my name is Roya — that means dream in Farsi. My husband Josh and I traded city life in San Francisco for several bountiful acres in San Diego.

We are focused on living well by creating tasty and healthy meals from our orchard and garden. We’re obsessed with oranges and love finding new ways to use them — especially since we have an entire orchard full of them! Come along on our journey with us.