Raw Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Babies

I can't claim discovering this recipe or the blog. Kristi found it and shared them with me. And I love them for many reasons.

1. They are yummy.
2. They are healthy.
3. In my old age I am really enjoying the flavor of dried fruit.
4. They have chocolate.

And, you can mix things up with them. Try different nuts, add peanut butter, different dried fruits. They're fantastic. And, I get to use my food processor. I feel all granola-ish when I make them. And I feel good eating them.

Give them a go--especially if you need digestive help like some of us *me* need. :)

Cookie Dough Babies
(a.k.a. Raw Cookie Dough Balls)

Scant 2/3 cup pitted dates (80g) (I highly recommend Sunmaid dates, found in regular grocery stores near the raisins. They’re softer and easier to blend.)
handful of chocolate chips or Sugar-Free Chocolate Chips
1/4 cup cashews (30g) (or another nut, like almonds.)
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
tiny pinch of salt (can be omitted)

Blend the dates, cashews, salt, and vanilla in a food processor. (You can use a blender, but they’re much harder to blend and they can get very sticky.) You can either blend the chocolate with the other ingredients or chop it separately, then mix the pieces into the dough. Make bars, balls, or shapes of whatever size you want.

I used prunes (I need some serious help!) and they turned out really moist so I added extra nuts. Also, refrigerating them helps with the stickiness. 

Nutritional Info for the Homemade Larabar Recipes:
The homemade larabar nutritional info is based upon the girl-scout cookie larabars; however I think all the flavors are probably pretty similar. Each Larabar-sized bar (45 grams) will have around 175 calories, 8 grams healthy fat, 2 grams protein, 25 grams carbs, 5 grams fiber, and zero grams of added sugar.

Chocolate Drizzled Cheesecake FIlled Strawberries

I saw a recipe for these somewhere (probably a dr. office magazine) but I couldn't find it and had no idea what was in it so I made up my own!!  These are absolutely AMAZING!!  The filling is light and not too sweet and the chocolate drizzle just tops it off.  You could also use the filling as a fruit dip if you wanted. It is extremely addicting!  I used a spatula and scraped the bowl clean!

2 lbs. strawberries
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
4 Tbls. powdered sugar
1/3 c. yogurt (strawberry, raspberry or vanilla)
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Wash strawberries and hollow out center with a knife. Place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.  Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered  sugar and continue to beat until smooth.  Add yogurt and extract and whip for about 4 min. until light and fluffy.  Fill a Ziploc bag and snip the corner.  Fill each strawberry.
Melt chocolate chips until smooth and drizzle over strawberries with a spoon.  Refrigerate.

Fruity Cookie Cups

Once again Pintrest has come to the rescue!  This is actually a Pillsbury recipe but I never buy pre-made cookie dough so I just used my favorite sugar cookie recipe.  These were AMAZING!  I took them to a BBQ and they were gobbled up so fast.  The kids and adults both loved them!  They are light and fruity and a perfect dessert for summer time!

2 rolls of Pillsbury sugar cookie dough, or 1 recipe for sugar cookies (mine will follow)

1/2 c. almonds finely chopped

1 egg white

any flavor yogurt

chopped fruit such as kiwi, fresh pineapple, strawberries, mango, blueberries, raspberries etc.

Break up cookie dough in a bowl (or mix up your favorite sugar cookie recipe). Add chopped almonds and mix well.  Make dough into large balls, about 1 1/2 in. and place in greased muffin tins.  Flatten slightly and bake at 350 for 15 min.  Remove cookies and poke a hole in the middle of each one to make a cup (I used the bottom of my ice cream scooper).  Brush the inside of each cup with egg whites so they won't get soggy when you add the yogurt and return to the oven for about 5 more min. or until mostly firm and very slightly brown.  Allow to cool completely.  Add a spoonful of yogurt to each one and top with fruit!  Sooooo good!!

Perfect Sugar Cookies

1 c. butter

1 1/2 c. sugar

3 eggs

1/2 tsp. lemon extract

1 tsp. vanilla

3/4 tsp. almond extract

4 1/2 c. flour

1/2 tsp. soda

3/4 tsp. salt

Cream together butter and sugar.  Add flavorings and eggs.  Sift together dry ingredients and add.