Strawberry cheesecake Swirl energy balls

From Chef Keith Gardiner

Ingredients

• 1 cup pitted dates (I used honey dates, but medjool work too)*
• 1 1/2 cups unsalted cashews
• 1/3 cup nutritional yeast**
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup dried strawberries
• optional: pinch of sea salt

Method

• Add dates to food processor and process until broken up into pea-sized bits.
• Add cashews, nutritional yeast, vanilla, and sea salt.
• Process until well-combined. Mixture should come together into a large ball.
• Remove just over 1/2 of the mixture (a little under 2/3) and set aside.
• Add in dried strawberries and process until strawberries are well combined with remaining mixture.
• Roll both the strawberry and plain mixture into 18 teaspoon sized balls.
• Squish one of each flavor ball together and roll until they come into one swirl ball.
• Continue the process until all balls have been squished.
• Place in freezer for 15 minutes before storing in the refrigerator for up to one month

Notes:

(*) Make sure your dates are sticky. If not, soak them in hot water for 15 minutes to soften and drain them.

(**) Nutritional yeast is what gives it a cheesy taste. Feel free to omit, but it won’t taste as “cheesecakey.”