Tart Cherry Pie Snack Balls

Thank you to the Cherry Marketing Institute for sponsoring this post and the tasty Tart Cherry Pie Snack Balls within it!

Did you guys know that February is not only National Cherry Month but also National Snack Food Month? Yes, there really is a month for everything, and these months are kind of perfect together, don’t you think?

I’m a huge tart cherry fan; I’ve been telling clients for years about their anti-inflammatory properties due to the anthocyanins they contain, which is a flavonoid that contributes to the ruby-red color and distinguishing taste. They are also available year-round, as they come in dried, frozen, juice, and concentrate form. Sweet!

Besides being great for athletes looking to decrease inflammation, tart cherries are also delicious! Frozen tart cherries are awesome in smoothies, and I like pairing dried tart cherries with nuts and seeds at snack time, as the combination packs a satisfying mix of fiber and protein.

I usually pair dried tart cherries with almonds and walnuts, two of my fave nuts. So I thought – rather than just eating them whole, why not make them into little bars or balls?

You guys know how I roll – the easier a recipe is, the better. We’re all busy, right?! So I’m happy to say that this recipe could not be easier – just toss the ingredients (there are only 4, not including a splash of water!) into a food processor, process, roll the mixture together into balls or bars, and eat! Love it.

These remind me of Cherry Pie Larabars – an old favorite of mine! The cherries made them nice and sticky (in a good way), so they stayed together really well, making them great as a portable no-mess snack. I definitely ate a few in the car the other day on the way to a meeting – no mess or crumbs involved!

I hope you love them as much as Matt and I did!

Tart Cherry Pie Snack Balls

by fANNEtastic food

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: none

Keywords: snack gluten-free dairy free vegan

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Ingredients (Makes 12 to 14 balls)

• 1 & 1/2 cup dried tart cherries
• 1 cup dry roasted, salted almonds
• 1 cup walnuts
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
• 1 tablespoon water

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a food processor and process about 1 minute, or until ingredients are in small, relatively uniform crumbles.

Form mixture into balls or bars. Enjoy!

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Are you a tart cherry fan? How do you like to enjoy them?

Tart Cherry Pie Snack Balls originally appeared on fANNEtastic food | Washington D.C. area Registered Dietitian | Recipes + Healthy Living + Fitness on February 6, 2015.

The post Tart Cherry Pie Snack Balls appeared first on fANNEtastic food | Washington D.C. area Registered Dietitian | Recipes + Healthy Living + Fitness.