I made these mango and coconut balls as a sweet but healthy snack for me, rather than for Joshua, but they would certainly go down well with a little one. They are a nice soft texture so would be perfect for little gums, but you might want to make them into a different shape or cut them up before serving them to make sure they’re not a choking risk. I’ve been looking out for a good energy ball recipe for ages as I often feel the need for a pick-me-up mid afternoon but so many are packed full of dates (which I am a little bored of now) so I was excited to find this one. The recipe is based on one by Madeleine Shaw but I played around with it a little and added some oats to make each serving slightly more filling, nutritious and not so sweet. They have a lovely fruity tropical flavour and are naturally sweet without any added refined sugar. The quantity below makes approx. 32 balls. The ingredients are... - 100g dried mango - 75g oats - 90g desiccated coconut - 1 tablespoon coconut oil - 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger - zest of 1/2 a lime - 20g sesame seeds (optional) To make... - soak the mango in boiling water for half an hour and the drain - blitz all ingredients together in a food processor apart from the sesame seeds - if the mix is a little dry add a couple of teaspoons of water - toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan until golden (keep a close eye on them, they burn quickly) - remove the sesame seeds from the pan and pour into a bowl or plate - using wet hands roll teaspoon sized amounts of the mango mix into balls (or whatever shape you choose) - coat the balls in the toasted sesame seeds Store in the fridge for up to two weeks or freeze. Enjoy x
