![Cherry Chocolate Chip Bliss Balls](https://www.healthscience.org/wp-content/uploads/files/images/blog/Cherry_Chocolate_Bliss_Balls.jpg)
These chocolate chip treats are so yummy that I call them “bliss balls.” They are so delicious that it’s nearly impossible to stop at one, and even difficult to stop at two. I suggest you make a double batch to enjoy throughout the week. They store well so they are ideal for lunch box treats, quick snacks, potlucks, and picnics.
Ingredients:
1 cup rolled oats
12 dates, pitted (½ cup)
¼ cup slivered almonds
¼ cup grain-sweetened chocolate chips
16 dried cherries (1 ounce)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine the oats, dates, almonds, chocolate chips, cherries, and vanilla in a food processor. Pulse until coarsely chopped and the mixture starts to bind. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water if needed, to help bind.
3. For each bliss ball, scoop 1 tablespoon of the mixture, gently roll it into a ball, and place on the prepared baking sheet. Be careful not to compact the balls.
Bake for 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Makes: 12 bliss balls; Ready in: 35 minutes
Photo by: Oliver Barth, LA Food Photography (lafoodphotography.com)
![Darshana Thacker](https://www.healthscience.org/wp-content/uploads/files/images/staff/Darshana Thacker_headshot.jpg)
Darshana Thacker is chef and culinary project manager for Forks Over Knives, an organization that empowers people to live healthier lives by changing the
way the world understands nutrition. A graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute, she’s known for her hearty and distinctly flavorful creations, which draw
inspiration from a wide range of ethnic traditions. Chef Darshana was the recipe author of Forks Over Knives Family and a lead recipe contributor for the New York Times bestseller The Forks Over Knives Plan.