Valentine's Day Vegan Cherry Ripe Bites

Well.... Thanks Dan, after the news that us Melbournians plans have gone tits up as we are going to be in lock down this Valentine's Day I thought I'd take the time to make something special you can cook at home with your special person.... or if your single, heck have them all to yourself without the fear of a sugar rush. I mean who doesn't like to play with balls on Valentine's Day (pun intended)!

These vegan, refined sugar and gluten free bites are super easy to make and taste divine. This batch makes about 20 but you can most certainly keep them in the freezer if you find yourselves a little distracted after feeding each other a few.

Ingredients

makes 20 balls

for the cherry filling:

300g pitted cherries (can use fresh or frozen)

3 tbsp agave syrup

2 tbsp goji berries

2 tbsp of cacao butter

½ cup macadamias (soaked min of 2hrs)

½ cup frozen raspberries

1 cup desiccated coconut

1 tsp vanilla bean paste

pinch of salt

for the chocolate

200g Mylk chocolate from @loving_earth

Or

¼ cup melted coconut oil

⅓ cup raw cacao powder

⅛ maple syrup

(you can substitute the Mylk chocolate with @loving_earth or other vegan chocolate brand and just melt over low heat above pot if simmering water.

Method

Drain soaked macadamia nuts and set aside.
Pit the cherries and place onto a small pot over medium heat then add the agave syrup & cacao butter and bring to a simmer to create a jam like texture.
In a food processor add macadamia nuts, goji berries and frozen raspberries and blend until smooth.
Add cherry jam from pot into blender and blend until smooth. Add the coconut, salt and vanilla and blend again until evenly mixed.
Roll a heaped teaspoon of cherry mixture into balls (I pop in cake pop mould to keep shape) and place into freezer to set.
Melt vegan chocolate or add self made chocolate ingredients slowly over a pot of simmering water be sure not to touch.
Remove cherry balls from freezer and dip into melted chocolate and roll to cover.
Spoon out onto a lined tray with baking paper and put into the freezer or fridge to set.
After a hour or so enjoy!