much more delicious than actual snowballs

If you are in a place that’s currently getting snow, I both envy and pity you.

Because as much as I loathe being cold and wet, there’s nothing like snow to give you a good Christmas buzz.

It’s all part of what I like to call ‘Fantasy Christmas’.

dates – look weird, taste great

Fantasy Christmas is the Christmas that advertisers try to sell you. The one where a rosy-cheeked family are laughing by a roaring fire, while snow gently falls outside, a contented dog curls up at their feet and the artfully decorated Christmas tree blinks its tiny fairy lights in the background.

yes, my food processor is tiny. No, I’m not insecure about that

In Fantasy Christmas the kids are always adorable, the parents ridiculously good-looking and the presents (perfectly wrapped of course) are plentiful.

In short, Fantasy Christmas is like NO CHRISTMAS EVER EXPERIENCED BY ANYONE, ANYWHERE.

The closest we’re ever going to get to that idyll is the snow.

tiny balls of joy

Which brings me to these babies. Ever since I made the landmark discovery a few weeks ago that brazil nuts, shoved inside dates, are the BEST SNACK EVER, I’ve been hungering to snowball the little blighters.

These are fantastically easy, require zero cooking skills (and therefore safe to make with the kiddies!) and vanish quicker than my dignity at Christmas parties.

pre-snowing

I used brazil nuts but, of course, you can experiment with your nut of choice.

(snigger….nut of choice…snigger)

One final word – if you’re making snowballs of the real variety, please don’t put anything hard inside. That’s just mean.

Nutty Snowballs (makes 12)

• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 cups dates, pitted
• 2 tbsps maple syrup
• 12 brazil nuts
• 1 cup shredded coconut

1. Roughly chop the dates and add them to a food processor along with the walnuts. Pour in the maple syrup.
2. Process until it comes together in a paste. Scrape out of the bowl and grab a small handful. Roll this into a ball around a brazil nut, and repeat until the paste and nuts are used up.
3. Scatter the coconut across a clean surface and roll each ball in it until they are all coated. Transfer to the fridge and let chill for an hour.

Like this? You might also like:

• Coconut Pancakes with Dark Treacle Sauce
• Maple Coconut Chocolates
• Mocha Chocolate Hearts

This post was also shared at Fight Back Friday, Fat Tuesday, Monday Mania and Pennywise Platter Thursday.