½ cup old fashioned oatmeal (not instant or quick-cook)
1 cup walnut pieces (or almonds)
8-9 pitted Medjool or Deglet Noor dates
½ cup dried sweetened cherries
3 tbsp dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
¼ cup raw pecans
Kosher or sea salt, to taste
1-2 tsp of water, if needed
Instructions
In a food processor, process the oatmeal until coarse, not powder. Remove. Put the walnuts in the food processor and pulse until finely chopped. It’s ok if some bigger pieces remain. Just be sure not to pulverize it into a flour as you want some texture.
Remove ⅓ cup of the processed walnuts and set aside with the oatmeal for the final step.
Now, add the pitted dates in (along with the walnuts already in the processor) and process until finely chopped and sticky. A dough will start to form. Add cherries and process again until combined. The mixture will likely form into a large ball. If this happens, break it up with a spoon and process more if necessary.
Add in the chocolate chips and pecans and process until they are just chopped. Add salt to taste. Pulse in the oatmeal and reserved ⅓ cup walnuts for texture, being careful not to process them too much. Roll into small balls. (If your mixture isn't sticking together, try adding a tsp or two of water.) Makes about 12-15 balls. Place in a container or baggie and store in the fridge or freezer.
Recipe by forkbelly.com at http://forkbelly.com/chocolate-cherry-bombs/