If healthier eating holds a prominent spot on your list of goals, you may feel it’s necessary to eliminate some of your sweetest favorites. However, committing to a nutritionally friendly way of life doesn’t have to leave desserts by the wayside.
Instead, rethinking nighttime treats with better-for-you ingredients like California Prunes as a quick substitution can make healthier eating easy. As a versatile ingredient that can replace added sugar, fats, and eggs in all kinds of recipes, prunes can also add nutrients important for bone and gut health.
Plus, the copper in prunes inhibits bone breakdown, while boron plays a role in calcium metabolism and polyphenols can help decrease bone breakdown through their antioxidant power. As a fruit that’s high in vitamin K, which helps improve calcium balance and promotes bone mineralization, prunes are also a “good gut food,” meaning a single serving (roughly 4–6 prunes) can help support a healthy microbiome.
They’re easy to use in recipes that can become favorites in your household such as these Chocolate Energy Balls. Enjoyed as an easy, on-the-go snack, they’re a perfect way to refuel for an adventure, recharge after a workout, or simply savor as a healthy snack.
Chocolate lovers rejoice: If brownies are more your style, prunes can also take the place of eggs in these Vegan Brownies for a family-friendly treat that won’t wreck your eating plan.
To find more better-for-you desserts, visit californiaprunes.org.
Chocolate Energy Balls
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Yield: 24 pieces
Prune Puree:
16 ounces pitted California prunes
1/2 cup hot water
Energy Balls:
1 cup old-fashioned or gluten-free oats
2/3 cup toasted, unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup creamy natural nut butter (peanut or almond)
1/2 cup pecan meal
1/2 cup prune puree
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
To make prune puree: In blender, combine prunes and water. Pulse to combine then blend until smooth, pourable consistency forms, scraping sides, if necessary.
Store puree in airtight container in fridge up to 4 weeks.
To make energy balls: In mixing bowl, stir oats, coconut, nut butter, pecan meal, prune puree, cocoa powder and vanilla until completely combined.
Cover and chill in refrigerator 30 minutes. Once chilled, use small cookie scoop or measuring spoon to measure equal-sized amounts of mixture then form into balls by applying gentle pressure to dough using palms. Do not
roll as balls will break apart.
Store covered in airtight container in refrigerator up
to 1 week.
Vegan Brownies
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Servings: 9
Prune Puree:
16 ounces pitted California prunes
1/2 cup hot water
Brownies:
nonstick cooking spray
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup California extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups light brown sugar
10 ounces California prune puree
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
flaky sea salt, for garnish
To make prune puree: In blender, combine
prunes and water. Pulse to combine then blend
until smooth, pourable consistency forms, scraping sides, if necessary.
Store puree in airtight container in fridge up to 4 weeks.
To make brownies: Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 9-by-9-inch baking pan with parchment paper then lightly grease with nonstick cooking spray.
Using double boiler, melt chocolate and olive oil. Whisk in sugar and prune puree; mix until dissolved.
Into large bowl, sift flour, baking powder and cocoa powder. Gently fold in chocolate and prune mixture then add vanilla.
Spread batter in prepared pan, sprinkle with flaky sea salt and bake 20-25 minutes, or until top starts to look dry and brownies are just beginning to pull away from sides of pan.
Cool in pan. Remove then cut brownies into 3-inch squares.
Recipe courtesy of Meg van der Kruik on behalf of California Prunes