Christmas Balls Recipe
Today we are making a Christmas Balls Recipe! These are a no bake, gluten free, raw winter snowball, if I might call it that. The inspiration for this came from Jack Frost! You may have heard of this character in Christmas movies, but the legend of Jack Frost actually goes back centuries ago. There isn’t one specific person or story we can pinpoint the legend to, but rather a collection of stories from around the world. Some stories he’s deemed the hero, and in others, the villain. Overall though, he’s an embodiment of all things winter.
Origins of Jack Frost
There’s a lot of confusion as to where he comes from and why he makes an appearance in all of these stories. It may have something to do with the fact that in many cultures, it’s common to take non-living things (such as the weather) and personify them. It is majorly believed that he was created from Scandinavian or Anglo-Saxon traditions.
For example, in Finnish folklore, there’s the legend of the Frostman and woman, who maintain weather conditions for the reindeer. In another legend, Jack Frost is the son of Kari, Norse god of the winds. In yet another Japanese folklore tale, there’s the story of a Frost Man and Mist Man, who are the keepers of frost and dew. It still isn’t clear why his name is Jack, other than the fact that the word “Jack” was a common slang word for “man” in England during the 16/17th centuries.
Even in recent movies, Jack Frost has been a feature character. Movies such as Rise of the Guardians, The Santa Clause 3, Jack Frost and many others use this character. In some, he’s a hero, and others, a villain. The first time he was actually drawn out was in a political cartoon from 1861 in Harper’s Weekly. In that cartoon, Jack Frost was freezing out the malaria that was spreading through the American Civil War. The same artist, Thomas Nast, also created this famous image of Santa Claus that we see today! Click here to read more on Jack Frost. So with these snowballs, it’s like Jack Frost personified.
Substitutions
Cashews: Use fully raw cashews, not roasted or salted. These don’t leaves traces of the outer shell as almonds or another nut may do, so I recommend to only use cashews.
Vanilla Extract: You can use a freshly scraped vanilla bean, or vanilla powder if you have some. Do not omit – because this recipe has so few ingredients, it’s flavor is key! I used a Madagascar alcohol-free vanilla.
Butterfly Pea Powder: This is a powder from the Butterfly Pea plant, native to Thailand. It’s a beautiful bright blue color! If you can’t find this (I bought it online), you can also use blue spirulina.
Coconut: Use desiccated coconut, since it has a fine texture which is perfect for rolling. Since there is no other sugar in this recipe, use sweetened coconut.
Peppermint Extract: These give the balls a minty Christmas flavor and should not be omitted.
Christmas Balls Recipe Notes
- Roll these balls in Christmas sprinkles or Oreo cookie crumbs instead of coconut for more festive and sweet options!
- Alternatively, coat them in melted chocolate first, such as vegan white chocolate or dark chocolate, before rolling sprinkles or coconut.
- Make these almond Christmas balls by using slivered almonds instead of cashews, and pressing down a roasted almond into each ball!
More Delicious Recipes You’ll Love
Buttery Pecan Pie: As far as Christmas recipes go, having a pie at the center of the table is a must! This buttery pecan pie is full of raisins and pecans within a high-protein silken tofu filling and a coconut oil crust.
German Chocolate Bites: This recipe is for when you have little time and need a quick snack with simple ingredients. Flavors of German chocolate cake combine into this cookie dough like energy ball – coconut, cocoa powder and pecans!
S’mores Fudge: A great recipe for a no bake dessert to bring to your next Christmas party! This fudge combines peppermint mini marshmallows and graham cracker crumbs studded in a rich vegan fudge.
Pecan Toffee Bark: This is for that time of year (holiday gatherings!): Christmas crack! Graham crackers are the base of this recipe, with a homemade, caramelized butter toffee and a chocolate topping sprinkled with pecans. This will be a huge hit at the dessert table!
Funfetti Oreo Truffles: These cookie balls are a no bake treat using Oreo cookies and a block of cream cheese. Coat them in Christmas sprinkles for Christmas Oreo Balls – these will be done before you get a chance to store them in your cookie tin!
Christmas Cheese Ball: Red dried cranberries and bright green parsley cover this easy Christmas recipe for a vegan cheese ball!
If you make this Christmas Balls Recipe, then leave a comment and star rating! Don’t forget to tag your photos @peanut_palate on Instagram. Enjoy!
Christmas Balls Recipe (Jack Frost Snowballs)
Equipment
- Blender or Large Bowl Food Processor
Ingredients
- 1⅓ cup raw, unsalted cashews
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 teaspoons butterfly pea powder
- 2 cups shredded coconut
- 1 small drop peppermint extract
- 1 cup shredded coconut for rolling
Instructions
- Add all ingredients (except the coconut at the end of the ingredients list for rolling) into a blender. Blend until a dough mixture is formed. There should not be large chunks of cashews remaining.
- Shape the dough into 20 even balls. Add the coconut to a bowl and roll the balls around to coat them.
- Place the balls on a single layer on parchment paper or a cookie sheet in an airtight container to store.
Notes
-
Storage
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days or in the refrigerator for up to one week.
