Crunchy gluten free chocolate biscuits
Ingredients
1 cup pitted dates (200grams)
1 cup raw walnuts (95 grams)
½ cup potato starch (85 grams)
½ cup brown rice flour (60 grams)
½ cup of butter or (coconut butter if vegan)
½ cup of raw chocolate or (vegan dark chocolate if vegan)
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp sea salt.
These biscuits are so lovely & crunchy, making them so satisfying & incredibly delicious.
They are filled with goodness too, as well as fiber, iron, protein, calcium & zinc, which will completely satisfy your appetite & leaving you feeling wonderful.
Instructions
Place the walnuts in a food processor & pulse for about a minute until you have a flour like mixture.
Add pitted dates, butter & vanilla essence until you have a smooth paste.
Add brown rice flour, starch, baking powder & salt. Proceed to blend until you have a soft crumbly dough.
Place in a separate bowl & gently knead in the chocolate chips.
Cover a baking tray with parchment paper. Take 1-2 tablespoons of dough into your hands & weigh each portion to ensure they are all equal sizes & roll into a balls. Place the balls on the tray & using the palm of your hands press until they are thin & biscuit shaped. Repeat this process with all your dough.
You may require 2 baking trays or to cook in two separate batches.
Its important you ensure that adequate room is available around each biscuit as they do expand once cooked.
Bake for 12-15 minutes in a preheated oven at 150 degrees celsius.
Allow the biscuits to completely cool on a wire rack so they become firm & crunchy. To do this use a spatula & transfer them carefully. These last for about a week if stored in an airtight container ( if you can resist them that long!)
Benefits
These biscuits are packed with soluble fiber from the dates, which is important for regulating blood sugar levels. They are also a good source of potassium, which assists in balancing body pH, & maintaining intercellular fluid balance. Additionally dates are rich in copper, which is useful in the body for the absorption of iron, formation of collagen, & healthy red blood cell formation as well as a healthy nervous system & energy generation.
Walnuts are high in protein, vitamins, omega 3 fatty acids, trace minerals, lecithin & oils.
Walnuts are a unique nut because the fats in them are primarily polyunsaturated fatty acids & they are the only nuts with a large amount of linolnic acid. They are also cholesterol free & have insignificant amounts of sodium compared to other nuts. They also contain large amounts of B6 & plenty of folate, thiamin & vitamin E.
Additionally they are a rich source of manganese, magnesium, phosphorous & iron. They also contain the two fatty acids acids (omega3 & 6) required by our bodies for cell growth, immune function, blood clotting & disease prevention. Our bodies cannot make them on their own. Walnuts help prevent heart disease & are recommended for lowering cholesterol. Another added bonus is that they are considered a “brain food” because of their health benefits in the area of cognitive function.
Brown rice flour is rich in niacin or vitamin B3, vitamin B6, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, & manganese. These vitamins & minerals are essential for maintaining bodily functions, such as supporting the nervous system, energy metabolism, cardiovascular & immune system function, oxygen transportation throughout the body, & promoting a healthy blood pressure.
Raw chocolate has so many health benefits ranging from magnesium, calcium, sulfur, zinc, iron, copper, potassium & manganese. Raw chocolate also have a range of important B vitamins & essential heart healthy fats, protein & fiber.
Even if you are avoiding sugar these biscuits contain natural sources of sweetness & I guarantee they will provide you with satiety because of the high fiber rich vitamin & mineral content. With the added bonus of being wheat & gluten free.
