Stone the dates and chop them roughly. Grind the almonds finely in a blender or food processor.
Put the dates, oats, peanut butter, ground almonds and salt in the blender. Pulse until the mixture is sticky and easy to shape.
If the mixture still seems too dry, blend a little longer so the dates bind better. If it's very soft, chill it for a few minutes.
Shape the mixture into small balls with slightly damp hands. Work quickly and they'll stay nice and even.
Put the balls in a container and leave them to firm up in the fridge. That gives them a pleasantly compact texture.
Serve well chilled. In an airtight container, they keep fresh in the fridge for several days.
Good to know
When it needs to be quick, these balls are my easy answer. The mixture is ready in a few minutes and tastes honest, soft and nutty.
Swaps
Peanut butter → almond butter (more vitamin E) | almonds → walnuts (more omega-3 fatty acids) | oats → fine spelt flakes (similar fibre content) | dates → dried figs (more calcium, but a slightly different texture)
Allergens
Contains peanuts, almonds (tree nuts) and gluten (oats, unless labelled gluten-free). For children, only offer them in an adapted, age-appropriate way because of the nuts and the sticky texture; in pregnancy they're fine unless you're allergic to any of the ingredients.
