Prep time: 30 min • Yield: 16 to 20 pops

Ingredients

• 1 cup dark chocolate (i.e. Enjoy Life brand) or dark chocolate (at least 70% dark)
• 1 ½ cups hazelnuts, toasted with the skins rubbed off
• 1 cup medjool dates, pitted & packed
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Pinch sea salt
• Paper straws or cake pop sticks.
• Powdered sugar, colored holiday sprinkles, or maldon salt for finishing (optional)

1. In a double boiler or microwave, melt ½ cup of the chocolate. Remove from heat when melted.
2. In a food processor, process hazelnuts, dates, vanilla, and salt until fully incorporated.
3. Add in roughly 2 to 3 tablespoons of the melted chocolate to the date nut mix and continue processing to fully incorporate.
4. Place the mixture in a container and freezer for about 10 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, if using paper straws, cut them to the size for a cake pop stick. Cover a flat dish that will fit in your refrigerator with parchment.
6. Remove dough from freezer, scoop into walnut-sized pieces, and  roll into balls. Dip straw or cake pop sticks into melted chocolate and insert  into the center of each  ball about  half way through. Using a spoon as needed, dip balls into the chocolate and place on prepared parchment paper with the stick pointing straight up. Refrigerate until chocolate hardens.
7. Optionally dust with powdered sugar, colored holiday sprinkles, or maldon salt.