Including oats in this recipe ensures a balanced nutritious snack making them not only perfect if you’re out of time for breakfast but also a versatile snack throughout the day, whether you’re in need of a pick-me-up mid-afternoon or you’re craving a sweet treat at the end of your evening meal, these little energising protein balls will hit the spot! The variations are endless, but I always like to use raw cacao for an indulgent chocolate fix and “feelgood” factor – know what I mean?!
These anti-inflammatory protein balls are rich in flavanols, Omega-3s and provide plenty of antioxidants that protect against free-radical damage.
They will keep in the fridge for a week or so (if they last that long!) as well as the freezer, making them a perfect snack to grab at the beginning of the day for later.
To make these energising Protein Balls, you’ll need…
- 50g almonds, whole or ground
- 50g cashews, whole
- 100g pitted dried dates (can use a mixture of dates and dried figs)
- 30g raw cacao
- 30g chia seeds
- 60g oats
- 85g coconut oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Desiccated coconut – toasted for coating (optional)
Making these protein balls is super easy, here’s how…
If you’re using whole almonds and cashews, start by blending them along with the dates in a food processor to a coarse texture. If you’re using ground nuts, add them in now with all the other ingredients and pulse until well combined and finely blended. Start with 2 tbsp coconut oil and if the mixture is still crumbly and difficult to form into a ball after combining, use a little more. Try not to add too much to ensure that the balls are not too greasy. I usually have to scrape down the sides of the blender a couple of times to ensure a good consistency.
They are now ready to roll into small balls. Put the desiccated coconut onto a small plate and roll each ball around until fully coated.
Refrigerate for a firmer texture for an hour before serving.
NB: These quantities can be adjusted according to taste.
TIME SAVER: If you’re short of time, line a brownie tin with greaseproof paper and simply press the mixture into a tin until firm and compact. Sprinkle the top with desiccated coconut, cut into small squares and refrigerate.
Variations:
- Use (chopped) dried apricots instead of dates for a more tangy, less sweet ball
- For a more smooth texture, you can leave out the oats
- Replace the oats with shredded coconut
- Add ground cinnamon or ground ginger for a spicy alternative
Energising Chocolate Protein Balls
Ingredients
To make these Bliss Balls, you’ll need….
- 50 g almonds whole or ground
- 50 g cashews whole
- 100 g pitted dried dates can use mixture of dates and dried figs
- 30 g raw cacao
- 30 g chia seeds
- 60 g oats
- 85 g coconut oil
- 2-3 tbsp vanilla extract
- desiccated coconut – for coating optional
Instructions
Here’s how…
- If using whole almonds and cashews, start by blending them in a food processor to a coarse texture. Then add the dates along with all the other ingredients and pulse until well combined and finely blended.
- Start by adding 2 tbsp coconut oil to bind the mixture. If it is still crumbly and difficult to form into a ball after combining, use a little more. I usually have to scrape down the sides of the blender a couple of times to ensure the mixture is well combined and a good consistency.
- They are now ready to roll into small balls. Put the dessicated coconut onto a small shallow plate and roll each ball around until fully coated.
- Refrigerate for a firmer texture for an hour before serving.
Notes
- Use dried apricots instead of dates for a more tangy, less sweet ball.
- For a smoother texture, you can leave out the oats.
- Replace the oats with shredded coconut
- Add ground cinnamon or ground ginger for a spicy alternative
Nutritional Nugget:
So what is Raw Cacao? It is the raw unprocessed chocolate (cacao) bean that has not been roasted. It is high in Magnesium, which makes it a great energiser, as magnesium is crucial in the energy production process. Here’s a great article with much more on this superfood CLICK HERE
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4 Comments
Catherine Reader
Hi. I love your recipes. Can you please advise how many balls you get from this recipe? Do you share the nutritional breakdown?
Thanks,
Catherine R
May Simpkin
It really depends on how big you make them! It varies each time I make them but I'd say around 12. I don't offer nutritional breakdowns for my recipes as my approach is not prescriptive in that respect. I prefer to focus on food groups and eating them in the right proportions. Not all calories are equal!