Nut-free chocolaty energy balls
Healthy energy balls, bliss balls or protein balls – whatever you want to call them, are simply small, healthy and portable snackettes that are perfect for munching on during the day.
We make a few different types – but these mint chocolate energy balls are definitely among our favourites; they taste great but are also nut-free, so if you have children, they can include them in a lunchbox.
We use peppermint extract in the energy balls; peppermint supports digestion as well as makes us think of mint-choc-chip icecream (if mint isn’t your thing just leave it out – the recipe will still taste great).
The balls contain pumpkin seeds – one of the few plant sources of Omega 3 fats, but also a great source of zinc and magnesium, as well as tryptophan – which converts to our ‘feel-good’ hormone serotonin, and our ‘sleep’ hormone melatonin.
We combine them with sunflower seeds – the richest seed source of vitamin E as well as high fibre and antioxidant prunes and dates for sweetness.
If you can find cacao, use it in preference to cocoa powder; cacao contains the highest antioxidant levels of virtually any plant. Finally the coconut oil adds a creamy sweetness but also has antiviral and antibacterial properties, helping to support the immune system – if you’ve made our homemade coconut milk, use your remaining dessicated coconut or coconut flour to dust!
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- 100 g medjool dates
- 100 g prunes
- 50 g pumpkin seeds
- 50 g sunflower seeds
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp cacao or cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp coconut oil melted
- 0.5 cup desiccated coconut for dusting
- 1 tsp mint extract
- Blitz seeds in the processor until they are finely chopped, and then add remaining ingredients.
- Process until the mixture comes together in a ball
- Take large teaspoon sized chunks of the mixture and quickly and vigorously roll into balls - if you take too long the mixture heats up and becomes sticky
- Put the dessicated coconut on a plate and roll each ball through, before laying on a plate or baking tray and store in the fridge. Once they are set, move to an airtight container in the fridge - or freezer
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