RAW: ENERGY BALLS

Our local health foods store is having a contest on whoever comes up with the best energy balls wins a gift basket full of goodies to make MORE ENERGY BALLS and I'm soooo in! I got to work fast...getting all the ingredients out from our pantry. Tod wanted me to make them just like the granola energy bars I make so I did but I added some Maca powder for an extra energy kick! They are so delish and are super sweet from the honey and dates.

Seth helped me in the kitchen. He always asks to help when he sees me in there. Probably because he loves licking the spoon after. They always have a motive.

Energy Balls 

These energy balls are packed with nuts and seeds to give a pure boost of energy, through nutrition.

Makes 30 balls 

Prepare ahead – Remove pits from dates and soak, covered in filtered water, for 20 minutes 

Wet  

·         1/2 cup almond butter 

·         1/2 cup unpasteurized honey 

·         1 tsp. pure vanilla extract 

·         1 Tbsp. cacao powder

·         5 dates, pits removed and soaked

·         2 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted

Dry 

·         2 cups quick oats 

·         2 Tbsp. hemp hearts (seeds)

·         2 Tbsp. pumpkin seeds 

·         2 Tbsp. sunflower seeds 

·         1 cup raw pecans and walnuts, ground

·         1/2 tsp. chia seeds 

·         1 tsp. maca powder 

Rolling (optional) 

·         cacao powder 

·         shredded coconut 

·         chocolate nibs 

1. Remove pits from dates and soak. Drain. Melt coconut oil. Add dates and coconut oil to a high speed blender and blend until a thick paste forms.

2. Heat a large pan on low heat. Add almond butter, honey, vanilla, cacao, and date paste to the pan and stir well. 

3. Add nuts to a food processor or high speed blender and blend until fine. Add dry ingredients to a large bowl and stir. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir. Mixture should be thick.  

4. Scoop out mixture with a spoon and roll into balls and place in a freezer safe dish. Roll as many balls as you can out of the mixture. Roll them in cocoa powder, shredded coconut, or chocolate nibs (optional). Add to the freezer until the balls are hard. Move balls off the freezer safe dish and add to a Ziploc bag for storing.  

Yay! I won the contest!!