Raspberry & Cacao Energy Bites Recipe

We all need a healthy snack for when we are on the go and I have been experimenting with different recipes for energy and protein balls to keep it interesting and to stop me reaching for sugary or unhealthy snacks when the urge comes on.

Vegan Friendly, Sugar Free and Gluten Free, these little energy bites are packed full of goodness, taste great and are a perfect little pick me up when you are feeling a crash coming on. Make a batch at the start of your week and eat one or two per day as a healthy alternative to sugary snacks. You can also add protein to the recipe if you want to maintain lean muscle mass and are using supplements.

Makes 14 Protein Balls (approx)

Ingredients:

• 60 grams of gluten free fine porridge oats

• 30 grams of raw cacao powder

• 200 grams Medjool pitted dates (approx 10 - 15 dates)

• 20 grams raisins or sultanas (just a handful)

• 20 grams freeze dried raspberries (powder if you can get it) 10 grams for the mix and 10 grams for rolling in after

• 20-30 grams cashew nuts

• 20 - 30 grams of Blanched Unsalted / Unflavored Almonds (regular almonds are fine if you cant find blanched)

• 40 grams organic nut butter (smooth almond or cashew nut butter tend to work best)

• optional: 1 Large Tablespoon of organic agave nectar (I like to use the Groovy Food Company)

• optional: 2 scoops of plant based protein powder

Method:

• In a food processor, add in the dates, nuts, raisins, gluten free oats, cacao powder and and 10 grams of freeze dried raspberries and blanch in the food processor until combined

• Empty the mixture into a mixing bowl and add in the nut butter and optional agave nectar and / or protein powder and mix through with your hands - this bit gets sticky so I would advise on using food handling gloves for hygiene also.

• The mixture should be moist and easy to mold into little balls (you can add more but butter or dates as necessary if the mixture is too crumbly but it should mold together easily once you compress it.

• When you are happy with the consistency, take a small handful of the mix and roll into little balls, setting them aside until the mixture has been used

• If you have the dried raspberries in powder form already then add this to a separate clean mixing bowl and roll each of the balls around in the powder until they each have a light dusting of the powder and it sticks

• If your raspberries are not in powder form then add the 10 grams to the food processor and blanch until they are in teeny tiny fine particles - as close to powder for as you can get them and then roll the balls into the mix as above - it is fine to have some larger particles

• You can refrigerate the balls in a little container, but I find this leaves them too hard - I prefer them soft at room temperature - I put them into a sealed tight container but consume within 7 days

#energy #balls #healthy #snacks #recipes