Favorite Healthy Snack / Dessert Recipe - Mariana's Energy Balls

Today I’m sharing one of my all-time favorite recipes (in both English and Spanish) - my super healthy, fiber-packed, gut-friendly Energy Balls. These balls are:

  • the perfect healthy snack, and work great as both a pre or post workout snack

  • the best way to satisfy your sweet tooth, without added sugar (basically, the perfect healthy dessert)

  • packed with FIBER, particularly prebiotic fibers, which help promote a healthy gut and healthy digestion

  • filled with HEALTHY FATS and plant-based PROTEIN

  • chewy, delicious and satisfying (plus they store well in the freezer, so I always recommend making a big batch and freezing them)

  • vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free (no added sugars)

  • SO easy to make and ready in less than 15 minutes!

Balance with Mariana’s Favorite Energy Balls

INGREDIENTS (makes about 12 - 16 balls, depending on the size of your balls):

  • 1 cup almonds or walnuts or cashews, or a mix of these (you can even make them with hazelnuts for a nutella-like version :))

  • ½ cup organic rolled oats

  • 1 cup pitted Medjool dates, ideally pre-soaked (approx. 15 dates) *for a chewier, sweeter version, you can use 3-4 more dates

  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil

  • 3 tablespoons almond or cashew butter (or nut / seed butter of choice, all work well)

  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • Pinch of sea salt

  • ½ - 1 teaspoon pure organic vanilla extract

  • For chocolate version, add 2 tablespoons cacao to mixture before processing. For even more chocolate, add in some chocolate chips at the end (about 4-5 chips per ball)

  • For rolling (optional): 1-2 tablespoons shredded coconut,  cacao powder and/or chia seeds (I usually use all 3!)

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INSTRUCTIONS

1.      In a large food processor, process the almonds (or nuts of choice) with oats until crumbly. Add in the dates, coconut oil, almond butter, vanilla, cinnamon and sea salt and process again until a sticky, uniform batter is formed. If you see any large chunks of date, break the mixture up with a spatula, and pulse until they are completely broken up. Add a bit more almond butter if the mixture seems dry. Option to add cacao powder for the chocolate version (as I did here) and process until evenly combined.

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Taste and adjust if needed. Ex. if too dry, add 1 tablespoon extra of nut butter. If you added caco and it’'s too rich in cacao flavor for you, add 1 tablespoon raw honey or maple syrup. if too moist, add 2 tablespoons more of oats and blend.

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2.      Scoop the dough by heaping tablespoons, then roll between your hands to form balls. Arrange them on a baking sheet or tray lined with parchment paper. Roll them in shredded coconut, raw cacao powder and/or chia seeds before chilling. I like to roll 1/3 in chia, 1/3 in cacao, 1/3 in coconut (optional).

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3.      Place in the freezer to set for at least an hour before serving. Store the balls in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for an even longer shelf life.

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For another delicious version of my energy balls (+ 2 other health desserts), go here: www.balancewithmariana.com/blog/2016/1/28/healthy-chocolate-desserts-for-valentines


SPANISH RECIPE:

Pelotitas Energéticas de Balance with Mariana

Ingredientes (hace alrededor de 12 - 16 bolas, dependiendo del tamaño):

  • ¾ taza de almendras o nueces o semillas de marañón, o una mezcla de estos

  • ½ taza de avena integral (preferiblemente orgánica)

  • 1 taza de dátiles Medjool (sin pepa), idealmente remojados por ½ hora antes (alrededor de 15 dátiles) *si lo quieres mas suave, puedes agregar 3-4 dátiles más

  • 1 cucharada de aceite de coco orgánico

  • 2 cucharadas de mantequilla de almendras o mantequilla de marañón

  • ½ cucharadita de canela molida

  • Pizca de sal marina

  • ½ - 1 cucharadita de extracto puro de vainilla (preferiblemente orgánico)

  • Para la versión de chocolate, agregar 2 cucharadas de cacao en polvo antes de procesar. Para aún más chocolate, puedes agregar chispas de chocolate al final (4- chispas por pelota)

  • Para enrollar pelotitas (opcional): 1-2 cucharadas de coco rallado, polvo de cacao y/o chia

Instrucciones:

1.      En un procesador de alimentos grande, procesar las almendras/nueces de tu elección y la avena. Agregar los dátiles, y procesar nuevamente. Luego agregar el aceite de coco, la mantequilla de almendras/marañón, la vainilla, la canela y la sal. Procesar de nuevo hasta que se forme una masa pegajosa y uniforme. Agregar un poco más de mantequilla de almendras si la mezcla se ve muy seca. Para la version de chocolate, agregar cacao y procesar hasta que este bien combinado. Probar y ajustar a tu gusto.

2.      Sacar la masa cucharada por cucharada (hacerlas cucharadas grandes/bien rellenas), luego rodar entre tus manos para formar bolas. Colocar las bolas en una bandeja forrada con papel pergamino o papel de cera, luego colocarlas mínimo media hora en el freezer antes de servirlos. Guardar las bolas en un recipiente sellado en el congelador.

3.      Opción de enrollarlos en coco rallado, chia y/o cacao en polvo antes de enfriar (o enrollar la mitad en coco y la otra mitad en cacao).

foto por purelykaylie

foto por purelykaylie