Easy Peasy Energy Balls

There are countless brands of energy bars with limitless combinations of flavors on offer at every grocery and convenience store. Marketing agencies and food companies grew wise to the health food trends and brands like Clif Bar and Larabar have seized the opportunity to profit on price-point health-minded snacks in the checkout line for athletes and stay-at-home moms alike.

Here’s the thing though — there’s not much to them. Using simple nutrient-dense ingredients making a version of these in larger batches to snack on from your refrigerator throughout the week is incredibly easy to do.

Whether you need something you can pop in your mouth with your morning coffee as you head out the door need a healthy treat for your kids’ lunchboxes or need an alternative temptation from the chips or cookies midday these energy balls will surely satisfy. These recipes are all raw gluten-free vegan and paleo-friendly which will please most palates.

And they are not hard and fast recipes — feel free to mix match doctor or overhaul altogether as the ingredients are all easily interchangeable.

Sweet Treat Truffle Balls

Ingredients

1 cup almond butter

3/4 cup cacao powder

1/2 cup dates minced finely

1/4 cup almond flour

1/4 cup shelled hemp seeds

1/8 cup organic maple syrup

1/8 cup almond milk

1 pinch Himalayan pink salt

1/2 tsp pure vanilla

Directions

Reserve 1/4 cup of cacao powder place in a bowl and set aside. Place all remaining ingredients in food processor and pulse until the mixture is blended. Create 1-inch balls with your hands and roll in cacao powder (gloves can be worn). Store in refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 10 days.

Tropical Treat Balls

Ingredients

1 cup sunflower seed butter or cashew butter

1/4 cup dried pineapple finely diced

1/4 cup dried mango finely diced

1/8 cup chia seeds

1/4 cup dried fig paste or finely minced dried figs

1 Tbsp coconut milk

2 Tbsp coconut oil

1 pinch of coconut sugar

1/4 cup shredded coconut

Directions

Place shredded coconut in bowl and set aside. Finely mince the dried pineapple and mango and toss into food processor with all remaining ingredients. Pulse until well mixed but not runny (the heat from the friction of the food processor can cause the coconut oil and sunflower butter to become more viscous). Create 1-inch balls with your hands and roll in oats until they are completely covered (gloves can be worn). Store in refrigerator in an airtight container. These will keep for 10 days.

Anti-Inflammatory Snack Balls

Ingredients

1 cup cashew butter

1 Tbsp shelled hemp seed

1/2 cup dried tart cherries finely minced

1 tsp turmeric

1 tsp maca powder

1 Tbsp dried kale or seaweed powder

1 tsp organic maple syrup

1 cup uncooked oats

Directions

Place oats in a bowl and set aside. Finely mince the cherries and toss into food processor with all remaining ingredients. Pulse until well mixed but not runny (the heat from the friction of the food processor can cause the cashew butter to become more viscous). Create 1-inch balls with your hands and roll in oats until they are completely covered (gloves can be worn). Store in refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 10 days.