Energy Balls.
A quick and easy snack recipe for you today. I love making these protein snacks and vary the ingredients depending on what I have in and what I feel like eating. No recipe as such, instead some energy ball ideas to get you experimenting! If that scares you and you feel like you need a bit more help, have a look at this recipe for help.
The Energy Ball Recipe Ideas
The main ingredient in these energy balls are soft squishy dates. Dates come in a variety of forms – most people are familiar with the sticky dates you see in long packs around December time. They would work, but you would need to soften them by soaking in water. Ideally you should look for dates which are in a cardboard box, usually kept in the fridge.
Then you can use whatever nuts or seeds you have, dried fruit, coconut, cocoa or fruit powders, even oats, puffed cereals, nut butters or flavoured essence. Play with the quantities, add a pinch of salt, a drop of water, and have fun! Make them into small balls, large balls, plain or roll them in something after shaping.
If you are making a large quantity, then a food processor or blender, will work well, if not, then you can get messy with your hands or a spoon or two!
Great Combinations for Protein Snacks
There are so many different varieties of energy balls so here are just a few ideas.
Dates, walnuts.
Dates, peanut butter, cocoa.
Dates, almond butter, cocoa and orange essence.
Dates, cocoa, coconut.
Dates, tahini and sesame seeds.
Dates, ground ginger, almonds.
Dates, oats, peanut butter.
Dates, raisins, oats, sesame seeds.
What do I need?
I have given you free rein here to play with the ingredients and experiment yourself.
If you are new to cooking or your kitchen needs a refresh, here are a few useful things for this recipe. I receive a small commission if you click and purchase through these links (this is at no additional cost to you)!
Serving
You can serve these as soon as they are made, or put in the fridge to firm up a bit. Eat them as they are, maybe with your favourite hot drink, or serve as an after dinner snack.
Storage
These store really well, either in the fridge for up to ten days or in the freezer for up to three months. If freezing, portion or separate with greaseproof paper, label and freeze. Allow to defrost naturally.
Sharing
I hope you make some of your own energy balls. I love seeing your adaptions and interpretations of my recipes and I’d love to see your photos of these! What flavours will you make? Are you eating them for breakfast, a post-workout snack or just because!?
Please share and tag me @LifeDietHealth or using #LifeDietHealth on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter.
Leave me a comment below… I love to chat!
I hope to speak with you soon
Laurena x
Hi Laurena, thank goodness for energy balls☺️Mum kindly bought me a box of Medjool dates- if I don’t eat them all beforehand, I plan to use them for my go-to ‘bliss balls’ (date, tahini, cocoa powder and sesame seeds) x
Ooo lovely! Ha, I knew you’d have tahini in yours! I might go and try that combination now! Any others you make or are willing to try?
Hubby likes dessicated coconut, I sometimes roll the balls in that instead of sesame seeds lol. Oh, I like rolling them in cinnamon or mixed spice too- I love it, some wouldn’t hehe. I sometimes use prunes instead of dates, and blitz up some hazelnuts in my mini processor as part of the mixture☺️
All sound fab. Not thought of using prunes instead, I’ve used apricots though.
I’d not thought of using dried apricots, great idea👍Mum gave me loads to bring back, actually! One of her Turkish friends bought a massive bag of them lol
Ooo, Turkish ones are the best. Sounds like you went home with loads of yummy things!
I was going to bring back a few packs of black eyed beans (which I can’t find in our local supermarkets here) and jars of my father-in-law’s homegrown borlotti but wasn’t sure whether they’d be taken away at Customs…turns out our car wasn’t even checked! Never mind lol. I just knew tea was allowed, that’s all that mattered😋
Homegrown borlotti? Ooo! Haha, what tea did you ‘need’ ? Did you take Marmite too?
Of course I stocked up on Marmite☺️👍 The tea had to be M&S Luxury Gold and/or Sainsbury’s Gold Label (or “golden tea” as my mother in law calls it, bless her)🙂
I think I’m going on a golden tea hunt!
😄