Name: No Bake Chocolate Almond Energy Balls
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 Cup Almonds; 1/2 Cup Dates; 3 Tbsp Maple Syrup; 1 tsp Vanilla Extract; 1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder; 1/4 tsp Salt

No Bake Chocolate Almond Energy Balls

Before we started eating Clean, my family loved homemade energy bars. We had a recipe that was passed down over several generations, so it was nostalgic and reminded me of when we were younger! The energy bars had Rice Krispies, Peanut Butter, Marshmallows and dried fruits. As a mom, I loved them because they were easy to make and even easier to give to the kids as we were running out the door! Ever since we went clean, I’ve been searching for a similar recipe.

The Chocolate Almond Energy Ball recipe below has been approved by my entire family including the kids! We are always running late in the morning, so I will put a couple of these in a cup and have my kids eat it on the way to school. If you are afraid of the mess, just skip the last step (rolling it in cocoa), though it will make them a little stickier.

These are also great for traveling! Think snacks in the airport, or breakfast in the hotel room. With young children, they could be messy, so be sure to have diaper wipes handy for clean up! These could also be great for parties or Christmas gifts, however, I wouldn’t give them away unless the person is used to eating Clean!

What I’ve learned while experimenting…

It has now been several years and I have finally found a recipe that works. After trying 15+ recipes, I now know the following things:

Most energy ball recipes will claim to be kid friendly. Unless your kid has never tasted sugar before, these recipes are usually too bland for kids. My kids will actually take a bite and spit them out.
Again, unless your kids don’t eat much sweets, figs are not going to be enough to sweeten the energy balls. You will also need to add additional sugar like honey or maple syrup.
DO NOT USE WALNUTS – I’ve seen so many recipes that call for ground walnuts. When walnuts are ground, they have a very bitter taste. So bitter that even I can’t eat them. And it doesn’t matter how much sugar you add, it can’t be covered up
Fresh dates are better than dried
Most Importantly, Chocolate energy balls will claim to satisfy your chocolate craving. It’s a nice thought, but just doesn’t work! However, they are still much healthier than a brownie or chocolate cookie so it’s worth a try!

The Recipe

Your family will love this recipe. It is a healthy balance of sweet and satisfying!

Ingredients

1 Cup of Almonds
1/2 cup of Dates
3 Tbsp Maple Syrup
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/4 cup Unsweetened or Raw Cocoa Powder
1/4 tsp Salt
Extra cocoa powder to roll the balls in

Directions

Pulse the Almonds in a food processor or blender, until it is has a course, crumby texture.

Add the Dates, Maple Syrup, Vanilla Extract, Cocoa Powder and Salt to the Blender or Food Processor, and pulse until well blended. It will be very sticky

Pour the mixture in to a bowl. Roll into 1 inch balls. Roll each ball in cocoa powder. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Enjoy!!