Date-Based Energy Balls

Energy balls take a few minutes of prep and offer a weeks worth of healthy, easy snacking.

I didn’t used to be a fan of dates, I think because I was a vegetarian in the 90s and everything had dates in it. But during my last pregnancy, I learned so many health benefits and decided to give them a go. And this time around, I became a fan.

This is another recipe that you can play with flavors, favorite nuts, adding spices, even chia or flaxseeds for added nutrition.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups pitted dates

• ½ cup raw hazelnuts

• ½ cup raw almonds, walnuts, or pecans

• 2 tbsp cacao powder

• ½ tsp salt

• 2 tbsp almond butter

• 1 tbsp unsweetened almond milk (or other plant based milk)

• ½ tsp pure vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. First, soak your dates a bit in warm water if they seem dry.

2. Then combine dates and nuts into a food processor until they are chopped into a fine meal.

3. Add cacao powder, salt, almond butter, milk and vanilla.

4. Blend until the ingredients combine well into a thick paste.

5. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

6. Roll dough into one inch balls. Place on baking sheet and put in the freezer until fully hardened.

7. Transfer into a freezer safe container and snack on throughout the week.

8. I recommend taking them out of the freezer for a few minutes before you bite in ;)

ENJOY!