Cacao & Coconut Energy Balls

This recipe is one of my favourite's for a healthy and quick on the go snack! Cacao & Coconut Energy balls are packed with tons of nutrition and are absolutely delicious, even kid approved! Making a batch of these can easily save you a lot of time during the week when you need to bring a snack for yourself or family and is awesome for post workouts. I often see them at health food stores and they aren't that cheap, so it's worth it to make them on your own. You just store them in the fridge for when you need it. I also love to have one of these with a glass of almond milk when I want a healthy chocolate snack! The base of the mix is an unsalted nut mix that I purchase at Cosco, but feel free to use any type of nuts(except peanuts). I love to use nuts because they are filled with healthy fats and are a good source of vitamin E. Having healthy saturated fats in your daily diet is recommended as it metabolizes slowly and is great for cardiovascular health. Raw Cacao Powder is the second ingredient that you can taste. It is what chocolate is made out of. This is an ingredient that I always have in my kitchen because of its various uses. Cacao is one of the most powerful super foods you can have. It has over 20 times more antioxidants than blueberries! The combination of minerals such as iron, magnesium and sulphur. Over 300 chemical compounds have been found in it that benefit heart health, lower cholesterol and can be an effective mood regulator. There are many added health benefits as well from the flax, chia and hemp seeds such as the omega 3 fatty acids. The combination of vegan protein and nutrient dense ingredients makes this an awesome gluten free, protein dense energizing snack all year round. INGREDIENTS: Organic when possible is best. Makes 15-20 Energy balls depending on individual size 1- 1 1/2 Cups Mixed Unsalted Nuts 1/3-1/2 Cup Raw Cacao Powder 15 Pitted and Soaked Dates 1/4 Cup Flax Seeds 1/4 Cup Chia Seeds 1 Cup Hemp Seeds 1/3 Cup Vegan Protein Powder ( I use Vega) 1/2 Cup Shredded Coconut 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon Pinch of Himalayan salt ​Kitchenware needed: 1. Vitamix/Blentec blender or food processor 2. Measuring Cup 3. Large Glass bowl 4. Storage Container for refrigeration 5. Small bowl 6. Spatula ​

DIRECTIONS: 1. Soak dates over night. 2. Blend nuts and seeds one at a time and mix into bowl. 3. Add the cacao, cinnamon, protein powder, salt into the bowl. 4. Blend the soaked dates with a small amount of the water until it is a puree texture and add into the bowl. 4. Mix ingredients together with bare hands or spatula until a paste is made. 5. Add the shredded coconut into a small bowl. 6. Take a small chunks of the paste and form into balls using your hands. 7. Roll them in the shredded coconut using a bowl. 8. Place into storage container for refrigeration. **I use a large glass one for general and a smaller one for when I'm on the go. ​