When it gets blistering hot out, I lose all desire to bake. Am I alone in this? It’s not just that I don’t want to heat up the kitchen and house (though that IS a major factor), but it’s also that I don’t want to even be near a hot stove when it’s hot. And, frankly, my taste buds thrill for the flavors of the fresh fruits and vegetables of summer.
AND, of course, the ice cream. Like Bec’s AMAZING Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream, Buttermilk Ice Cream, or Charoset Ice Cream. Or a fabulous dark chocolate sorbet that I LOVE. (I should totally post that recipe sometime soon!)
But while I may be hankering for freshness most of the time, I’m always up for some chocolate. And even though it’s not unreasonably hot this week, these Energy Balls qualify as the perfect summer snack. You don’t bake them, they’re quick and easy to make, and they only have a few ingredients. Not to mention that they’re DELICIOUS, and pack a powerful protein and nutrient punch.
I came across an energy bar recipe years ago that was a combination of nuts, dates, some other dried fruit, and cocoa, and while it was good, it wasn’t great, and it prompted me to create this recipe. (It’s been long enough ago, that I have no idea where I found the original recipe, and a quick internet search came up empty.)
These energy balls are GREAT. They’re chocolatey, sweet, full of protein, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids. Gluten and dairy free, they can be made vegan with a simple substitution. I keep them in the fridge, and always make a double batch because they’re a favorite of almost everyone in the house.
They’re a fantastic pick-me-up when you need a serious snack or don’t have time for a meal but are starving. Tuck one or two into your bag for a snack on the go, or slip them into the kids’ lunches.
Happy (no) baking, friends!
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanuts
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1/4 cup honey (use an alternative liquid sweetener to make these vegan)
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa
- 2 Tablespoons peanut butter
- 2 Tablespoons ground flaxmeal (optional, but boosts nutrition)
- 1 Tablespoon sesame seeds (optional, but boosts nutrition)
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into food processor, and run until it forms a thick dough that sticks together when you pinch it. Form dough into balls. Using about 2 Tablespoons of dough per ball will form about 11 balls per recipe.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.