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TWO FLAVOURS
* Date & Nut Energy Balls and Granola & Coconut Energy Balls *
Gluten-free energy balls or bites are a perfect pick-me-up healthy sweet snack to have on the go, either as a snack at home, school, picnics, office or before/after the gym.
Making homemade energy balls are quick and so easy, involving no baking (unless you make your own granola beforehand).
Are energy balls healthy?
Besides being super healthy, they are filling, so don’t expect to go past 2 or 3 energy balls in one sitting. Each ball has approximately 100 calories and gives you plenty of “energy” from the superfood ingredients used, such as a variety of nuts, almond butter, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds and cinnamon. Additionally, there is no sugar added in the recipe as any sugar present in the dates and almond butter adds enough sweetness.
Do I need a food processor?
Ideally, yes! However, if you are patient and happy to chop away the dates and nuts into very small pieces, then once completed, simply add them to the rest of the ingredients in a medium bowl and mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon.
How easy are the energy balls to shape into balls?
Using a small ice cream scoop does the job very easily. If you don’t have one, scooping a portion with a soup spoon and then rolling them gently into a ball will give you a similar result.
How should the texture of the energy balls feel once chilled?
The texture of the energy balls should be slightly soft and chewy, not squashy nor rock hard. If you feel they need longer in the fridge or freezer, there is no harm in extending the chilling time, so long as they reach your preferred texture.
Can other fruits be used?
Not a fan of dates? Dried fruits such as apricots or prunes can be used instead. Feeling experimental? Try a combination of dried fruits for a more complex and interesting flavour.
Pack some frozen energy balls in your children’s lunch box for a healthy morning snack. If nuts are not allowed at school, substitute the nuts with gluten-free rolled oats and the almond butter with seed butter or dulce de leche (caramel sauce).
Gluten-Free Energy Balls - Two Flavours!
Equipment
Ingredients
Date & Nut Energy Balls
- 80-85 g dates, pitted (11 pitted dates = 80-85g)
- ½ orange, juiced and strained
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 60 g mixed unsalted & unroasted nuts
- 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
- ½ tbsp cinnamon powder
- 2 tbsp almond butter
- 1 pinch of salt
Granola & Coconut Energy Balls
- 80-85 g dates, pitted (11 pitted dates = 80-85g)
- ½ orange, juiced and strained
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 70 g store-bought or homemade gluten-free granola
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder
- 2 tbsp almond butter
- 1 pinch of salt
- Desiccated coconut, to coat the energy balls
Instructions
- Split the date lengthways in the middle to remove the pit. If the dates are already pitted, split the dates apart into two halves. This is also a good time to double-check that there are no stray pits.
- Squeeze the orange and strain the juice in a bowl over the dates.
- Add the chia seeds and stir them into the orange juice. Set aside to soak for 10 mins.
- Measure and add the remaining ingredients to a blender or food processor bowl.
- Add the soaked dates, orange juice and chia seeds.
- Pulse the mixture 9 times, stopping twice to scrape down the ingredients from the sides of the bowl.
- Once the mixture turns into a pulp, transfer it into a separate bowl.
- Using either a small 4-cm ice cream scoop or a soup spoon, scoop out the mixture and shape it into a ball measuring 5 cm.
- For the granola & coconut energy balls, roll the balls in some desiccated coconut to coat them.
- Place the balls on a tray or directly in a freezer-proof container.
- Either chill the balls for 2 hours
- or freeze them for one hour or longer.
Notes
- Keeps chilled for 2 weeks in a sealed container.
- Suitable to freeze.
- Defrost for 30 mins before serving.
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