Part fun, part power-packed training food, these nutty little balls of joy are sure to put a bounce in your step. We've been training for our fundraising runs (the first of which is this weekend!), so have been busily hunting around for the best and yummiest energy snacks that are actually healthy (and sustainable, of course). And because we take our work ever so seriously, we spent a good three weeks taste testing each of our recipes to bring you four power balls that'll get your mouth watering. Someone's got to do the hard work.
What you should know:
* These balls make you deliriously happy, not just because they are scrumptious, but also because they contain healthy mood-lifting ingredients such as raw nuts, coconut and cocoa.
* Their glory lies in the fact that you can add any flavours you like (cinnamon, vanilla etc) to suit your taste.
* They're best kept in the fridge, as they can get a little goopy if left out for too long.
* They're packed full of healthy fats, so will fill you up and provide you with sustained energy, perfect for running long distances as a means of raising funds for worthy projects such as our Compost Toilets project in Kenya. Just saying.
Hayley's Happy Balls
1 cup of mixed nuts (macadamias, almonds and walnuts, etc)
1 cup of dried fruit (sultanas, apricots, figs, etc)
1/2 cup of dessicated coconut (plus extra for dusting)
1/3 cup of carob powder or raw cocoa powder
1/3 cup of raw organic honey
1/3 cup of tahini
Hayley says:
Blend nuts, dried fruit and dessicated coconut in blender. Tip the blended nuts and coconut into a mixing bowl and combine all ingredients. Take small handfuls of mixture and roll into balls. Roll each ball in the extra dessicated coconut to cover. You can play around with ingredients and quantity to get your desired taste and consistency.
Sofia's Spicy Chocolate Balls
3/4 cup flaked almonds
1 cup chopped hazelnuts
250 grams of grass-fed organic butter
5 tbsp raw cocoa powder
4 dried figs
pinch of salt
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 splash of chilli olive oil or a pinch of chilli powder
Sofia says:
Throw all ingredients in a bowl and combine with a stick blender until you get the desired consistency. You want to be able to roll them into little balls, so if the mixture is too dry, add some more butter, and if it's too wet, add some more chopped nuts. Store them in the fridge.
Sofia's Cocoa-Banana Balls (vegan)
2 ripe bananas, mashed
juice of 1 orange
3 tbsp coconut oil
4 tbsp raw cocoa powder
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/2 cup almond meal
pinch of salt
1/4 cup finely shredded coconut
extra shredded coconut for dusting
Sofia Says:
As per recipe above, simply throw everything in a large bowl, then mash together with your hands until you get a nice smooth consistency. Then roll into little balls and dust with shredded coconut.
Maria's Chocolate Coconut Balls
half a jar of raw almond spread
250g of organic raw nuts, soaked overnight and then blended to a meal (I use almonds, walnuts and brazil nuts)
1/2 cup of raw cocoa powder
organic shredded coconut
100-125g grass-fed pure organic butter, chopped into small chunks
4-5 tbsp raw virgin coconut oil/butter
handful chia seeds or sesame seeds
optional flavourings: vanilla essence (sugar free), cinnamon, peppermint oil, tahini paste, orange zest.
some extra almond meal, to adjust the consistency if need be
Maria says:
Grab a large bowl and mix everything together. Hands are easiest (albeit messy). Grab little spoonfuls and form into little balls, then 'plonk' onto a tray lined with greaseproof paper and pop in the fridge for about 1 hr to set. If the mixture is too sloppy to form into little balls, add almond meal little by little until you get the right consistency.
Do you have any healthy homemade snack ideas that provide a little extra 'get up and go'?