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CHOCOLATE CHERRY PROTEIN BALLS

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CHOCOLATE CHERRY PROTEIN BALLS WITH COCONUT.jpg

Chocolate. Cherries. Need I say more?!?

In all honesty, though, these scrumptious little no-bake energy bites happen to be packed with fibre, protein, healthy fats, and disease-fighting antioxidants.  They make a great quick snack or breakfast on-the-go.  

Ingredients for 12 balls:

  • 1 1/2 cups mixed unsalted nuts (suggest raw almonds, cashews, pecans, and hazelnuts)

  • 1/2 cup unsweetened desiccated coconut

  • 1/4 cup Nuzest Clean Lean Rich Chocolate protein powder (or substitute Further Food Chocolate Collagen, chocolate protein powder of choice, or shelled hemp seeds)

  • 2 Tbsp Giddy Yo raw cacao powder

  • 1/4 tsp sea salt

  • 1 cup pitted Medjool dates (10-12 dates)

  • 1-2+ Tbsp coconut oil, melted and adjusted to desired consistency

  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

  • 1/4 tsp pure almond extract

  • 1/2 cup dried cherries (or dried cranberries or blueberries or diced dried apricots)

  • 1/2 cup mini dark chocolate chips (I used Lily’s Sweets sugar-free chocolate chips) or 1/4 cup cacao nibs

  • optional toppings: unsweetened desiccated coconut, cacao powder, cacao nibs, or toppings of choice

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Spread nuts on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and toast for approximately 10 minutes or until nicely browned.  Remove from oven and cool.

  2. Put toasted nuts, coconut, protein powder or hemp seeds, cacao powder, and salt into a food processor or blender container and grind together.

  3. Add the dates, 1 tablespoon coconut oil, vanilla, and almond extract.  Blend until a uniform paste is created, scraping the sides and bottom with a rubber spatula as needed. Add additional coconut oil as needed if mixture is dry.

  4. Add the cherries and pulse-blend until mixed but some of cherry texture maintained. Stir in the chocolate chips.

  5. Scrape the mixture onto a plate or parchment paper.  Roll into balls.  Dust with cacao powder or roll in coconut or toppings of choice.

Chocolate Cherry Protein Balls can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for a week, or the freezer for up to 2 months.

This recipe was originally published November 13, 2017. It was updated February 2020.