Vitality Balls – Cookie and Kate

1 5 minutes read

These vitality balls are lifesavers! Whenever you’re hungry in between meals, working out the door with out breakfast, or craving a healthful little deal with, these vitality balls will come to the rescue. They’re the proper wholesome grab-and-go snack.

This recipe is made with oats, honey, nut butter, and toasted nuts and seeds, although it’s endlessly adaptable to fit your preferences. I designed it to supply sustained vitality from the entire grains and nuts. One ball is simply candy sufficient to style like a deal with, and affords a wholesome dose of protein and fiber.

This recipe was impressed by my husband’s mother’s interpretation of my no-bake granola bars. She at all times has a batch within the fridge for her grandkids, they usually’ve grow to be a staple in our home, too. I crumbled one over my yogurt simply this morning, they usually’ve saved my vitality stage up via this postpartum part. They’re an ideal do-it-yourself present for anybody who’s in a busy season of life, that’s for positive.

Table of Contents

Vitality Ball Components

This recipe comes collectively rapidly and simply, particularly with the assistance of some primary kitchen instruments. Use a meals processor to cut the mix-ins, and a medium-sized cookie scoop to show the combination into balls (affiliate hyperlinks).

You’ll discover the total recipe under. Right here’s what you’ll want and why:

Old school oats: Rolled oats supply a hearty, chewy base. You’ll be able to substitute an equal quantity of quick-cooking oats if that’s what you might have, however I want the feel of old style oats right here.
Floor cinnamon and salt: Cinnamon is technically non-obligatory, however it affords some delicate warming spice. The salt enhances the flavors of the opposite elements, guaranteeing that your balls are removed from bland.
Combine-ins of alternative: I like a mixture of pecans, almonds and pepitas (inexperienced pumpkin seeds). You’ll be able to incorporate dried fruit, chocolate and coconut as effectively. You’ll discover extra taste variations under.
Flaxseed: Toasted flaxseed provides irresistible little crackly bits. It additionally absorbs among the moisture from the nut butter, whereas contributing further fiber.
Nut butter: This recipe requires a complete 16-ounce jar of peanut butter or almond butter. Measuring nut butter can get messy, however this recipe makes it straightforward!
Honey or maple syrup: Both possibility contributes welcome sweetness and needed stickiness that brings the combination collectively. I want honey, which is somewhat sweeter. You’ll additionally discover an possibility for puréed Medjool dates within the recipe notes.

Watch The best way to Make Vitality Balls

Variations & Substitutions

This recipe is versatile and enjoyable to play with. It requires a complete of 1 3/4 cups of mix-ins, counting the pecans, almonds, and pepitas. (The flaxseed absorbs some moisture, so for consistency’s sake, go away that one as-is.)

You’ll be able to simply alter the elements to fit your style buds. Attempt substituting different nuts, shredded coconut, dried fruit, chocolate chips or chopped chocolate! You’ll be able to blitz all of those elements collectively within the meals processor (for those who’re utilizing chocolate, make sure you let the nuts cool fully earlier than combining them so the chocolate doesn’t soften).

Listed below are some variations to attempt:

Fruity

1 cup pecan items
1/2 cup dried cranberries or cherries
1/4 cup pepitas

Chocolate-almond

1 1/4 cup almonds
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Coconutty

3/4 cup almonds
1/2 cup pecans
1/2 cup shredded coconut

Path mix-inspired

1/2 cup pecans
1/2 cup almonds
1/4 cup pepitas
¼ cup shredded coconut
¼ cup chocolate chips

Extra Wholesome Do-it-yourself Snacks

In case you get pleasure from these vitality balls, attempt one among these healthful, nutty recipes subsequent:

Please let me know the way your recipe seems within the feedback! I like listening to from you.

Vitality Balls

These vitality balls are the proper healthful snack! Each is filled with complete grains, nuts and seeds, and affords a wholesome quantity of protein and fiber. Recipe yields about 36 balls.

Place the oats in a big mixing bowl. Add the cinnamon and salt, and stir to mix. Put aside.
Toast the nuts: Heat the pecans and almonds in a big skillet over medium-low warmth, stirring typically, till they scent properly aromatic, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Switch them to the bowl of a meals processor (for those who don’t have a meals processor, pour them onto a reducing board), then return the skillet to the warmth and add the pepitas. Heat the pepitas till they’re aromatic and starting to make little popping noises, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Lastly, add the flax and cook dinner for about 30 seconds whereas stirring consistently, then switch the combination to the meals processor.
Blitz the mix-ins briefly within the meals processor (or chop them by hand). Run the machine till the elements are all damaged up into items smaller than your pinky fingernail. Pour the mix-ins into the bowl of oats.
In a medium mixing bowl, mix the peanut butter and honey. Stir till effectively blended. Pour the liquid elements into the dry elements. Use a giant spoon to combine them collectively till the 2 are evenly mixed and no dry oats stay. This takes some arm muscular tissues, however you are able to do it!
Use a medium cookie scoop or measure a heaping tablespoon of the combination, then roll it right into a ball and place it in an hermetic container. Repeat till you might have used up the oat combination.
The bites preserve effectively for as much as 10 days at room temperature, as much as 3 weeks within the fridge, or a number of months in a freezer-safe bag within the freezer for finest taste (allow them to defrost for half-hour earlier than serving). They maintain extra moisture when chilled, and grow to be extra dry at room temperature–I like them both manner.

Notes

Recipe tailored from my Simple No-Bake Granola Bars.

Combine-in choices: This recipe calls for two cups of nuts and seeds complete. You’ll be able to change the mix-ins by substituting different nuts (cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts) or seeds, reminiscent of sunflower seeds. Or, you may change among the nuts/seeds with chocolate chips or roughly chopped chocolate, shredded coconut, or dried cranberries or cherries.

Change it up: These balls may be sweetened (largely) with Medjool dates, for those who’d like to extend the fiber content material. Soak 12 dates in piping sizzling water for 10 minutes, then tear them in half and take away their pits. Place them in a meals processor with 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey and mix till fully clean. Use this combination instead of the ½ cup honey or maple syrup.

Make it gluten free: You should definitely use licensed gluten-free oats.

Make it nut free: Don’t use nuts (pepitas and sunflower seeds are good choices) and change the nut butter with sunflower butter.

Make it vegan: Use maple syrup as an alternative of honey.

Diet

The data proven is an estimate supplied by a web-based vitamin calculator. It shouldn’t be thought of an alternative to an expert nutritionist’s recommendation. See our full vitamin disclosure right here.

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