What’s not to love about energy balls?

Whether you need an afternoon snack, post-workout treat, scrumptious dessert, or just-a-lil-something-to-nibble-on; energy balls are a delicious way to nourish yourself and satisfy your sweet cravings.

Because they’re packed with satiating fats, protein and fiber; these balls support steady blood sugar, and load you up with brain-healthy nutrients. And because they’re bite-size, you can take them wherever you go!

They’re also super versatile, require minimal ingredients (and no cooking!) and come together quickly. So let’s make this happen.

This recipe is:

Simple: All you need is a food processor and a little patience.

Minimal: Just 5 ingredients!!

Versatile: Your pantry is your playground. Use whatever nuts/seeds you have; swap out the blueberries for dried cherries (a friend used the Trader Joe’s Powerberries which was GENIUS), cacao nibs, dried mango; add spices or lemon zest – you can’t go wrong.

Delicious: I won’t lie, I do love to brag about my own recipes. But when I shared these at a hike a few years ago, the levels of enthusiasm and gushing I received from my fellow hikers was unexpected and frankly a little alarming.

So yes – these are worth making.

Try them, let me know if you love them, and share! xo

Recipe: Blueberry Coconut Bliss Bites

Makes ~18 tablespoon-size balls | Gluten-free | Vegan

EQUIPMENT:

Food processor (see note)
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup freeze-dried blueberries (see note)
1 cup raw almonds
1 cup shredded coconut dried and unsweetened
4 dates pitted
¼ teaspoon sea salt

INSTRUCTIONS:

Throw the freeze-dried blueberries, almonds, coconut, pitted dates and sea salt into a food processor.
Pulse until the ingredients crumble, then process until the mixture starts sticking together - for roughly 10 minutes. The mixture should stick when you press a little quantity between your fingers.
Once it's sticky enough, transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Using a tablespoon-size measuring spoon or a melon baller, scoop a small quantity of the mixture onto your hands, then roll into balls. This will make approximately 18 tablespoon-size balls.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge, and enjoy within 10 days.

NOTES:

I use a heavy-duty Cuisinart food processor which makes this recipe a breeze. A hand-chopper might work too but will take longer to get the texture you need. If you only have a hand chopper, you can add coconut oil or any nut/seed butter to the mixture to get it to stick.
You can get freeze-dried blueberries online or from Trader Joe's/any health food store. Swap out with other dried/freeze-dried fruit like mango, strawberries or apple for a yummy variation.

Blueberry coconut bliss bites