Step Up Your Snack Game With This Cocoa And Almond Energy Balls Recipe

These bite-size snacks are great for a mid-run pick-me-up, or to keep you going through a long afternoon at work.

Energy balls are an increasingly common sight at supermarket checkouts, where they are offered as a healthier alternative to chocolate bars and sweets. But you don’t need to spend a couple of dollars every time you want a stamina sphere – they’re very easy to make at home.

This cocoa and almond energy ball recipe comes from The Runner’s Cookbook by Anita Bean – but these bite-sized snacks are great for everyone, not just runners looking for a boost during long training efforts. Whip up a batch at the weekend and keep them in your work fridge to have as a snack whenever the afternoon starts to drag.

Cocoa And Almond Energy Balls Recipe

Ingredients (makes 16 balls)

• 3/4 cups ready-to-eat Medjool or other soft dates (you can use standard dried dates, just leave them to soak in boiling water for 10-15 minutes and then drain)
• 1 cup ground almonds (or cashews or hazelnuts if you prefer)
• 3/4 cups rolled oats
• 2tsp almond or peanut butter
• 1tbsp cocoa powder
• To coat the balls, your choice of cocoa powder, sesame seeds, finely chopped pistachios, finely chopped mixed nuts, desiccated coconut or chocolate chips.

Method

• Place the dates in a food processor with the almonds, oats, nut butter and cocoa powder, and process for two to three minutes until you have a very stiff paste. You may need to scrape down the mixture from the sides of the bowl a few times.
• Take a small amount of mixture and roll it between your hands to make a bite-sized ball.
• Repeat until you’ve used it all. Choose your coating, spread it on to a large plate, then roll each ball around until nicely coated.
• Place in an airtight container and store in the fridge, where it will keep for up to a week – or in the freezer for up to three months.

Nutrition (Per Ball)

Calories 86
Protein 3g
Fat 4g
-of which saturates 0g
Carbohydrates 9g
-of which sugars 5g
Fiber 1g

Written by Nick Harris-Fry for Coach and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.