Date and Almond Protein Balls

I always get asked by my clients for some easy and healthy snack options and when I came across this recipe, I knew I had to try it. A great thing about this recipe is that it uses Cacao (pronounced ka-kow). I love Cacao powder.  If you don’t know much about Cacao, it was eaten by the ancient Mayans and is considered a “Superfood”.  It has 14 times more antioxidants than red wine, 21 times more than green tea and 7 times more than even dark chocolate!  It is never heated above 40°C, so all of the cacao’s natural goodness is retained. Use it instead of cocoa powder to add a rich chocolatey taste to your favourite recipes (like this one!)

These protein balls are very easy to throw together and can be kept in the fridge for those times you feel like something a little chocolatey but healthy and guilt free.  I carry these in a zip-lock bag to nibble on between clients when I don’t have time for a proper snack break.  Try them and tell me you don’t love them too! 

PROTEIN BALLS RECIPE

Ingredients

330 g raw whole almonds

protein ball ingredients

1/4 cup other seed – such as linseeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds

60 g vanilla protein powder (low sugar)

8-10 pitted dates

2 tablespoon cocoa/cacao powder

½ cup desiccated or shredded coconut

3 tsp natural vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 cup of water

How the Magic Happens

  1. Add almonds, seeds, protein powder, cinnamon and cacao into food processor bowl and process untiprotein ball mixturel the mix looks crumbly.
  2. Add dates, coconut and vanilla extract and process until mixture starts to come together.
  3. Add water while processing until mixture comes together and looks sticky.
  4. Roll into 3 cm diameter balls.
  5. Store in fridge. They last up to 4 weeks.

Variations

  • Instead of almonds, try other nuts like walnuts, brazil nuts or cashews.
  • Add other raw seeds such as sunflower seeds and chia seeds to add extra nutritional value – especially protein and good fats. Around 1/4 cup would work well.
  • To make the balls FODMAP friendly, swap dates for dried figs, sultanas or dried berries like goji, cranberries or blueberries.
  • Include 1-2 tablespoons of a super greens powder like Vital Greens to add vitamin, mineral, antioxidant and probiotic goodness!

Special Notes

  • Gluten free
  • High protein
  • Low sugar
  • High fibre
  • Low FODMAP (option)
  • Dairy free (depending on protein powder used)

Adapted from a recipe on the Thermomix Recipe Community.