This is one of my favourite snack recipes for a chocolate fix which packs a punch for post work-out, afternoon snack or simply when you can’t get past those chocolate cravings. You can keep it simple with the basic recipe or go all out with your favourite nutritious add-ins.
The list of ingredients may seem long, but these balls are so easy to make, once you’ve stocked up, you’ll be knocking them out every weekend. Protein-packed, they deliver a burst of super-tasty nutritious energy, fibre, vitamins & minerals, making them the ideal post-workout snack.
Ingredients - makes 24
125g whole peanut butter
100g Brazil nuts, finely chopped or processed in a Nutribullet/food processer
50g dried cranberries, preferably without oil or sweetener added, finely chopped
2 tablespoons shelled hemp seeds
1 tablespoon chia seeds, pre-milled or grind them in a mortar
5 teaspoons raw cacao powder
3 teaspoons honey or maple syrup
1 teaspoon coconut oil
Teaspoon vanilla extract
Extra cacao powder, hemp seeds, chia seeds or coconut shreds, to coat
Options
Try dried cherries instead of cranberries.
Try other nut butters e.g. hazelnut, cashew, almond. Always opt for the whole nut version without added oils, sugar, or salt.
If you don’t have any Brazil nuts – add a mixture of unsalted nuts such as hazelnut, almond, macadamia.
Add a teaspoon of maca powder and blue green algae, spirulina, or other sources of chlorophyll.
Reduce the cranberries by half for a less sweet version. Similarly reduce the honey and maple syrup. They still taste great.
Add 3 teaspoons of cacao nibs chopped and reduce the cacao power to 3 teaspoons.
For a lower carb version, use a sweetener of your choice such as Stevia, erythritol or xylitol. Add a little at a time and mix well before tasting. Increase quantity to taste.
Add seeds from ½ vanilla pod instead of vanilla extract.
Instructions
Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl (easiest done using your hands).
Shape the paste into small balls and gently roll them in the extra cacao powder, hemp seeds, chia seeds, coconut shreds, or a combination of any of these (coconut is my all-time favourite).
Chill for 15 minutes. Keep refrigerated. They keep for around 2-3 weeks in an air-tight container in the fridge.
Angela Egan is the newest member of our team at Ciara Ryan Nutrition. Read her full bio here.
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