Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls (Vegan, Wheat & Gluten Free)
I really love chocolate peanut butter cups, but I'm trying to be a bit healthier lately so I decided to have a go at making energy balls instead. Also, I had no chocolate in the house, so it was a desperate moment!
The premise is pretty simple, you start with dates and add whatever flavours you want.
I fancied chocolate and peanut butter, partly because I knew I had the ingredients to make something flavoured with those things in my kitchen cupboards and partly because it's an epic combo.
The premise is pretty simple, you start with dates and add whatever flavours you want.
I fancied chocolate and peanut butter, partly because I knew I had the ingredients to make something flavoured with those things in my kitchen cupboards and partly because it's an epic combo.
This is of course gluten free, wheat free, grain free, soy free, refined sugar free, dairy free, egg free and vegan.
The milled linseed (flaxseed) I used is from Lidl and the Coconut Cacao Spread was one I picked up at Holland and Barrett a while back and was wondering what to do with. This seemed the obvious use for it!
You can change and mix up the ingredients however you like.
This is a recipe I devised using up leftovers in my cupboard so don't worry if you don't have exactly the same ingredients as me. Use your imagination! It's pretty hard to get these wrong...
Makes 6
Ingredients
1 cup pitted dates
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
2 tbsp Coconut Merchant organic coconut & cacao spread
1 tbsp Crownfield milled linseed with sesame, cranberry & blueberry
Method
Put the dates into a food processor and blend until sticky but not quite smooth.
Tip: If your dates are too dry, you can soak them first for about 10 minutes in hot water from the kettle. Remember to drain them before use! You may want to let them cool first.
Add the peanut butter and blend some more.
Add the Coconut & cacao spread and linseed and blend until is starts to form a ball in the blender.
Remove the mixture and divide into 6. Roll each piece in to a ball with your hands.
The mixture should not stick to your hands if it's the right consistency.
If the mixture is too sticky, try adding a little sprinkle of coconut flour and mix it up until it is easy to handle.
Pop them in a sealed container in the fridge and chill before eating.
These are best stored in the fridge.
