These coconut and chocolate energy balls are the perfect lunch box treat or pre-training snack. They are are gluten, wheat, dairy and refined sugar free and contain a generous amount of coconut oil. In our mission to eat real whole food, we use medjool dates to add a dash of sweetness to the energy balls. Every time I make energy balls I slightly reduce the amount of medjool dates or maple syrup I use. Without realising it my family consume less and less sugar. Best of all is that your taste buds change over time. The less sugary your snacks, the less sweetness you’ll crave. After a while you’ll start finding your normal sweet treats overly sweet. This recipe only uses 3 medjool dates to 30 energy balls. If you prefer it a little sweeter, just add a few more medjool dates.
Medjool dates are the ultimate caramelly, melt-in-your-mouth sweet treat. Medjool dates are rich in dietary fibre, potassium, manganese, copper, vitamin B’s vitamin A, magnesium and calcium. But lets be real, there are 266 calories in a serving of four dates and nearly 64 grams of sugar. Yes, medjool dates are a whole food and nutritious but are no less sugary than honey or maple syrup. Moderation is the key.
Maple syrup is made by drilling a hole in the maple tree. The sugary circulating fluid leaks out and is collected and boiled until most of the water evaporates, leaving a thick sugary syrup, which is filtered to remove impurities. The main thing that sets maple syrup apart from refined sugar is that it contains a small amount of minerals and antioxidants. So it’s true, maple syrup does contain some minerals but keep in mind that it also contains a whole bunch of sugar. Maple syrup is about ⅔ sucrose and 100 grams of it therefore supply around 67 grams of sugar. But if you are going to use a sweetener, then replacing refined sugar in recipes with the exact amount of maple syrup will cut the total sugar content by a third.
Why do I prefer medjool dates to maple syrup? Even though maple syrup is viewed by some as paleo approved, maple syrup is somewhat processed and only gives you a small amount of nutrients but is loaded with calories and sugars and should definitely only be used as an occasional treat.
Coconut oil is one of the few foods that can be classified as a “superfood”. It’s unique combination of fatty acids has numerous health benefits. Coconut oil is high in healthy saturated fats that can boost fat burning, provide your body and brain with quick energy and raise the good HDL cholesterol in your blood, which is linked to reduced heart disease risk. The fatty acids in coconut oil can kill harmful pathogens, including bacteria, viruses and fungi and could help prevent infections. Coconut oil is also high in medium chain triglycerides (MCT). When you consume MCT, it goes straight to the liver where it is used as a quick source of energy or turned into ketones. Ketones can have powerful benefits for the brain and are being studied as treatment for epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and various other conditions.
Coconut chocolate energy balls - grain, gluten, dairy and sugar free
These yummy grain and refined sugar free energy balls are made with coconut oil and the perfect lunch box treat.
Ingredients
- 3 medjool dates
- 1 tbsp protein powder (we use Wazoogles chocolate flavoured superfood protein blend)
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp nut butter
- 1 cup desiccated coconut
- 1 cup almond flour
- extra desiccated coconut to cover the balls
Directions
- Step 1 Remove the pips and roughly chop the medjool dates.
- Step 2 Cover the dates with boiling water and soak for 5 minutes.
- Step 3 Add the protein powder, coconut oil, cocoa powder, nut butter and with a handheld blender, whizz into a date paste.
- Step 4 Add the desiccated coconut and almond flour and mix until smooth and well combined.
- Step 5 With slightly damp hands, roll heaped teaspoons of the mixture into balls, then roll each ball in the extra desiccated coconut.
- Step 6 Store the balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or the freezer for up to 2 months.
