Easy Energy: Date & Cashew Protein Balls
Keep your blood sugar and energy levels up with these date and cashew protein balls. Prep a batch of these simple, sweet treats ahead of time to enjoy easy, healthy snacking all week.
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If you’re familiar with protein balls, you won’t be surprised to hear that we’re big fans of the stuff at Clean Eating. Cheap, easy, quick and – most importantly – healthy, keep these sweet treats on hand to get you through the week. Usually made with only a handful of ingredients (our Date & Cashew Protein Balls below calls for just four), these sweet treats are much more inexpensive than prepackaged sweets or energy bars. They also come together in less than 15 minutes (not including freezing time), making them the perfect make-and-go recipe. Simply throw the ingredients together, roll into bite-sized balls and toss into the fridge.
Our Date & Cashew Protein Balls below are as simple as these balls can get, using only four fundamental ingredients. Unsalted cashews provide a protein boost while nutritious dates add sweetness without the use of plain sugar. Cocoa powder adds an addictive chocolatey flavor that’ll have you coming back for more. Lastly, heart-healthy hemp seeds are used not only as a booster for this snack’s nutritional profile – they also add a slight crunch to improve texture and mouth-feel.
NOTE: Walnuts, hazelnuts or almonds can be substituted for the cashews, if preferred. The dates can also be replaced by dried figs or cranberries.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup raw unsalted cashews
- 10 Medjool dates, pitted
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cacao or cocoa powder, plus additional, optional
- 1 tsp hemp seeds
Preparation
- Soak cashews in 1/4 cup water for 10 minutes.
- To a food processor, add cashews (including water), dates, cacao and hemp seeds; process until mixture forms a firm dough, about 2 minutes.
- Remove dough and form into bite-size balls by rolling between moistened hands. If desired, roll in additional cacao.
- Refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes before serving to allow the balls to firm up, or place balls in a resealable bag and freeze for future use.
Nutrition Information
- Serving Size 2 balls
- Calories 110
- Carbohydrate Content 16 g
- Cholesterol Content 0 mg
- Fat Content 5 g
- Fiber Content 2 g
- Protein Content 3 g
- Saturated Fat Content 2 g
- Sodium Content 2 mg
- Sugar Content 11.5 g
- Monounsaturated Fat Content 0 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat Content 1 g