Need energy? Crave power? Then snack on these Energy Power Balls! Made with oats, peanut butter, honey, hemp seeds, and dark chocolate, they’re the perfect balance of function and flavor.
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I get it. Life happens. It just sucks when life happens when you’re particularly hungry and/or run down. That’s why Mother Nature invented these Energy Power Balls.
Okay, so Mother Nature didn’t invent them (as if you needed me to tell you that), but she did invent some of the ingredients that go into making them. And for that, we owe her a debt of gratitude.
All of this is to say that these energy balls are made from healthy ingredients and are the perfect way to get that bounce back in your step when you haven’t had a chance to cook something substantial. They are batch-worthy in that you should really make a bunch of them up so that you always have some on hand—not only for yourself but your kids (though, if your kids are anything like mine, they have energy in abundance).
Whether as a snack or a lunch replacement, these energy balls will prove a worth addition to any diet.
Are Energy Power Balls Healthy?
Yep. In fact, that’s part of their charm. They are quickly devoured, quickly made, and taste sweet—all while being good for you. The ingredients provide you with fiber, energy (hence, the name), protein, and healthy fats, so you have all bases covered. It is suitable for vegetarian, vegan (use agave or maple syrup instead of honey), gluten-free (ensure the oats are certified), and dairy-free (doublecheck the chocolate) diets.
Is Dark Chocolate Good For you?
You may think that all chocolate is bad for you but that’s not true. Cocoa powder is good for you, as is dark chocolate, which contains a lot of cocoa powder and little of the added sugar and milk products that you will find in milk chocolate. It will provide you with antioxidants, improve brain function, and help out your heart. Where we draw the line between the two is the amount of cocoa content the chocolate in question contains. For it to be considered healthy dark chocolate, it should have at least 70% cocoa.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup all-natural peanut butter
- ¼ cup hemp seeds
- ½ cup dark chocolate drops
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 pinch salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Add
Add all of the ingredients to the food processor.
Blend
Blend until it is smooth and comes together.
Roll
Break off about a tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball. Repeat until the dough is finished.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
Hey! Here’s one recipe you don’t have to let cool first. So you can store them right away in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. You can also freeze them for up to three months. To make it easier to store them, I recommend flash-freezing them on a baking sheet for an hour then pouring them all into a large freezer-safe bag. Then once a week, I grab a handful and let them thaw in the fridge overnight.
No, though hemp seeds and marijuana do come from the same hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). The difference is in the amount of THC each contains. THC is the psychoactive compound that makes you ‘stoned’. Hemp seed has a very low amount—too low for you to feel any effect on your brain. They do however contain protein, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals in large amounts, which is why they feature regularly in energy ball recipes.
Yes and no. Yes, you can use almond butter, cashew butter, or hazelnut butter. All are healthy, high in energy, protein, and healthy fats. They also taste great. You may need to adjust the amount used so you attain the right consistency for your energy balls though. No, you shouldn’t use processed peanut butter (i.e., PB that contains any ingredients beyond peanuts). These peanut butters aren’t good for you. They regularly contain sweeteners, emulsifiers, and salts that you don’t need. Your energy balls also don’t need them. You may think this peanut butter tastes better but trust me, once you’ve added the peanut butter to the other ingredients, you won’t notice a difference.
Other Energy-Ball Recipes to Try
Rather than point out other ingredients you can add to these energy balls, I figured it might be easier just to point out other energy-ball recipes. This way you’ll know the combination of flavors and nutrients has been tried and tested. One such combination is the one featured in Coconut Apricot Energy Balls. I would never have thought coconut and apricot would have worked well together… until I sampled these energy balls. I do, however, know that coconut works with rum raisin, which is why I’m recommending these Coconut Rum Raisin Energy Balls. They’re paleo and packed with protein. And for a vegan option, you should try these No-Bake Date Energy Protein Balls, made with matcha.
Energy Power Balls Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup all-natural peanut butter
- ¼ cup hemp seeds
- ½ cup dark chocolate drops
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
-
Add all of the ingredients to the food processor.
-
Blend until it is smooth and comes together.
-
Break off about a tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball. Repeat until the dough is finished.
Nutrition
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