No Guilt, No Bake: Cookie Dough Energy Balls

Do you ever find that your energy levels are a little low when it hits 3 p.m.? Or after your workout you are just spent? Or maybe you just feel for a little snack, but you’re not that hungry? Well welcome to my new favorite thing, energy balls! Now you can buy pre-made energy balls in your local health store, but why not make them at home? They are easy to make, you can control what you want to put into them, they require no baking and they are satisfying!

These energy balls are filled with healthy fats that won’t have you feeling guilty for eating them!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls

Recipe adapted from Running To The Kitchen

Ingredients

¾ cup plain cashews                      ¼ cup oats

pinch of salt                                      ¼ medium banana

½ tsp. vanilla extract                      ½ Tbsp. melted coconut oil

¼ cup dark chocolate chips            1 ½ Tbsp. pure maple syrup (or substitute with raw honey)

Instructions

1. Place cashews and oats into a food processor and process it until it reaches a flour like consistency.
2. Add the salt, banana, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract and maple syrup into the processor, and process until it is combined
3. Mix in the dark chocolate chips. The dough should start to form a consistency that looks similar to raw cookie dough.
4. Put it into the freezer for 10 minutes, then remove it from the freezer and shape the dough into mini balls.
5. Keep refrigerated.

Enjoy these chocolate chip cookie dough balls without the guilt. You can even add dried cherries, and make it into a cherry/dark chocolate energy ball. Let me know what combinations you like to try! 

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