These “power balls” are exactly what they sound like: perfect little bites of energy that will satisfy that sweet craving. Medjool dates are paired with warm cinnamon, almond butter, cashews, oats, vanilla, and a dash of salt to make these breakfast-worthy bites. All ingredients come together in just 10 minutes to form sweet, soft, chewy balls that are reminiscent of cinnamon rolls. They’re like the real thing but without all of the flour, butter, and refined sugar. Instead, each ball is packed with fiber, nutrients, and healthy fats for an energizing breakfast to keep you satisfied for hours. Grab one (or two, or three!) for breakfast, a pre-workout snack, or post-workout fuel, or to satisfy your sweet tooth any time of the day.
Ingredients and variations:
—Oats. Oats come in several varieties—quick, old-fashioned, and steel-cut. You can use either old-fashioned oats or quick oats in this recipe. Tip: If you’re following a strict gluten-free diet, double check to make sure your package says certified gluten-free.
—Cashews. Either raw cashews or roasted cashews can be used here. If your cashews are already salted, remember to use less salt in the recipe; otherwise, they may taste a bit too salty.
—Almond butter. We love almond butter in these, but you can sub any nut or seed butter. Sunflower seed butter would be a super-yummy nut-free option.
—Medjool dates. A great alternative natural fruit sweetener that are rich in fiber and vitamins and minerals. It’s always best to use soft dates. If your dates are quite dry and hard, go ahead and soak them in some hot water for about 10 minutes before you start. Dates vary in size, so if they’re on the smaller side, you may want to throw in a couple extra.
—Cinnamon. If you want to spice them up even more, a pinch of cardamom or nutmeg is a great idea!
Storage:
Store leftover energy balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Energy balls can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe airtight container. Zip-top bags work great for this as well.
Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
