Coconut Spirulina Energy Balls

Amy is my name and superfoods are my game!

I’m constantly trying to come up with food ideas where I can cram in superfoods to create a dish that boasts optimal nutrition.

One of those ways is with these energy balls. I’m always experimenting with different food combos for energy balls for myself and the kids. They’re the perfect snack or breakfast idea and they’re super simple to make.

These balls I’d say, are great for both adults and children *if* you can get your kids past the green color (for some reason my kids nixed these on that alone, but they did like the flavor).

These were pretty basic on the ingredients-scale. You just need some nuts, dates, coconut flakes and my favorite, powerful superfood: Spirulina

This potent sea mineral gets slipped into all sorts of recipes of mine from smoothies, to ice cubes, to desserts.

It’s 60% protein by weight and one of the most nutrient-dense foods you can eat. It’s rich in A, B, D and K vitamins, iron, omega fatty acids and enzymes. It has immunity boosting affects and is an inflammation and viral infection fighter. It also helps build good gut flora and eliminates toxins from the body. I mean, what more proof do you need…  spirulina is definitely something you need in your life!

The flavor is definitely distinct like something straight outta-the-ocean, but there are many ways to mask the taste and this recipe is a fine example of that (if I say so myself).

I adapted this particular recipe from my Maca Energy Balls recipe. The formula for all of these date/nut balls is simple; two parts nuts, one part dates. Where it gets tricky is when I start adding in powders and sweeteners. I’ve learned any time I add in powder, I also need to manipulate the formula and use more dates (or raisins and dates) to get them to hold together.

I only used two teaspoons of spirulina powder, so these held together with the basic formula of dates. I also used walnuts again, but opted for some cashews as well, since cashews give off a nice sweetness.

I used medjool dates and added in some raw coconut flakes for flavor, vanilla and then the spirulina. The mixture wasn’t super sweet, so I decided to add in a little grade-b maple syrup at the end for some additional sweetness and that totally did the trick.

The result… a sweet, dense, soft energy ball of goodness. It’s amazing how grade-b syrup cuts through the spirulina and actually helps bring out the sweet undertones found in spirulina. You can definitely taste a hint of coconut, as well as the cashew flavor.

The texture is the perfect pairing to something warm like coffee or tea. I have two of these for breakfast with my green tea and it’s the ideal fuel to get my day started.

And there you have it! A fantastic breakfast or snack idea that’s loaded with protein, vitamins and minerals.

Here’s what you’ll need for these powerful energy balls.

Coconut Spirulina Energy Balls Ingredients:

1 c. raw walnuts
1 c. raw cashews
1 heaping c. medjool dates (pitted)
1/4 c. unsweetened coconut flakes
2 tsp. non-alcohol vanilla
2 tsp. spirulina
1 tsp. grade-b maple syrup

Directions:

1. Blend walnuts and cashews in a blender or food processor until you’ve reached a mealy consistency.
2. Tuck dates down inside the blended mixture then add in the remaining ingredients- coconut flakes, vanilla, spirulina and maple syrup. Blend well until mixture begins to ball up and soften.
3. Place coconut/spirulina mixture into a bowl, place into refrigerator for 10-minutes to firm up, then roll balls. (This step is totally optional. They hold together pretty easily after blending. I just do this for recipe consistency.)
4. Use a 1/2″ or 1″ ice cream scooper to roll balls, or use a small spoon. Use both hands to roll balls until they’re even.
5. Sprinkle a little coconut over the rolled balls, or you can roll the balls in additional coconut flakes to give the outside a coconut shell.
6. Place balls into an air-tight container and/or serve.
7. Store and serve these from the refrigerator.

~Yields 12-15 balls

NOTES:

*You can mix up the nuts and use all walnuts or add in almonds, it will affect the texture and taste, however. I find the walnut-cashew mixture is ideal for this particular energy ball.

*Do not over-blend when blending the ingredients. You want to blend enough that you can press mixture together and it holds together. Too much blending can make the mixture hot and gummy.

*For a sweeter energy ball add TWO teaspoons of syrup. Note- they will sweeten up a bit when they set up in the fridge.