Coconut Almond Protein Energy Balls – the perfect snack for breakfast or any time you need a quick boost! These mimic the popular “Almond Joy Balls” you can find everywhere. I adore the chunks of chopped up roasted salted almonds here. You can be a real hero to the lacrosse team this spring by bringing a double batch of these to a game!
I’ve tweaked so many versions of this recipe over the past few years, and found my favorite. It’s heavy on the coconut, full of flavor, and enough of a treat that it can serve as a dessert, but also be a healthy snack for anytime of day. These take only minutes to prep, but need about 1/2 hour to chill before rolling into bite sized balls. They’ll keep for a couple of weeks in the fridge.
I recommend using the old school Jiff or Skippy peanut butter, instead of the natural kind, as it’s easier to mix in and seems to make things smoother – in a pinch, any kind will do. You can also substitute sunflower butter for nut allergies – and clearly add something else in place of the almonds!
Coconut Almond Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup chopped roasted almonds
- 1/2 cup mini or regular semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl, and stir to combine. If the mixture seems too wet, add a bit more oats and/or coconut. If it’s too dry, add a bit more peanut butter. It should resemble a slightly sticky dough that holds together when lightly squeezed. Place the bowl in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to set (this will make the balls easier to roll later on).
- Remove the bowl from the refrigerator and portion the dough into balls of desired size - I use a rounded tablespoon to scoop and portion, then roll. Enjoy!
Notes
