Nbirz

Plant-based, gluten-free cooking.

Chia & Oat Energy Balls (2 Ways)

Breakfast

Chia & Oat Energy Balls (2 Ways)

chia energy balls 1

I dub this the “pack and scramble” post, because, no matter how much I plan and pack ahead of time, I am inevitably packing and scrambling the morning I leave for a family trip. Granted, I could have cancelled my 6 am spin class this morning to give myself more time, but a pre-Thanksgiving workout felt pretty great, and my class (nearly full!) was extra-thankful and all-around memorable, so it was more than worth the effort.

Now that I’ve drawn you in with my run-on sentence/stream-of-consciousness introduction. allow me to share the secret to my extra energy this fine morn: Chia & Oat Energy Balls (2 ways, baby)!

I ate a bowl of fruit and yogurt, too, but I usually need an extra boost after a workout, and even more so when I am loading up the car and trying to remember to pack everybody’s toothbrush. Make a batch today, for nibbling on your trip, for an energy boost while cooking for the big day tomorrow, or for a portable, Black Friday shopping snack.

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Chia & Oat Energy Balls (2 Ways)

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups very soft pitted dates e.g., Medjool; see tips for softening harder dates
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoons rolled oats certified GF, as needed
  • 3 tablespoons chia seeds divided
  • large pinch of sea salt optional

Method

  1. In a food processor or high speed blender , process the dates, cocoa, oats, half the chia seeds and salt (optional) until smooth; scrape into a small bowl .
  2. With moistened hands (mixture will be very sticky), roll into 16 balls. Place remaining chia seeds in a small dish; roll balls in seeds to coat. Place ball on a plate, loosely cover with wax paper or foil, and chill at least 1 hour. Store in the refrigerator.

Notes

Version 2 (no chocolate): Omit the cocoa powder and increase the oats to 4 tablespoons total. Tip: If you have hard dates, simply soak them in warm water for about 15-20 minutes to soften. Drain, pat dry, and use.

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