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These Chocolate Tahini Energy Balls are deliciously simple to make and loaded with antioxidants, protein and good fats with no refined sugar for healthy snacking.
There have been two major themes to my baking and my posts recently. Number one, how tired I am and number two, how any baking I am doing has to be done with either a toddler or newborn in tow. In fact if a recipe can’t be made with a baby in a sling then it ain’t worth making. Well, these Chocolate Tahini Energy Balls fall in line with both themes plus they are healthy enough that I can’t feel too guilty for gobbling them down at 3am which is when I’m doing most of my snacking at the moment.
This tiredness is accumulative. The first few weeks of Beau’s birth when he wouldn’t sleep anywhere but our arms was exhausting but I had that adrenaline that goes hand in hand with having just given birth. I had energy, love and patience in abundance. Eight weeks in and the energy is at an all time low. This past week I’ve been up since 2am twice as we encountered Beau’s first fever. It’s scary stuff seeing your precious tiny bundle bright red, scalding to the touch and actual new tears streaming down his little face. His fever was the result of his first set of jabs so we were prepared for this possible reaction but it’s still terrifying, despite the number of fevers I have experienced with Cole. Even if Beau had let me put him down to sleep I would have been watching him like a hawk all night long.
So this week I have been in sheer survival mode, scraping through the day by drowning myself in tea. Although these Chocolate Tahini Energy Balls have been helping immensely and were actually a bit of a last minute addition to my blog this week. I made them on a whim with Cole one morning when I needed to entertain him for half an hour to distract him from his incessant pleas for the TV. I have been relying on Paw Patrol too much since Beau’s birth and making a mess in the kitchen is always a sure way to keep both him and I happy and amused. I even managed to rope in my Mum to read out the ingredients list whilst we threw everything into the blender so it was a real family affair. Actually these Energy Balls were really inspired since not only were they an ultra toddler friendly recipe but they have also served a double, and probably more pressing need, for healthy snacks this week. Whilst Cole thinks he’s been spoilt with chocolate he’s actually being loaded with tonnes of antioxidants, good protein and fats.
Actually the only chocolate in these energy balls is cacao powder (the aforementioned antioxidants). It has a much higher nutritional content that plain cocoa powder but you can substitute if needed. Plus the inclusion of tahini, which is one of my favourite ingredients and a natural friend to chocolate, make the energy balls taste really indulgent. There is no refined sugar, just toffee-like medjool dates, cashew butter for protein, coconut oil for texture and good fats to keep you satiated, then desiccated coconut, vanilla and salt for flavour.
It’s all well and good making these deliciously healthy snacks but my current dilemma is how many can I explain away eating during the day. However since what you eat at 3am doesn’t count as actual food then that certainly lessens my problem.
Chocolate Tahini Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 10 medjool dates pitted
- 140 g cashew butter
- 90 g tahini
- 50 g desiccated coconut
- 3 tablespoons cacao powder
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 75 g sesame seeds for rolling
Instructions
- Put everything, except the sesame seeds, in the blender. Blend until the mixture is smooth.
- Scoop the mixture out and weigh out 12 balls, each at 40g.
- Pour the sesame seeds out onto a plate and roll each energy ball over them to completely coat.
- Arrange on a tray lined with greaseproof paper and place into the fridge for a couple of hours to set.
- Then store in the fridge until hunger strikes.
Nutrition
If you like this recipe then perhaps you’d like…
Coconut Lime Energy Balls
No-Bake Salted Chocolate Energy Bars
Chocolate Courgette Muffins {vegan, gluten-free}
Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Crunch Cups
Chocolate Brownie Espresso Trifles {gluten-free}
Hello, so lovely of you to drop by. I am Georgina. I bake a lot, eat a lot and love writing about my gluten-free kitchen adventures here. I run a gluten-free cake business but am mostly kept busy with my 2 cats, 1 dog, 1 husband, and two gorgeous sons.
I absolutely love these. I’m trying a sugar free diet and missing chocolate. These taste just like chocolate truffles!
Hi Jane – thank you for your feedback. I agree – these energy balls are so delicious!!