Hands up, who gets a l’il bit hangry from time to time? That space between meals where you don’t know what to reach for – when your next meal is hours away and your stomach is eating itself. Yeah, I feel you. And I have the answer to your snack-time prayers. My Chocolate Amazeballs are protein-packed, handy little snacks that basically taste like a brownie. For reals. Hence the name. Amazeballs.
From a nutritional perspective, these little treats give your body a boost thanks to sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and macadamia nuts, which are loaded with protein, fibre, minerals and vitamins (vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, zinc and selenium to name a few!).
Plus raw cacao comes to the party, adding iron and more magnesium (hello relaxation!) to the nutritional lineup, plus an ACTUAL MOOD BOOST thanks to a cocktail of feel-good nutrients like theobromine, tryptophan, serotonin and phenethylamine (A.K.A. the love drug!) Now if that’s not a protein-packed pick-me-up to kick your 3pm snack slump to the curb, I don’t know what is.
Whip up a batch of these protein balls and stash them in the fridge or freezer for a super satisfying snack on the go. Then when you’re feeling a little hangry, or your sweet tooth comes knocking, reach for a Chocolate protein ball to sate your hunger, quell your cravings and perk up your pout.
Quick note on the main ingredient: Make sure you use a great quality protein powder – it really matters. My pick is a vegan, sprouted, raw protein powder with no dairy, gluten or added sugar. Raw means that the ingredients haven’t been heated at high temperatures, which keeps the plant’s enzymes and phytonutrients intact, while sprouting and bio-fermentation makes the protein powder easier for your body to actually digest and absorb (see my blog post on almond milk for a bit more info on why sprouting is worthwhile). The no-gluten / dairy / addedsugars / andwhatnot is pretty self-explanatory. Even if you’re not overtly allergic to gluten or dairy – they’re worth avoiding where possible. Your bod will thank you with less bloating, reduced inflammation and probably clearer skin. Just saying.
CHOCOLATE AMAZEBALLS RECIPE
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup pitted medjool dates
- 1/2 cup chocolate protein powder
- 1/3 cup macadamia nut butter 1/4 cup sunflower seeds (preferably activated)
- 1/4 cup pepitas (preferably activated)
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
- 3 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla powder
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon maca powder (optional)
- 1 tablespoon mesquite powder (optional)
METHOD
Place all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until everything is very finely chopped and well combined and the mixture comes together into a mass.
Scoop out a spoonful at a time and use clean hands to roll the mixture into a ball. If the mixture feels dry, use your hands to lightly squeeze the ball before rolling. This will warm up the coconut oil and nut butter and help everything bind together.
These are so good at room temperature but I store them in the fridge so they stay fresh for longer. Enjoy!
Oh, and please do tag me in on your creations on Instagram! I love seeing what you’re up to and sharing your photos with the rest of the squad.
