Raw Cacao Energy Balls

There’s nothing better than having a good snack available when that 3pm hungry strikes. But you don’t want to completely mess up your day, and nothing does that better than having something that makes you feel like crap.

That’s why these Raw Cacao Energy Balls are so perfect. They’re sweet, chocolatey and super filling, but they’re also jam packed with health benefits (check out more on the benefits of cacao here).

I like to make these at the beginning of the week on a Sunday and throw them in the fridge for the rest of the week. And then, when a hunger pang hits at 3pm, you can grab one of these guys. Or, if you have a craving for chocolate post-dinner- they work like a dream!

A few recipe notes- This recipe calls for a food processor, but you can also try making them without it. Use a chef’s knife and cut your dates and walnuts as small as possible. Add the dates and walnuts to a big mixing bowl with your raw cacao and a dash of salt and start mixing them with your hands. They should be malleable enough that you can roll them into balls. Pro tip- make sure you start with sticky dates. You don’t want any dried out, lifeless dates in these.

If you decide to try this smoothie, tag me on Instagram! I’d love to see your creation. ????

Raw Cacao Energy Balls

• 1 cup walnuts
• 1 cup medjool dates, seeds removed (make sure they’re sticky)
• dash of Himalayan salt
• 2 tbsp cacao powder
• a few drops of stevia to sweeten (optional)

1. Add walnuts to a food processor. Process until finely crumbled.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and process until a fine crumble is achieved.
3. Roll into small balls (about 1-2 tbsp of the mix per ball) and store in the fridge for up to a week.

For more cacao recipes, this Cacao Peanut Butter Smoothie is next level. It’s perfect for when you are craving a chocolate milkshake.

And for all the chocolatey deets on cacao- like what nutrition benefits it has, the best quality kind to buy, and why you should swap cocoa for cacao, watch the video here.