We're making our New Year's resolutions and added these delicious energy balls from Perry's Plate to our list of healthy snacks to eat! Her nut butter snacks are full of good-for-ingredients like flaxseed, cranberries, nuts and honey. She even gives other variations like gingersnap and double chocolate, as well as substitutions and add-ins (see below). These healthy snacks are simply delicious!
Spiced Cranberry Energy Balls
Submitted to Foodista by Perry's Plate
1 cup raw nuts such, as walnuts, almonds, or pecans
1 cup rolled oats
2/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
2 tablespoons milled flaxseed
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of salt
2/3 cup nut butter, such as almond
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup dried cranberries
Grind the nuts and oats in a food processor or blender until there are no chunks larger than a pencil eraser. Dump into a large mixing bowl, and stir in the coconut, flaxseed, cinnamon and pinch of salt.
In a small bowl combine the nut butter, sweetener, and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir for a few seconds. Add the cranberries. Finish mixing with your hands until everything is thoroughly combined. You should be able to press the entire mixture into one clump. If the mixture is too dry, add water 1 T at a time until you reach the desired consistency. You should be able to form balls easily, but the mixture shouldn't be mushy. Roll into 1 1/2 inch balls. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
VARIATIONS:
Gingersnap: Omit cranberries. Stir in 1 tsp ground ginger, 1/2 tsp cloves, and 1/2 tsp nutmeg into the dry mixture. Use molasses as your sweetener (I used 2 T molasses, 1 T maple syrup), and add 1/2 cup chopped candied ginger when you would have added the cranberries.
Double Chocolate: Omit cinnamon and cranberries. Stir in 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa into the dry mixture. I used a combination of brown sugar and maple syrup as my sweetener and added 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips when you would have added the cranberries. You may need to add 2-3 T water to reach the correct consistency, but mix it well before adding the water.
Other add-ins/substitutions:
Citrus zest, other types of dried fruit, pretty much anything you'd add when making granola.
If you don't like coconut, add more nuts or oats instead.
