This no bake protein energy balls recipe is my all time favourite sweet thing to make. (Well other than chia seed pudding that is, which is my other all time favourite.)
These little power houses are so much more addictive than I could ever have imagined when I first started experimenting with them.
The first time I came across these was in an oat recipe but oats are often contaminated with gluten unless specified as being gluten free.
As a result, I don’t stock oats in my cupboard (and oats aren’t something which really attract me anyway; I don’t know why!)
The method for no bake protein energy balls is simple. You just combine the ingredients in a food processor and blend till crumbly and smooth.
Then add a squeeze of lemon juice and blend again.
The mix will quickly turn into a paste.
It should be sticky so you can roll it in your palms to make balls. Your palms will be coated in a natural oil from the mixture.
If it’s still crumbly and not sticking together, you can add another small squeeze of lemon juice but be careful not to overdo the lemon juice.
A squeeze is enough, but if you need to add more, add it in very small increments. Too much lemon juice can spoil the texture (in which case you’ll need to add some more nuts, tahini etc).
Creating the Actual Protein Energy Balls
If you have a measuring spoon, you can use the 1/2 tsp measure a bit like an ice-cream scoop, to scoop out little blobs onto your chopping board.
Next, take each blob between the palms of your hands and roll lightly to form perfect little balls.
Once you have all the balls formed it’s time to roll them in the coating of your choice.
I like to use coconut and black or white sesame seeds as various coatings. You can also roll the balls in cocoa powder followed by the coating of your choice, but it makes the process that much longer.
Easy to make, delicious & nutritious no bake protein energy balls
Put the balls into a bowl of coconut, sesame seeds, black sesame seeds or cocoa powder.
Roll them lightly around one by one, so that the topping sticks to them. Put the balls straight onto a plate and into the fridge.
They go all gooey and chewy after a little while in the cold.
These are my favourite (and only) sweeties to have in the fridge.
Recipe by SorayaCourse: Sweet snackCuisine: Gluten free VeganDifficulty: Simple
Servings
20
balls
Prep time
15
minutes
Cooking timeminutes
Delicious as a healthy protein snack or sweet treat after your meal
Ingredients
10 cashews
10 walnut halves
3 tsp tahini
2 Medjool dates
2 heaped tsp ground flax seed
2 tsp chia seed
2 tsp sunflower seeds
1 tsp pumpkin seeds
1 tsp sesame seeds
1 tsp peanut butter
1 tsp dried coconut
1 Squeeze of lemon
For the Outer Coating
Coconut
Black sesame seeds
White sesame seeds
Cocoa powder
Directions
Add all the ingredients except the lemon juice to a food processor and blend until you have a crumble.
Add a squeeze of lemon juice and blend again. You will see an immediate change in consistency as the crumble turns into a paste.
Use a 1/2 tsp measuring spoon to scoop out little balls. Roll each ball in the palm of your hands to perfect the shape.
Roll in pure natural organic cocoa powder (not essential).
Roll in sesame seeds or coconut and roll in the palm of your hands again (optional).
Roll in sesame seeds or coconut again and place in a container for storing in the fridge.
Notes
Let the energy balls cool down before eating them.
Health Benefits of These Protein Energy Balls
Walnuts & Cashews
Nuts are a great source of protein and are full of unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants to promote health and fight off disease. They help to lower bad cholesterol and are a heart healthy food.
Walnuts have been named the healthiest nut, according to scientists, and have higher levels of antioxidants than any other nut.
Tahini & Sesame for Protein Energy Balls
Tahini is made from ground sesame seeds and has a rich nutty flavour. It contains various vitamins and minerals, is a rich source of anti-inflammatory monounsaturated fats and is high in fibre and protein.
It is also high in lignans, including sesamin, which has been shown to possibly have anti-cancerous properties. Sesame seeds can also help to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes as well as promote heart health.
The powerful antioxidants in tahini and sesame seeds may help prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as protect the liver. In short, tahini is a healthy ingredient to include in your diet.
No bake protein energy balls with sesame seeds
Medjool Dates Add Sweetness to this Protein Energy Balls Recipe
Medjool dates are smoother and juicier than normal dates. They’re high in fructose which is a natural sugar and are a perfect natural sweetener.
Although they’re relatively high in calories, they’re a low on the glycemic index so they won’t cause a blood sugar spike, making them a healthy sweet alternative.
Medjool dates are high fibre and high carb meaning they provide a great source of energy and are nutrient rich, providing a source of calcium, manganese, potassium and copper, all of which contribute to healthy bones. They also contain vitamin B6 and magnesium.
It’s believed that the antioxidants in Medjool dates may contribute to brain health and help to protect against Alzheimer’s disease, as well as being a natural anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer food.
The antioxidants in dates also protect against heart disease and lower cholesterol levels.
In conclusion these dates are amazing as natural sweetener and they have many health benefits. High fibre, high carb for energy and nutrient dense for heart health, bone health and brain health.
Flax Seeds for this No Bake Protein Energy Balls Recipe
I love adding flax seeds to everything. They’re high in protein, omega 3, and some vitamins B1 & B6, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and phosphorus.
They’re most appreciated for their omega 3 (ALA) value and for providing a source of lignans and fibre, being excellent for encouraging and stabilising a healthy digestive system.
Two types of no bake protein energy balls: sesame seed and coconut
The ALA in flax seeds can help lower cholesterol and promote heart health as well as protecting against strokes.
Lignans are groups of nutrients which contain antioxidants and oestrogen properties and have been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer and prostrate cancer as well as possibly skin cancer and colon cancer.
Flax seeds are one of the most health promoting seeds out there, often prescribed to improve gut health, heart health and for preventative reasons. The standard daily quantity is usually 1-2 tbs per day with a maximum of 5 tbs daily.
They provide a great source of fibre and omega 3 ALA, as well as being rich in lignans and certain vitamins and minerals. Read more about the benefits of flax seeds.
Chia Seeds are Similar to Flax in this Protein Energy Balls Recipe
Chia seeds, like flax, are considered a superfood because of their powerful nutritional value. Chia has very similar properties to flax although the actual specific quantities vary slightly. I love eating chia in this chia and mango pudding, which I also make with medjool dates, though I made it very un-sweet.
Rich in Omega 3 (ALA), high in protein and in fibre, it is thought that chia would have similar health promoting qualities as flax as it is only slightly lower in ALA than flax.
Chia therefore is thought to promote healthy bones, reduce the risk of heart disease, lower bad cholesterol levels and reduce and/stabilise high blood pressure.
Chia and flax both have anti-cancer properties but flax is slightly higher in cancer fighting antioxidants.
Like flax, chia contains soluble fibre which is great at making you feel full, so helping in a weight loss program by reducing appetite as well as being great for the digestive system and helping to regulate the bowels.
Sunflower Seeds
High in protein, selenium, magnesium, linoeic fatty acids and vitamin E, sunflower seeds can help reduce inflammation by reducing C-reactive protein levels.
The magnesium and other compounds in sunflower seeds work to lower blood pressure and are believed to be helpful in managing blopud sugar levels in type 2 diabetes (further testing needed).
Watch out for the salt level in sunflower seeds, especially if you’re on a low sodium diet. It’s best to buy natural, unsalted seeds. It isn’t recommendable to eat too many sunflower seeds at once.
Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds contain healthy fats, magnesium, iron, zinc, vitamin B2 and folate. They’re packed with antioxidants which are very effective in reducing inflammation. The lignans in pumpkin seeds can be used in treating and preventing various cancers.
Like flax and chia, pumpkin seeds promote heart health and reduce cholesterol and high blood pressure. They are also beneficial for helping you to get to sleep if eating before bedtime.
If you follow this no bake protein energy balls recipe, you should get some delicious, health packed snacks to eat as a treat or energy boost. And they are fine as part of a wfpb diet too.
Protein energy balls rolled in coconut and black sesame seeds
Protein energy balls are my absolutely number one favourite. If you’re new to being vegan, you may like to check out our article on vegan faq.
I don’t normally have a sweet tooth, but these have me addicted!
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