Energy Balls

All-natural energy balls seem to be all the rage these days. I've also noticed that they can be quite expensive to buy at health food stores. Making them is actually quite easy and relatively inexpensive.

You'll need to find yourself some date paste. Date paste is comprised of dates, that have had their pits removed, and packed firmly together. 

Softening the date paste, so that it is in a more usable format, is easy. Simply chop the date paste, using a knife, into small cubes. The more you chop, the more the date paste will soften.

Once the paste is softened, anything can be added to it. Here are two examples:

1) Coconut Maca Energy Balls

In a mixing bowl, combine 1/2 kg of softened dates, 4 tablespoons of blanched almond meal, 4 tablespoons of desiccated unsweetened coconut, and 2 teaspoons of maca powder. Kneed together until the ingredients are mixed well. Form into 1"-1.5" balls.

2) Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls 

In a mixing bowl, combine soften 1/2 kg of date paste, 2 tablespoons of blanched almond meal, 4-5 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder, 4-5 tablespoons of natural peanut butter (or any other nut butter). Kneed and form into 1"-1.5" balls.

You can keep your homemade energy balls in a sealed container, in the fridge, for up to 2 weeks (if they last that long). Experiment with some ingredients and see what you come up with.