Cacao Coconut Chia Energy Balls
Raw. Vegan. Gluten-free.
High in protein and healthy fat.
Low carb. No added sugar.
Makes about 15 energy balls.
Ingredients
1 Cup crushed cacao
1 + 1/2 cups shredded unsweetened coconut
1/3 cup chia seeds
6 TBSP Nut Butter (peanut, almond, or sunflower seed butter all work well)
4 ripe bananas
2 TBSP gluten free flour (try oat, coconut, almond, quinoa, or teff flour)
1 tsp spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and/or cardamom)
pinch of salt
Utensils
Medium sized zip-loc bag
Pestle, mallet, mason jar or wine bottle
Bowl large enough to mix all ingredients
Spoon or spatula to mix
Small bowl Container for storing the energy balls
Directions
Put the cacao beans in a zip-loc bag, push most of the air out, and seal the bag.
Pound steadily on the cacao in the zip-loc bag for about 90 seconds or until it is crushed to a coarse ground texture (a bit smaller than nibs, but still with some crunch).
Put the ground cacao in the mixing bowl with 1 cup of the shredded coconut, 1/3 cup chia seeds, salt and spices.
In a separate smaller bowl, mash the bananas. Add 6 TBSP nut butter and combine with a spoon until smooth.
Combine the nut butter-banana mixture with the dry ingredients in the large bowl.
Wash out the small bowl and dry it.
Now mix in 2 TBSP gluten-free flour to make the mixture less sticky and more workable.
Put the remaining 1/2 cup of coconut in the small bowl.
Pinch off a generous TBSP of the cacao mixture and shape it into a ball. Perfection is not a goal here.
Drop the ball into the coconut and roll to lightly coat it.
Keep making balls until the mixing bowl is empty and the container is full.
Go ahead and eat one. They are really good.
Want to see exactly how to make these powerhouse cacao balls?
Check out this video tutorial.
For a double boost of sustained energy, try an energy ball alongside a mug of simple drinking chocolate--also made from nutrient rich cacao. Just bring water to a boil and simmer ground cacao in it for about two minutes. Add spices, hot peppers, sugar, or milk of choice. Whatever you like. Pour through a strainer and drink hot or cool. No ceremony needed.
Kristen Krash is the co-founder and director of Sueño de Vida, a regenerative cacao farm and reforestation mission in Ecuador. Sueño de Vida works to educate and inspire everyday people about permaculture, sustainable living, environmental activism, and healthy living all in the name of living more in harmony with nature.
You can support the Sueño de Vida mission today by purchasing our cacao or by joining our Patreon and contributing to direct reforestation.
Thank you.