So, just a little note before I get to the recipe.
Three Years.
Yup, it’s my blogiversary. Did I bake a ridiculous cake? No.
Did I throw a blogger party and invite all my food blogger friends? No.
Did I instead make these cookie balls, completely forget about the anniversary date and go on like nothing happened until I went to write this post. Likely.
BUT…
I am going to instead celebrate by getting in my car with my three besties (kid FREE!) and driving 700 miles to stay in the prairie sunshine while visiting one of the biggest rodeos on EARTH. Yes, I’ll be on the road this week my friends. Basking in the (supposed) sunshine, digging my heels into the dirt and whooping it up cowgirl style in Alberta. The Calgary Stampede prides itself on being the “Greatest Show on Earth” and I hope it comes through. I’ll be visiting some foodie friends along the way and if you want to follow along during my trip, keep up with my Facebook or Instagram page. I’ll be posting like crazy.
Before I leave, I’ll be mixing up a batch of these beauties for the road….
It can be tough when you are trying to change your eating habits to healthier ones…Extremely hard to stay away from sweets or snacks that are hurriedly shoved in one’s face as you streak through the kitchen on your way out the door to your latest playdate….
But instead of spending wads of cash on supposedly “natural” or healthy snacks, I like to make my own. I can completely control every aspect of the nutrition right down to the sweetener and the protein content. I control the texture, serving size and the flavour enhancers. Making your own healthy snacks at home doesn’t need to be hard, time consuming or expensive.
These little balls whip up in minutes and are super healthy. They taste great and I could not keep my kids hands off of them. Noted for the future: “Make triple batches.”
These cookie balls are made with coconut flour which is high in healthy fats and protein and contains no gluten. It also has my favourite chocolate protein powder, cacao nibs, shredded coconut, walnut butter and almond milk. Depending on the protein powder you use, these could be dairy free as well. Perfect for bake sales where sensitive types might be buying, like, for your little one’s school perhaps?
These keep well for a few days in an airtight container but they will soften up a bit.
One year ago: Szechuan Noodle Salad
Two years ago: Swiss Chard Ravioli and Homemade Pasta
Three years ago: Chewy Tarts with Orange Vanilla Blueberry Swirl Ice Cream
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix dry ingredients. Blend in wet. Mix together with a wooden spoon.
- Roll into one inch round balls (about 20) and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Bake for 7-9 minutes or until golden brown on the bottoms.
- Cool on sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack and cool completely.
Notes
Similarly delicious recipes from other fabulous food blogs:
Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls from Chockohlawtay
Protein Balls from BodyRock.TV
Shakeology Protein Balls from Fully Engaged Mom
Protein Energy Balls from Natural Mother’s Network
Haaaappy Blirthersary!
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Wow… Three years! Congratulations Elizabeth! A trip to Cow town and a much deserved break. Have a blast!!
These balls were awesome by the way. Great little pop and go munchables.
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Yum! Happy blogiversary and have an awesome time on your road trip 😉
Fantastic Paleo recipe! The combination of coconut and chocolate is always a winner in my house!
These sound delicious. Do you know the breakdown of nutritional information?
These look absolutely yummy, and congrats on your 3 year anniversary. Impressive!
Coconut flour – now that’s a new one to me. I wonder how easily available it is. These sound peeerfect for road trip munchies! Its a pity low calories treats like this taste so freakin’ good. It’d be much easier to save calories if they were horrible. At least they are nutritious not malicious I say!
Hey! Congrats on 3 years! Ironically enough I just went in to my kitchen this morning and made protein balls with no recipe, and inhaled a few of them. Oops!
Simple, flavorful, smart and visually appealing. Marvelous job Elizabeth 🙂
This is the first time I have heard about cookie balls and it looks so interesting especially for the kids.. I want to try this someday..
Congratulations! Well.. you are right, your cake is not bad at all! Thanks for the recipe. I should give this a try too!
Congrats on 3 years! I love that you used coconut flour in these…I need to get my hands on some again. I think I have seen it at Bulk Barn here in Ontario.
Thanks Angela! Bob’s Red Mill makes it as well!
Congratulations! Many more blogging years to you.
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ALL YA HAD TO SAY WAS PALEO.
I’m about it. Road trip this weekend. Making these.
xo
I made these last night and the taste was great, but they were super super dry. I also am not a good cook/baker. Any suggestions on how to make these softer?
You could try adding about 2 tbsp extra nut butter and upping the liquid as well. See how that works for you.
Happy Blogiversary and thank you so much for including a link back to my Protein Energy Balls! I am delighted to have discovered your blog and would be delighted if you popped by Wednesdays to join us in the Seasonal Celebration link up over at Natural Mothers Network with some other fabulous healthy foodie and natural craft and garden blogs! Rebecca x
Hey Elizabeth! Congrats on the blogiversary… wow, three years! I’m just reaching the one year mark and I thought that was achievement enough! Love this recipe. I bought a jar of cacao nibs a couple months ago and have been racking my brains to invent a recipe with them (so far I’ve just been sprinkling them into my sprouted buckwheat with chopped Medjool dates in the morning!) and yours is inspiring! Definitely trying this. Will link back to you if I do a recipe variation on the blog. Thanks!
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could you make these without any nutbutters?
Angie, yes, but I would replace it with coconut butter or dates or something with equal volume.
Hi there
Just tried these!!
Taste is great – not too sweet. But is a little dry… any recommendations??
Thanks!
Hi Jack, increasing the nut butter or decreasing the coconut flour slightly will make for a more moist ball. Or you could add a bit of coconut butter…
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Hi,
It’s my first time here, and I’m looking forward to trying this recipe.
I have a couple of questions:
Is there any reason not to use cacao powder instead of the chocolate-flavored protein powder? Is it a taste/consistency issue or a nutrition issue, if any?
Also: separating eggs (and having the unused part sit in my fridge) is a pet peeve of mine. How do u think these will come out if I just use one or two eggs, whole, instead?
Thank you!
I think that will work fine (the eggs) and the cacao is for flavour versus protein powder, which is usually for nutrition but can also serve as flavour.
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Hi Elizabeth, great new thing for me to try. I’ve been experimenting with protein balls but never considered cook balls. Just wondering if you could leave out the Stevia or use something else as well. Is it just for sweetness or is it necessary for them to turn out okay. I just don’t use sweeteners even though I know Stevia is supposed to be natural
Many thanks ?
Hi Elizabeth, great new thing for me to try. I’ve been experimenting with protein balls but never considered cook balls. Just wondering if you could leave out the Stevia or use something else as well. Is it just for sweetness or is it necessary for them to turn out okay.
Many thanks ?
They should be fine, just not sweet
Hi Elizabeth, great new thing for me to try. I’ve been experimenting with protein balls but never considered cook balls. Just wondering if you could leave out the Stevia or use something else as well
Many thanks ?