Vegan Bonbons: Dancing Energy Bite Protein Balls
Gluten free, vegan, raw, no refined sugar, mindful eating
These healthy raw treats are filled with nutritious and delicious goodies: nuts, fruits, and seeds. A well-being super food bite. Now I always have some in my bag for when need the nourishment, as a post-workout treat or when I’m craving something between meals.
Making these adorable bites gave me so much joy. Cooking from plant based ingredients is a delightful, amazing experience, especially knowing all the wellness there is in each bite. These recipes are an inspiration for you to make them your own, simply by adding your favorite seeds, fruits, and flavors. It’s an enjoyable foodie adventure game, adding a few spoons of this and that, tasting and finding love inside each one. The kind of love you want to eat: intense, sweet, spicy, delicate, fun…
It’s something great to do with your friends at the kitchen table, or to teach kids about raw cooking, or even at a children’s party with plant-based cooking theme. I know I will continue experimenting with these bites, adding more recipes ideas and finding new flavors because it opened up big universe of ideas for me. Or even place them in a nice box and they’re a wonderful gift to take to a friend.
How to start your own recipe:
The idea behind making these beauties is to balance the flavors and textures in a super nutritional way. I like to put each ingredient in the food processor separately and then set it aside. Then, I stir them together, tasting as I go. When I like the flavor, then mix it all until it’s compact, roll into a tight ball about a size of a spoon and cover each one with the topping, and refrigerate it until I’m ready to eat.
The base: Grounded almonds, walnuts or a mix of both then I add the sticky part with almond butter, cashew butter, walnut butter or coconut butter.
Then add sweetness using date sugar, coconut sugar, yacon syrup, or maple syrup.
For punch and texture, I added chia seeds, hemp, coconut, spirulina, flax seeds, pistachios or cacao.
For tang and a sour kick, yogi berries, cranberries, acai, dried apricots, dried raspberries, or blueberries.
For aromas, I like to add rose water, orange blossom or vanilla. For spicy touch cinnamon, turmeric or ginger.
A little coconut oil make the mixture compact to form the balls.
For super strength, you may add your favorite vegan protein.
And for toppings, I like shredded coconut flakes, cacao, sesame seeds, chia seeds, carob, matcha or any freeze-dried ground fruit. I used freeze-dried organic raspberries for the beautiful red color. I took it to another level by adding edible gold. Sprinkling them with edible flowers makes them even more enticing.
Basic Recipes
(each makes about 3–4 balls)
Walnut Power Ball
1 cup crushed walnuts
1/2 cup crushed almonds
2 tablespoon date sugar
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 tablespoon crushed dried apricots or cranberries (optional)
Almond Peace Ball
1/4 cup crushed almonds
1/4 cup crushed walnuts
1 tablespoon almond butter
1 teaspoon coconut oil
1 tablespoon coconut sugar
1 tablespoon crushed cranberries (optional)
Recipe Variations
Orange Blossom Ball
1/4 cup crushed walnuts
1/4 cup crushed almonds
1 tablespoon date sugar
1 teaspoon hemp
1 teaspoon crushed flax seeds
1 tablespoon crushed dried apricots
1 tablespoon crushed pignoli
1 tablespoon almond butter
1/2 teaspoon coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon orange blossom
pinch of salt
Vanilla Brazilian Ball
1/4 cup crushed almonds
1/4 cup crushed Brazilian nuts
1 tablespoon crushed cranberries
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon maple syrup
pinch of salt
Chia Coco Rose Water Ball
1/2 cup crushed almonds
1 tablespoon coconut butter
1 tablespoon coconut sugar
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 teaspoon coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon rose water
Turmeric and Beyond Ball
1/4 cup crushed almonds
1/4 cup crushed walnuts
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 tablespoon crushed pistachios
1 tablespoon crushed dried apricots
1 teaspoon coconut flakes
1 tablespoon date sugar
1 teaspoon cashew butter
1 teaspoon coconut oil
1 teaspoon orange blossom
