These Cardamom Rose Energy Balls are an upscale twist on the classic protein ball, perfect for Valentine’s Day!
Ok, ok, ok, I know energy balls aren’t supposed to be fancy.
Buuuuut, I’m obsessed with the idea of making healthy-ish desserts and sweet snacks, and I thought this flavor combo would be perfect for Valentine’s Day! Rosewater is generally available in the Asian section of the grocery store, and although it’s a pretty unusual item in American kitchens, I’m sure you’ll be making these a lot (and you can always use it up on my Pistachio Rose Muffins).
I’m on a total energy ball kick since I realized I can use oat flour instead of old fashioned oats. I’ve always been a bit of an energy ball lover, but for some reason raw, whole rolled oats in my snack just kind of turned me off.
The combination of almond flour, oat flour, nut butter, and maple syrup make the texture of these little bites very cookie-dough-like. And who doesn’t want more of their food to taste like cookie dough??
I found the quality of my almond butter to be so important when making these. I always buy almond butter that has only one ingredient (almonds) and make sure to stir well before using.
If your almond butter is causing your mixture to be too dry, you can add a few extra drops of maple syrup. If it’s too wet or greasy you can add a little more oat or almond flour.
What are energy balls?
Energy balls are wholesome little snack bites that are full of protein to give you a little energy kick and help you get through the day.
Are energy balls good for you?
The health of any food is always debatable, so it’s hard to say if energy balls are good for YOU. However, I believe that one of these would make a healthy snack option, five would be too much sugar and calories.
How do you make energy balls?
You’ll need a food processor to combine all the ingredients together. I like to process the cashews, then the dates, then add everything else for a silky smooth dough.
How long can you keep energy balls?
Energy balls will last one week in the refrigerator or up to three months in the freezer. Of course in my big family they last about one day.
This recipe for cardamom rose energy balls is vegan and gluten-free, and can be customized! Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Swap the rose water for equal amounts of vanilla extract
- Skip the chocolate drizzle, or add a teaspoon of mini chocolate chips at the end instead
- Use whatever nut butter you have on hand
- If you don’t need gluten-free oat flour you can purchase regular oat flour or make your own by running old fashioned oats through the food processor
If you make this recipe be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!
Cardamom Rose Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup raw cashews
- 5 pitted dates
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1/3 cup gluten-free oat flour
- 1/4 cup creamy almond butter
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom plus more for dusting if desired
- 1/2 teaspoon rosewater
- 1 tablespoon semisweet chocolate chips optional
Instructions
- Grind cashews in a food processor until they are fine crumbs. Add the dates and process again until everything is well chopped. Add the remaining ingredients and process until a smooth dough forms.
- Using your hands, roll the dough into ten equal balls.
- In a small bowl, microwave chocolate chips a few seconds at a time until melted (you don’t want it to burn). Transfer to a small plastic zip top bag and snip off a bit of the corner. Squeeze it out to drizzle it over the energy balls (you could also just use a spoon).
- Refrigerate until ready to eat.
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