Cocoa-Nut Almond Energy Balls
Get it? Cocoa-nut? Instead of Coconut?
nudge nudge
Hehehe….
I apologize. My husband’s cheesiness has rubbed off on me! Excuse me while I hang my head in shame.
…
Uh, yeah. Anyways, I have something completely out of the box and out of the norm for me today. To be honest, I had something completely different in mind when I started making this recipe. But sometimes mistakes turn into delicious snacks! {Which is exactly what happened yesterday.} Oops. I mean I meant to do that!
Do you like balls?
No, not that kind.
The power or energy variety!
I first saw energy balls from my friend Natalie. I go see Natalie’s blog when I need a healthy fix {which is usually once every other day, typically after I’ve eaten this, this or these.} Her energy balls, snack balls, power truffles recipe came into my mind when things weren’t working as planned. So, I scraped my original plan and rolled these babies out and coated them in some coconut.
Definitely falls under the good idea category.
Not too sweet, good texture, soft, chocolaty, nutty with a hint of coconut that takes about 15 minutes to make. AND you can employ little hands with the rolling. Best idea ever.
Wanna make balls?
No, not that kind.
Here’s how you make them:
Start out with some toasted almonds in a food processor. These were very lightly salted.
Pulse until you get a mealy texture, like so.
To the almonds, pour in some cocoa powder,
coconut oil*
and honey**.
After a few pulses, you should get a pretty thick chocolatey looking paste. If things aren’t coming together, feel free to add in more honey or water to get things moving.
*concerning the coconut oil–next time around, I’d melt my coconut oil so it makes things easier to mix in the food processor.
**concerning the honey–add more or less, depending on how sweet you like things.
Scoop the mixture out onto a sheet of wax paper. I used a cookie scoop because it was handy but a tablespoon would do the trick.
Once you have all your energy balls, roll them in coconut or more almonds to make ‘em look pretty and that’s it! Dig in!
Pretty simple, right? My daughter {and her two friends} loved these and asked for seconds! Try them out and see how you like ‘em too!
Happy Wednesday! 
Cocoa-Nut Almond Energy Balls {inspired by Natalie Perry of Perry’s Plate}
yield: about 12
Print This Recipe
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups toasted, chopped almonds
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
4 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
splash of water, if needed
sweetened, shredded coconut or chopped almonds for garnish
Directions:
Pour almonds into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until nuts turn into a coarse meal. Pour in cocoa powder, honey and coconut oil. Continue pulsing until a very thick mixture forms. You may have to scrape down the sides a few times. Also, feel free to add in splashes of water or more honey to get the mixture moving in the bowl, but be careful not to add too much. Once you have a thick paste, scoop into small balls using a cookie scoop. Roll in shredded coconut or chopped almonds. Store in an air tight container until ready to eat.
Healthy snacks are the best. And this is much needed in my diet – I’ve been eating way too many desserts lately!
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These look great. When I first started blogging about 3 years ago, I made so many little nut balls with various combos of nuts, dates, agave, coconut, coconut oil. Your little energy balls look so tasty and perfectly chocolatey
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I’ve seen lots of energy ball recipes around the internet but I’ve never really known what they were but these look so delicious that it makes me realise that there’s a whole new untapped world out there!
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Nice balls you’ve got there.
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Lauren — March 28th, 2012 @ 2:58 pm
Bahaha!!
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Yum! I’ve had some balls – no, not THAT kind, on my mind for a while now. These would be great little pre-run snack, huh? That’s what I’ve had on my mind – a high-energy ball for some pre-run power. . . .
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I’ll need these to come out of the chip and dip coma I’ve been in since yesterday!!!!!!!That dip is AWESOME Lauren! I’ve been wondering for years how to make that dip at home and now I know-it will be dangerous I think tho,LOL.The chipa are so good too. Thanks,as always.
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You’re right, this recipe looks delicious and super simple. They almost look like truffles, but ten times easier to make. Thanks for sharing!
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I love happy kitchen accidents, and this definitely looks like a successful one.
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OK, you’ve GOT to google “Schweddy Balls”, a Saturday Night Live skit. It is MY favorite SNL skit of all time and I’ve been watching SNL since day 1!!
It stars Pete Schweddy, played by Alec Baldwin, along with his platters of balls. The skit is no more than 5 minutes long.
Ben & Jerry’s has even created a “Schweddy Balls” ice cream flavor!!
I hope you enjoy this skit as much as I have!!
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Lauren — March 28th, 2012 @ 2:11 pm
Oh yes. I know that skit very well!
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Okay, I am totally digging these balls…ahem. What a great way to get a burst of energy from something that looks like dessert!
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Lauren — March 28th, 2012 @ 2:59 pm
Tastes almost as good as a dessert too!
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So cute! I have never used solid coconut oil like that, I’ll have to look for that. These sound awesome! And yes, I love the name!
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I love energy balls. Such a great snack! I like cookie dough flavored ones
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Lauren — March 28th, 2012 @ 3:00 pm
Cookie dough energy balls? WHAAA? Tell me more!
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I make balls (no, not that kind
) literally every week to have on hand as snacks. Yesterday it was lemon coconut chia seed ones. Love these. Coconut is my favorite ball ingredient especially when rolled in it b/c it looks so pretty 
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There are so many different flavor combos for these, I love the chocolate and coconut idea!
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Aw, thanks hon.
We make these all the time and my kids always ask for the chocolate ones!!
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I’m having flashbacks to the Alec Baldwin’s SNL Schweddy Balls spoof… These sound much more appetizing than his balls…wait. never mind. *hangs head in shame*
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Oh that Natalie, what a genius she is! These energy balls look awesome. I often see energy ball/bar recipes that are chockerblock full of sugar, so I am psyched to see this recipe incorporates a raw ingredient as the sweetener. This give you REAL energy, woop woop! Looks great!
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Amazing! Looks great
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I’m always on the lookout for healthy ways to allow my kids to have a treat! I have made these kind of ‘brownie’ balls too…only instead of oil and honey we use dates (chopped or whole). It’s still really sweet and wonderful…but adds a bit of fruit to the mix and makes them officially ‘raw’ (if you’re using raw almonds). I’m going to try these too though–and see which the kids like best! Using raw honey and the cold-pressed extra virgin coconut oil will still makes these a health sensation as a treat!! THANKS!!
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We must be thinking alike because I just made chocolate-covered cookie dough balls. I’m loving all the ingredients in these – they look so tasty!
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Oh I bet these would also be amazing using hazelnuts! Nutella in ball form!
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Ok, I just found this blog and I am seriously loving it! I can’t wait to try more of your great recipes!
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I love energy balls and these coconut ones sound amaaaazeballs
By the way, how long do they keep after you make them? Say, if I wanted to keep them in a tupperware in my desk. Thanks!
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You have some yummy looking recipes. I can’t wait to try the Cocoa-Nut Almond Energy Balls. Keep up the good work.
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‘Balls’ are definitely a great way to get a nutritious snack or use during exercise. Various fruits (including dates) make for a thicker consistency and you don’t have to use as much sweetener.
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Thanks for the great recipe. We tried them with honey and they were really good, and we are just finishing a batch with agave.
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I love the smile face out of food in the background! Your so clever!
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Got an email from my daughter who has been trying to eat less sugar. I was not disappointed when I made these today. Do they freeze? I packed them air tight but want to make some ahead for Thanksgiving.
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Lauren — October 25th, 2012 @ 7:27 am
I’ve never tried to freeze them, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work!
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Hi
Pardon my english, it’s not my first language.
I just love that a lot of your recepies are so simple but SO delisius
Anyway…so fun and good that you have in pictures and text!!
Love
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hi Lauren,
may I ask, what can I substitute the coconut oil with?
I’m dying to make these now but I dont have any coconut oil handy! errghh..
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Lauren — January 23rd, 2013 @ 8:35 pm
just use butter!
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ratna — January 23rd, 2013 @ 8:39 pm
thank you!! why didnt I think of that..
heading to the kitchen now…