How to make no-bake chocolate energy balls with rolled oats, fruits, and nuts
Chocolate energy balls are very popular these days. Children and the young-at-heart like me can’t get enough of these yummy treats. But these goodies can be quite expensive especially if you get them from health food stores.
So why don’t you make your own chocolate energy balls at home? This is a perfect time to make those energy balls because your kids are back to school. They can bring these balls to school and recharge energy after lessons.
I am sure that you might hesitate because you think that chocolate energy balls are difficult to prepare. Well, what if I tell you that the recipe I am about to share will only take you 10 minutes to make? It is also so simple that you can even ask your kids to help you out!
This recipe will also call for five ingredients— almonds, whole oats, dark chocolate chips, prunes and chia seeds.
Let’s find out what these five ingredients can give you and your kids as far as nutrition is concerned.
Health benefits of Almonds
Almonds are an excellent source of protein. It is also rich in fatty acids and minerals. Moderate intake of this food can enrich the diet of your little ones.
It can promote strong bones because it is rich in phosphorus. Phosphorus can also help your kids have stronger teeth. Incorporating more almonds in your kids’ diet will lower their risks of osteoporosis and tooth decay in the future.
Almonds and its other byproducts like almond milk are rich in alkali metals which can boost your children’s immunity. These foods are also rich in anti-oxidants that may help in preventing many diseases.
Health benefits of whole oats
Many parents are accustomed to serving a warm bowl of oats for their kids every morning. Aside from being very filling, oats are nutritious as these are packed with nutrients like copper, magnesium, iron, folate and the B vitamins.
You might want to have your kids eat more of this super food if they have asthma. There numerous studies were linking oats to lower risks of asthma and allergic diseases. One study even shows that infants who were fed with oats before they reached six months of age have lower childhood asthma risks.
Health benefits of chia seeds
Chia seeds are an optional ingredient in this recipe, but I highly recommend that you use them. Chia seeds are so nutritious that you would want your kids to eat more of them.
The US Department of Agriculture says that a one-ounce serving of chia seeds can already give 18 percent of the recommended daily value of calcium, 27 percent of phosphorus and 30 percent of manganese. It also has small amounts of potassium and copper.
Like almond, chia seeds have high levels of calcium that can promote bone health. In fact, 25 grams of chia seeds has around 157 milligrams of calcium which is more than what you can get from drinking 100 ml of milk.
Chia seeds are also high in protein. It is thus an ideal for vegetarians and vegans because of this characteristic, aside from providing amino acids.
Chia seeds are also rich in fats and fiber. The combination of fiber, fat, and protein means chia seeds can be digested slowly and allow the slow release of energy.
Health benefits of prunes
Prunes are rich in vitamin A which is essential for good eyesight. In fact, one prune alone has 3 percent of the recommended daily value of this vitamin.
It is also no secret that prunes are a popular digestive remedy. Prunes are even more effective than psyllium when it comes to laxatives. This dried fruit can promote good digestion, relieve constipation and make you more regular.
No bake chocolate energy balls with rolled oats, fruits, and nuts
Let me clarify that you can also use any nut for this recipe. Whether you have cashews, walnuts or pecans in your refrigerator, any of those nuts should work.
The same goes for the prunes. In fact, I used apricots once when I didn’t have prunes in my ref. And I was very much surprised at how it complemented the other ingredients very well.
No-Bake Chocolate Energy Balls Recipe
You should be done with this recipe in 10 minutes. It makes 24 servings.
Ingredients:
- A cup of almonds
- One cup of whole oats
- One-third cup of dark chocolate chips
- One cup of pitted prunes
- Quarter cup of chia seeds
Step by step guide:
- Add a half cup of oats together with the almonds, chocolate chips, prunes, and chia seeds in a food processor. Pour the remaining whole oats in a bowl.
- Pulse until the mixture is uniform. It should be thick and sticky when you transfer it to a bowl full of oats.
- Roll the mixture into balls about two inches in diameter.
- Dip the balls into the bowl full of oats.
That’s it! I hope you enjoyed reading this recipe and find the information really useful, on FactRetriever you can find many more interesting food facts. You can now start munching on these sweet treats. You may also place the balls in an airtight container and store them in the fridge, where they can stay safe for consumption for a month.
