Superfood Protein Balls

This vegan protein bites recipe is a keeper (as in, bookmark this page right now). First off, be sure you have these little quinoa candies (they have them at Whole Foods and Natural Grocers as well as online) that taste like m&ms, for reals.

Of course you can make them without but really, why would you? I love that they have good ingredients and no artificial dyes.

 

Any superfood powders can be used for a pop of colors and little burst of nutrients.

I used blue butterfly pea powder and pitaya powder, which are two of my faves. I also recommend red beet powder and turmeric for other colorful options! These vegan protein bites with dates are a great source of energy and also a yummy treat for kids and adults alike. They can be made with sunflower seed butter if you need a school-safe version for kids at school. Picky toddlers love these protein treats, too!

Okay, now for this amazing combo.

 

Superfood Protein Cookie Balls

Serves 9-11

 

Ingredients:

 

8-9 pitted Medjool dates

1/2 cup raw almonds

3 TBSP nut or seed butter

2 TBSP vegan protein powder

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/4 cup dark chocolate crispy quinoa gems (or any vegan little chocolate chips, etc).

 

Directions:

 

1. Place all ingredients in a food processor, and mix together until a ball is formed. Add extra nut butter if needed for the mixture to form a dough. Pulse in the chocolate gems (or chocolate chips) last.

2. Roll into balls, then roll into superfood powders of choice such as blue spirulina or matcha, pitaya, beet powder or any other vibrant powder.

3. Chill in the fridge to set and keep in an airtight container for up to 10 days (they won't last that long though; you'll want to eat them all asap, I promise!). You can also double the recipe to have yummy protein snacks on hand.

Common troubleshooting/questions:

"What if my date balls are too sticky?" Add in more nuts and nut butter until the desired texture is reached. The texture may differ based on what brand vegan protein you use with the recipe. I think pea-based or hemp-based vegan protein powders pair best with dates and nuts, and the texture of Orgain is hard to beat though Truvani works well too. If you find a better vegan protein powder you like, let me know because I'm always on the hunt!

"What are energy balls made of?" Are these energy balls? Yep, protein bites/protein balls/energy balls/plant-based energy cookies and vegan power balls or energy bites all refer to usually a nut and date-based raw cookie with seeds like chia, hemp, sunflower, etc often added in. This recipe is super versatile; for more of an energy boost cookie and less of a fast vegan dessert, you can omit the candies or chocolate chips and add in a spoonful or two of chia seeds and hemp seeds. Sesame seeds also lend a good flavor and texture. If you can't have nuts, try sunflower seeds in place of almonds for a similar texture and taste.

"Can I add more protein powder or superfood powder to the recipe?" Absolutely! You may just need to add in more nut butter and water (2 tsp at a time) until the desired texture is reached; without this step, too much protein powder will make it too crumbly to hold together.