One of my new years resolutions this year was to eat healthier - as I'm sure many of you are trying to do in 2017. The problem is, I have a major sweet tooth (hence the blog) and I especially need a little sweety sweet at the end of the nite after dinner.
After doing some googling and a lot of pinterest searching, I found my latest obsession.
Energy balls!
I know it sounds weird and funny at the same time, heck I don't even like calling cake balls - cake balls. It just sounds wrong to me - but semantics aside, I love me some energy balls! They are perfect little sweet snacks. Usually bite sized for some on the go healthy treats or post-workout energy boosters and made with all sorts of combos of the good stuffs for you - protein, no refined sugars or preservatives. And many recipes have all the trendy foods like chia seeds, spirulina, flax seeds, hemp - pretty much whatever the current healthy food of the day is - you can toss into an energy ball.
I've made so many batches over the past couple of weeks. They are just perfect bite sized little treats and I love the recipe I use especially when rolled in a variety of coatings to mix the flavors up a bit. Many of them use nuts or nut butters but since 2 of my kids are allergic to nuts the recipe I have below is nut free.
AND
I found a way to make them even more fun! Add the mixture to silicone ice cube trays. Here I used one of my favorites - a Lego minifigure ice cube tray mold.
I left some apricot energy ball mixture plain then tinted some with powdered freeze dried raspberries and blueberries to give the Lego men colors.
You can also use an energy ball recipe and not bother with the tinting. You still get super cute little snacks!
Or use any silicone ice cube mold. Once you pack the molds, freeze them for about an hour then pop the energy bites out for some super fun sized snacks! I bring them to work with me for an after lunch treat.
I've used the ice cube trays a bunch of times before when making sweet treats and I'm always looking for new ways to use them. And although my hubby told me these guys looked a little like Dead Pool after his experiment to rid him of his cancer - I still think they look super cute!
Like I said I cannot get enough of these energy bites and I've been making a batch a week to bring with me to work and for after dinner. I actually do think they make cute treats too. Pack a bunch up for your next party or get together.
See perfect little sweet and healthy treats. And just maybe in fun forms you can get your kiddos to try them too!
Lego Minifigure Energy Snacks
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried apricots
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
- 1 and 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1/4 cup freeze dried raspberries
- 1/4 cup freeze dried blueberries
- Lego minifigure ice cube tray
- Add 1st 4 ingredients to a food processor. Blend until ingredients are well chopped, moist and sticks together (you can roll it into a ball with your hands). If too dry add a little more coconut oil until its the right consistency.
- Divide mixture into 3 bowls.
- Crush raspberries into powder and add to one of the bowls. Mix well. If the mixture seems too dry add a tad more coconut oil.
- Crush blueberries into powder and add to one of the bowls. Mix well. If the mixture seems too dry add a tad more coconut oil.
- Add the yellow mixture to the head section of the ice cube tray.
- Add the red mixture to the body section of the ice cube tray.
- Add the blue mixture to the leg section of the ice cube tray.
- Once all colors are added - add additional as needed to make sure the sections are packed well.
- Freeze tray for an hour then pop energy bites out of the mold.
- Refrigerate if not eating immediately - you can also freeze them and take with you as needed.
Prep time: 45 minutes Yield: about 20-25 energy bites
See these other ice cube tray ideas!
