Almond Butter Balls

These “almond butter balls”, as my daughter named them, are a huge hit in my house! I love having this bite size snack in the fridge for my kids, and they are a good fix for my afternoon sweet craving. They are so easy to make and can be as healthy as you like. You can make them vegan by changing the sweetener and by using cacao nibs or vegan chocolate chips.

I am not good at measuring exactly what I put in these each time because usually, I experiment and eyeball amounts. Have fun with them and play around with the ingredients. If they are too dry, add more almond butter, coconut oil or honey/syrup. If they are too sticky, add more oats. I need to get a better picture next time because the ones here don’t even do them justice!

INGREDIENTS
½ cup of almond butter (or another nut butter)
1 cup whole rolled oats
½ cup ground flax seed
1 Tablespoon chia seeds
¼ cup raw organic honey or maple syrup
2 Tablespoon coconut oil (I prefer the taste of Nutiva)
⅛ teaspoon pink Himalayan salt
2 Medjool dates soaked in water and chopped into small pieces
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I make my own – it’s so easy and more affordable)
½ cup cacao nibs or dark chocolate chips
optional additions: ½ cup coconut flakes, chopped walnuts, hemp seeds, raw cacao powder

INSTRUCTIONS: Stir all ingredients in a bowl until they are well mixed. Cover and put in the refrigerator for half hour. Once it is chilled, roll them into balls about 1″ in diameter, or whatever shape you want. I usually take about half those balls and roll them into long cylindrical shapes because they are easier for my kids to eat. Store in a sealed container. You can keep them on the counter, but they will last much longer in the fridge. I usually make a double batch and freeze half with my FoodSaver vacuum.

Health Benefits of Ingredients

Almond Butter • Almonds are a good source of antioxidants, potassium, and magnesium.
Cacao Powder • I list this as an optional ingredient, but I always add it in! Cacao has more calcium than cow’s milk, it’s high in antioxidants (20x more than blueberries!). Cacao is the best plant-based source of iron, one of the highest food sources of magnesium and it is known to elevate mood. If you don’t have raw cacao powder, you can use unsweetened cocoa powder. Both have health benefits so you really can’t go wrong. But if you want even more nutrients and antioxidants, go with the cacao. You can order it online at Amazon or Thrive Market (use this link to Thrive for 25% off).
Raw Honey • Honey is a good source of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals (including iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium), amino acids, and phytonutrients. It is thought to help prevent and fight cancer. Honey helps regulate blood sugar. When honey is pasteurized it can lose some of its antibacterial and anti-viral properties, so try to find raw honey.
Chia Seeds • Chia seeds are a good source of antioxidants, omega-3s, iron, fiber, calcium and protein.
Coconut Oil • Coconut oil has so many health benefits. It is a good source of iron, it increases metabolism and curbs appetite. It is believed to benefit gut health and brain function. It increases good cholesterol (HDL) and decreases bad cholesterol (LDL). For more on the benefits of coconut oil, read this article by Food Babe.
Oats • Oats are a great source of fiber. They are high in antioxidants and have some anti-inflammatory effects. They are also a good source of manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper, and iron.
Pink Himalayan Salt • Pink Himalayan salt is thought to improve blood pressure, digestion, mood, immune function, and regulate the body’s pH. It is the purest form of salt. When adding salt to your food, opt for this pure form of salt as opposed to table salt. Table salt is bleached, treated with chemicals and stripped of all minerals (except sodium and chloride) during the refining process. Our bodies need sodium in the natural and unrefined form found in Himalayan salt.