Cookie Dough Energy Balls

How did you feel when the Cookie Monster started to eat carrots on Sesame Street? Did you cheer? Did you shout the word ‘no!’? Did you feel conflicted? Today you eat healthier than ever before but let’s be honest: aren’t cookies really your first love? Confession: You’re not alone if you eat the cookie dough when know one else is looking. I do too and I love it.

This cookie dough energy ball will tick all your boxes: does it have the goodness of oats? Yes! Does it have fibre? Sure does. What about protein? Oh yeah! And there’s chocolate chips too because sometimes you just want chocolate chips. No substitute will do. You can have your ‘cookie dough energy ball’ and eat it too! Thanks Marie.

Cookie Dough Energy Balls

Author: Jen - A Naturally Nu Foodie recipe

Prep Time: 10 to 15 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 15 to 22 minutes

Number of Servings: 12

Ingredients:

½ cup (125 mL) pecans

½ cup (125 mL) unsweetened coconut flakes

1 cup (250 mL) gluten-free rolled oats

1 tbsp (15 mL) chia seeds

1 tbsp (15 mL) hemp seeds

½ cup (125 mL) ground flax

1 tsp (5 mL) cocoa powder

½ tsp (2 mL) cinnamon

3 tbsp (45 mL) maple syrup

¾ cup (175 mL) peanut butter

¼ cup (60 mL) cacao nibs

¼ cup (60 mL) chocolate chips

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Layer baking sheet with parchment paper. Toast pecans and coconut for 5 to 7 minutes. Be careful they do not burn. Let cool.

2. In a food processor, pulse together toasted pecans, rolled oats and coconut flakes until coarsely ground.

3. Add chia seeds, hemp seeds, ground flax, cocoa powder to pecan mixture. Pulse to combine.

4. Add maple syrup and peanut butter to pecan mixture. Pulse to combine. Do not over-pulse. It will combine well when you roll mixture into balls.

5. Transfer pecan mixture to a large bowl. Stir in cacao nibs and chocolate chips.

6. Roll into balls.

7. Freeze until solid.

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