Matcha and Coconut are two of my favorite things, so it was only a matter of time before I put the two together to create a satisfying treat. These energy balls are raw vegan, and come together in a matter of minutes. Matcha ( a special form of green tea from Japan) has many health benefits and also gives you a boost thanks to the caffeine. Matcha is made from high quality tea and the leaves are ground down into a fine powder. Because whole leaves are injected, this makes Matcha a more potent source of nutrients than green tea. It is rich in antioxidants that can help prevent cancer and heart disease, and can help to regulate sugar levels in the body.
I recently experimented with using dates in my energy balls, and I was so happy with the results. Dates act as a natural sweetener and help to bind the other ingredients together. Not only do they taste great, but they are a nutritional powerhouse of vitamins and minerals and they help to regulate the digestive system. The high nutritional value of dates helps to pacify feelings of hunger once the body begins to absorb it. Combine the dates with nuts, coconut and matcha and you have the perfect snack that will not only satisfy your sweet tooth but is good for the body as well. These energy balls contain maple syrup as a sweetener, but you can also use other sweeteners, such as rice malt syrup. I like to keep these energy balls in the fridge for whenever those mid-morning or late afternoon cravings strike (and they always do without fail). Enjoy!
Yield: 12 small balls
Recipe adapted from Mindful Moose
Ingredients:
1/2 cup raw almonds
1/2 cup raw cashews
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
8 medjool dates
2 & 1/2 tablespoons pure maple syrup (or sweetener of choice)
1 tablespoon coconut oil
3 teaspoons matcha powder (I used Matcha Love brand)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pinch of salt (I used pink Himalayan)
Extra coconut & matcha powder for rolling
Method:
- Using a food processor, pulse the almonds and cashews until they are finely ground.
- Add the remaining ingredients and process until well combined and the mixture starts to come together. You may need to stir the mixture between processing so everything gets ground evenly.
- If the mixture isn’t sticky enough, add a small amount of sweetener and blend well.
- Roll into balls and alternate rolling some balls in matcha powder and the others in coconut. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Energy balls can also be frozen.
*Note: if your dates aren’t fresh & juicy, and they’re more on the hard side, soak them for 10 minutes first in warm water to soften them up.
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