Cinnamon and Vanilla Protein Balls

I’ve never been keen on Protein Balls and have especially steered clear of store bought ones including Energy Bars. The majority proclaim great health and nutritional benefits, but when you start reading the list of ingredients you soon discover what you thought was nutritious is actually high in fat and sugar and expensive.

I’ve tried my hand at making my own Protein Balls – in the very least I was confident mine would be healthy as I was aware of exactly what was going into the Balls. However, many of the recipes still contained an inordinately high amount of fructose levels, ending up being too sweet for my liking.

A little experimentation one afternoon saw my concoction develop into these not overly sweet, 100% healthy and nutritious .

So what makes these Protein Balls that little bit different from the myriad of recipes that can found on the internet?

The addition of Acidophilus Powder (a Probiotic Supplement) helps to increase the level of healthy gut flora in the body, while the addition of nuts and seeds will provide you with essential oils, minerals and fibre. The subtle natural blends of cinnamon and vanilla bean paste provides just enough of a sweet and spicy flavour to the Protein Balls.

This batch made 18 Protein Balls and before I knew it, the family had devoured half before I managed to get them into the fridge.

My recommendation is you double the quantity, as they will go quickly. They aren’t sweet and have an almost distinctly salted caramel taste without the need of having to incorporate medjool dates or raisons as ingredients.

You can adapt the recipe without altering the taste by omitting the almonds and walnuts; making these perfect for people who have nut allergies or for those following a Paleo or FODMAP diet.

Healthy Hint … instead of shaping the mixture into protein balls, why not use this as a base for your favourite cheesecake.



Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: Nil
Makes: 16-20 Protein Balls

Ingredients
1 Cup Walnuts
½ Cup Almonds
½ Cup Pepitas
½ Cup Sunflower Seeds
¼ Teaspoon Salt
3 Tablespoons Unhulled Tahini Paste
1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil
2 Tablespoons Rice Malt Syrup
4 Tablespoons Shredded Coconut
1 Tablespoon Acidophilus Powder (Probiotic Supplement)
2 Teaspoons Cinnamon
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Protein
½ Vanilla Bean Paste

Method






Notes
These are honestly so moreish they may not make the refrigerator.

For people who have a nut allergy or intolerance or if following a Paleo diet, simply forego the walnuts and almonds. The pepitas and sunflower seeds are sufficient to create the bulk or mass of the Protein Balls. They will look paler in colour but the cinnamon and vanilla flavours won't be affected.



Categories
#protein
#probiotics
#vanilla
#cinnamon
#nuts
#walnuts
#seeds
#pepitas
#sunflower_seeds
#pumpkin_seeds
#gluten_free
#dairy_free
#vegan
#snacks
#dessert
#bliss_balls
#clean_eating
#healthy
#nutritious
#paleo
#sugar_free
#easy
#no_baking
#simple
#quick
#kid_friendly
#fodmap
#acidophilus

%recipeyum