These yummy balls are so addicting and super delicious! Plus if you are gluten free they are for you as well. In my household they don’t stay around because they are such a convenient thing to grab for a snack, dessert, or to eat with your morning cup of coffee or tea.
Plus they have lots of different nutrients with the dates, quinoa, and nut butters in them. They have protein from the quinoa and nut butter. They have lots of different mineral and vitamin sources from the dates. Also they have fat from the nut butters and satisfaction from the dark chocolate, so they really have got it all.
Now lets brake down the ingredients for you a little more and some instructions as well.
Ingredients:
Dates – These yummy fruit are high in minerals ( such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, and iron ), vitamins ( B6, A, K, E ), and antioxidants ( phenolic compounds, and flavonoids ). So really they are great to consume in a day and what better way then in a ball!
Almond butter – we love the natural kind because it tastes better and has more nutrients. This is also a great source of fat.
Peanut butter – we also like to use the natural kind in this as well because it tastes a whole lot better. this is also another great source of fats.
Maple syrup – This natural sweetener is a great source of carbohydrates and other great nutrients!
quinoa – This is a great source of protein. I like to rinse it and put it in the oven on 170 until it is dry. Then I do batches and put it in a pan to cook till it is a little crunchy and starts to pop around a bit. I personally like the crunch it adds to the balls.
Rice puffs – I like to put these in just to add something a little fun and extra!
Dark Chocolate – This is a great sweetener and also has some great nutrients as well. It is personally my favorite part of the whole ball!!
So as you can see there is many healthy nutrients packed into these little guys! Now lets get this recipe written out for you guys so you can enjoy them yourself!
Yummy Date and Quinoa Protein Balls
18
servings50-60
minutes40
minutesThese little guys are packed with good nutrients, vitamins and protein! They can be eaten for dessert, snack, or with a morning cup of coffee or tea. They are perfect for your kids lunches and even yours as well.
Ingredients
1/3 cup quinoa
1 cup dates ( soaked in water)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup almond butter
2 Tbsp maple syrup
2/3 cup puffed rice
1/2 cup dark chocolate ( melted )
Directions
First off rinse your quinoa in a strainer then after that put it on a cookie sheet and in the oven at 170 till it is pretty well dry. While your quinoa is in the oven measure your dates and put them in warm water for about 5 minutes.
While those two things are drying and soaking you can put the two butters and maple syrup in the blender awhile. Then after the 5 minutes is up add your dates and blend till well combined. Put the mixture into a bowl to make it easier for you to stir.
Once your quinoa has dried take it out of the oven and cook it on the stove. I normally cook it in a sauce pan over medium heat and pick it up often and shake it till you hear popping. Once it starts to pop cook it for a little till it is golden brown. I usually do around 3 batches each batch just so covering the bottom of the pan. When it is all cooked allow it to cool in a separate bowl until only slightly warm then add to your blended mixture. Then add your puffed rice and stir till it is well combined.
You might find that the mixture is slightly crumbly but once you pick it up and squish it together it will form a ball. The ball size is around 2 Tbsp big and makes around 18 balls. Once all your balls are formed you can melt your chocolate and evenly distribute it on the balls. Put in the fridge to harden the chocolate then enjoy. If you don't eat them all they should be stored in a container in the fridge.
