Chocolate, Oat & Almond Energy Balls

Ingredients

For 6 portions

• 🌴 200g dates
• 🌾 80g oats (dry)
• 🌰 80g almonds
• 🍫 4 Tbsp cocoa powder, not reconstituted
• 🥣 2 Tbsp almond butter
• 🧂 1 pinch salt
• 🥤 2 Tbsp tap water

Method

1. Makes about 18 balls (3 per portion).
2. If the dates are dry or hard, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes, then drain. Remove any stones.
3. Blitz the almonds and oats in a food processor for 30 seconds until they look like coarse crumbs.
4. Add the dates, 3 tablespoons of the cocoa, the almond butter and the salt. Blend for 1–2 minutes until the mixture clumps together into a sticky dough. If it's crumbly, add the water a tablespoon at a time.
5. Squeeze a little in your hand – it should hold together. Roll heaped tablespoons into balls about 3 cm across (damp hands help).
6. Put the remaining cocoa on a plate and roll each ball in it to coat.
7. Chill for 15 minutes to firm up. Keep in an airtight box in the fridge for up to a week.