Chocolate Orange Energy Balls

You know I love chocolate and I love to play with recipes.  A few years ago, I created a class with all sorts of energy bars made from real food ingredients.  The one that seemed to be chosen to be made in class every time were the Chocolate Orange energy bars or balls – depending on how you want to roll them out in the end!

I recently made them for a workshop I did for the local triathlon club.  Although the organizer wanted to make them, they deferred last minute as ‘you will know how to make them so the consistency is right!” and they didn’t want to make a mistake. 

With food stuff like these chocolate orange energy balls, there is no such thing as a mistake except in baking where you have to be precise.  With this chocolate orange energy ball recipe, it can be close enough.  And you can always substitute the oats for other grains, or use different nuts or nut butter.

You can be creative like using sunflower butter instead of sunflower seeds (which is what I did since I did add 2 tablespoons of whey protein powder, and now it was dry!)

Ingredients:

• 1 small banana (1/2 cup)
• 1 tsp orange zest or 4 drops of orange essential oil*
• 3/4 cup dried dates (pitted)
• 1/2 cup steel cut or rolled oats
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2 large tablespoons of sunflower seed butter (esp if using protein powder)
• 1/4-1/3 cup walnut pieces
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp hemp hearts
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 2 tablespoons protein powder (whey is what I use) and this is optional

Preparation:

• In a food processor, process all ingredients.  You will have to stop it a couple of times to scrape the sides and reposition the ‘blob’.
  If too thick, add some oil (not water!) or another 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract or tbsp sunflower
  

  

  
  butter. 
  If too thin, add more oats (or you can use puffed rice or other grain of choice)
• Put into refrigerator for at least an hour.
• Use a spoon to scoop out and roll into balls.
  Can also press into a pan and cut into squares, triangles or whatever shape you want.

  NOTE:  If using for training rides, you may want to add either 1/2 cup of ground flax seeds or another 1/4 cup of oats to make them a bit denser as they may get a bit mushy if in your jersey pocket!

  NOTE:  I would suggest storing them in the refrigerator until you use them, in an air-tight container.  Probably good for a week at most.

 

I made these for the workshop – see the photo.  They asked for more and even with 7 people in the workshop, there were just 3-4 chocolate orange energy balls left over for me.  So they were a total hit!  And perfect for their run after the workshop!

If you would like more energy bar recipes to make at home, please consider getting the ebooklet for $3.00.  I have tried them all and they are all yummy!  Make your own Energy Bars!  And fuel your training with real food.

Also check for more recipes on this page.
*To purchase the wild orange essential oils, you can go here or contact me directly – I always have this!