This Chocolate Protein Ball Recipe is a life-saver when you are trying to cut sugar. These treats so delicious and have become a favourite at home with my husband and Koji, among friends and also with my students! These Chocolate Protein Balls are also vegan, gluten-free, soy-free with no added sugar! Rich in antioxidants (cocoa) and healthy omega fats, one of these makes a perfect snack or dessert. They are also great for breastfeeding mamas!
Chocolate Protein Ball Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups Granola – not sweet – just toasted oats and seeds basically or try my Mom’s Homemade Granola Recipe
- 4-5 scoops Chocolate Vegan Protein Powder from Arbonne
- 1/3 cup Almond butter or tahini
- 1/32 cup Coconut oil
- 1/4 tsp Himalayan Rock Salt or Sea Salt
- 1/4 cup Raw Cocoa Nibs
- 2 tbsp + 1/3 cup Cocoa powder
Directions
- Prepare a medium-large mixing bowl, a plate, and a small bowl;
- Add 1/3 cup of cocoa powder to the small bowl. You will use these to dust the protein balls at the end;
- Using your (clean) hands, mix all the ingredients together (except 1/3 cup of Cocoa Powder) until sticky;
- Then roll into balls and roll each protein ball with cocoa powder — This step is essential if you don’t want your protein balls to look like poop!
- Place the protein balls on a plate and let them harden in the in the fridge;
- Enjoy these little beauties with hot or iced tea.
Superfood Ingredients
Meet the superfoods!! Crazy high in nutrition and act like powerful multi-vitamins for the body. They are somewhat magical in nature.
Raw chocolate/cocoa
Rich in vitamins and minerals (magnesium, iron, flavonoids, phosphorus and calcium), raw cocoa is also high in antioxidants. So good for us. But, I recommend only organic and fair trade cocoa / chocolate. The commercial chocolate industry has one of the worst reputations for using child slavery in the world. In 2014, the International Labour Organization, commissioned by the UN, documented over 2 million children forced to work in inhumane conditions on cocoa farms in West Africa alone. To ensure that the cocoa workers are paid fair wages, work in decent conditions and are of proper working age, buy certified fair trade chocolate.
Vegan Protein power
Arbonne Essentials Protein Shake is fantastic. It is certified kosher, gluten-free, non-GMO, allergen-free and approved by the Banned Substance Control Bureau (BSCB). Per serving, it features 20 grams of easy to digest protein derived from peas, brown rice, and cranberries. (I know, who knew cranberries were full of protein?!) What’s more, the Arbonne Protein is supplemented with 20 vitamins and minerals and has 14 grams of carbohydrates, 9 grams of sugar (less than sugar found in a green apple). There are several flavours to choose from. I like it because it has a smooth, creamy texture which is rare in protein powder.
Coconut Oil
Coconut Oil is arguably the healthiest fat on the planet and easy to digest. It has anti-inflammatory properties and contains healthy saturated fat that increases the good HDL cholesterol in the body. This is believed to be highly therapeutic for the heart and digestive system. The type of fats contained in coconut oil assimilate much quicker than other fats, so it can be more easily converted into energy and therefore, not really stored as fat. It is also antimicrobial and antifungal, so it can be used to treat Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) of the stomach, candida overgrowth, yeast infections, urinary tract infections as well as gum disease and tooth decay! (Dr. Axe, ND, has a great article on coconut oil on his website. Click here for more)
Good Salt
Himalayan Rock Salt has become very popular lately. It is pink in colour and often sold in larger crystal form. Mined in Punjab region of Pakistan, close to the Himalayas, this salt is considered the cleanest salt in the world and most beneficial because it has the highest mineral compounds. It contains 84 minerals and trace elements, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper and iron, all essential nutrients for your nervous system. This trace minerals also support the kidneys, help to regulate water metabolism in the body. You could say that Himalayan Salt is like the whole foods version of regular table salt. Sea salt is good too because it also contains are large range of other minerals beyond sodium. In this recipe, we use the salt to enhance the sweet taste and balance the bitter flavour of the raw chocolate.
Related Articles & Recipes
- Mom’s Granola
- Black Bean Veggie Burger
- Vegan French Toast
- Simple plant-based food plan
- 30 Day Healthy Living Program
(This post was updated from its original publication in June 2018)