Chocolate Bee Pollen Energy Balls
What's all the buzz about bee pollen these days?!
These chocolate balls are made with bee pollen, are very low in added sugar, and make for one of my favorite pre-workout snacks! I've seen bee pollen used as a supplement and added to a variety of recipes lately so naturally, I had to do some research. Here's what I found....
It's used for natural allergy relief and is rich in vitamins/minerals/protein/fatty acids/enzymes/other big scientific words that essentially make it antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral. It can also reduce inflammation. It has a little crunch so it's a nice addition to oatmeal, yogurt, on top of smoothies or ice cream for a little nutrient boost. Sounds pretty good, huh?
In addition to bee pollen, these balls are filled with antioxidants from cacao powder/flaxseed and healthy fats and fiber from nuts/nut butter which will help keep you feeling full longer! I toss these in my bag and eat on-the-go when I'm having that {dreadful} afternoon slump before working out.
Dairy free, gluten free, grain free
Ingredients
· 2 ½ cups mixed nuts (I used a combo of raw and salted)
· 1/3 cup almond butter
· 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
· 3 tbsp cacao powder
· 2 tbsp bee pollen
· ½ tbsp maca powder
· 1 tbsp cinnamon
· 3 medjool dates (soaked in hot water for about 10 minutes)
· ¼ cup dairy free dark chocolate chips
· 2-3 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
Directions
In a food processor, blend nuts until you have a fine, "mealy" texture
Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until you have a soft dough
Roll the dough mixture into balls
Roll balls in your favorite toppings (cacao nibs, cinnamon, unsweetened coconut, bee pollen)
Store in the fridge for about a week or freezer to last longer
