Christmas balls!

Nuts, cranberries, allspice and cinnamon - amazing Christmas flavours. How about having all that deliciousness bound together into one tasty bite? Well, that's what you get with my raw Christmas energy balls!

Seasonal fruit and nuts

Anyone who has followed my blog for a while knows that I just love energy balls, and make a variety of flavours to suit all occasions, so it only makes sense to have one especially for Christmas. These are perfect if you love a touch of decadence without a dilemma, as these treats taste amazing, but are also good for you too.  A combination of healthy fats and proteins with slow release sugars, these bite-sized goodies just hit the spot with seasonal spices and a touch of raw chocolate too. Perfect for anyone who eats dairy free, gluten free, plant based or just wants a break from refined and processed foods.
I've used allspice alongside cinnamon as it's such a Christmassy flavour. A small dried fruit from a pimento tree, it is a type of pepper with hints of clove and nutmeg. It can actually benefit health as the phytonutrients contained in the tiny corn have anti-inflamatory properties. Allspice can also help aid digestion and absorption of nutrients as well as reduce wind - could be useful after a good helping of sprouts on Christmas Day!
You can use whatever nuts you like in these balls - I've gone for walnuts and almonds, but pecans would add an even extra hint of richness. To keep this a completely raw treat, I've used raw cacao powder, but if you only have normal cocoa powder to hand, don't let that stop you giving these a go, they will still taste gorgeous.
A handful of these popped in a bag make a lovely Christmas gift too - just make sure you give them away quickly or you find the only person receiving the gift of Christmas balls is you!
Enjoy.
Christmas raw energy balls

Christmas balls!

1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup dried dates
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup raisins
2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
1/2 - 1 teaspoon ground all spice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons orange juice or water
desiccated coconut
Place the walnuts and almonds into your food processor and pulse a couple of times to break them down a bit. Add the dates, cranberries, raisins, cacao powder and spices and pulse again a few times, then blitz until combined. Add a little orange juice or water to help it stick together but not too much or it will be too wet and soggy. Take a teaspoon full and roll into a ball in the palms of your hands. Roll in desiccated coconut to cover. Repeat until all the mix is used up.
This is enough for approximately 18 balls.

Little balls of happiness

It's mid afternoon and that familiar feeling comes creeping in - the slump. Tired, lethargic and craving something sweet, particularly if lunch was a meagre, hurried affair. A few hours later, your body is demanding something satisfying, and now!
A cup of tea and a slice of cake - that'll do nicely! Whilst there's nothing wrong with a mighty fine cake on occasion, consuming something that's packed full of refined sugars, fats and flour (plus various additives if it's not home made) whenever the slump hits is not sustainable in the long run. It may hit all the pleasure spots, but that quick release of sugar won't last, and before long you'll be hunting for more sugar satisfaction. As for biscuits, they may be even worse as it's tempting to keep cramming them in until the end of the packet!

You need balls to deal with this problem - energy balls! Packed full of nuts, dried fruit, seeds or oats, these little lovelies are filled to the brim with healthy fats, complex carbs and soul soothing sweetness that will satisfy your cravings, boost your energy and see you comfortably through to dinner time. And because they're full of whole foods rather than refined products, they're super filling so there's only so many you can eat at one time. Not only that, they're quick to make, store well and being raw, they are nutrient dense and packed with fibre, so keep your gut happy and working well. The nut based ones are gluten free too and of course they're all dairy free and plant based.
The recipe for my original energy balls can be found here - http://foodiesensitive.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/sweet-treat-raw-and-dairy-free.html. These are still a firm favourite. But if you need a nut free version because of allergies or school lunch box restrictions (kids love these - honest!) then try these oat based ones:
Oat and seed energy balls

1 cup oats

½ cup sunflower seeds

½ cup stoned dates

½ cup dried cranberries

½ cup raisins

1-2 tablespoons orange juice

dessicated coconut

Put sunflower seeds and dates in food processor and chop until fine. Add oats, cranberries, raisins and blitz until chopped. Add orange juice and blitz again until combined and sticking together (not too much juice)

Take a teaspoon of mix and roll into a ball then roll the ball in the coconut. Repeat.

Finally, for a slightly less dense and fresher flavour, try these lemon and nut wonders that are deceptively filling and so satisfying.

Luscious lemony balls

1 cup cashew nuts

1 cup desiccated coconut

Grated rind of one lemon 

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1-2 tablespoons maple syrup

pinch of salt

Put the cashew nuts and desiccated coconut into the food processor and whizz for a few moments until broken down. Add the remain ingredients and blend until combined and sticking together. Take out a teaspoon of the mixture and roll into a ball - this mix is slightly drier than the others so needs a delicate touch.