Recipe: Peanut Butter Power Balls

Nov 29

Makes about 40 small pieces

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup crunchy peanut butter

• 2 tablespoons CANOLA oil

• 3 tablespoons maple syrup

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 teaspoon almond extract

• 1 tablespoon chia seeds, soaked in 2 tablespoons of water

• 2 tablespoons peanut butter powder

• 1 cup rolled OATS

• 1 cup unsweetened coconut

• 1/4 cup ground FLAX seed

  Optional: 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder mixed with 2 teaspoons of icing sugar     

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place the first 7 ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. 

2. Toast the oats in a frying pan over medium heat, just until they start to change colour. 

3. Add the toasted oats to the mixture in the bowl.

4. In the same pan, toast the coconut and add it to the mixture.

5. Add the ground flax to the mixture and combine all ingredients. 

6. Using a very small cookie dough scoop, or two small spoons, portion out 42 equal amounts (of about 1/2 tablespoon each) onto a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. 

7. Let them rest for a few minutes to set and then roll them into balls. 

8. Place the cookie sheet into the fridge or freezer until the balls harden, then place them into a zip lock bag and store them in the freezer. 

9. They taste best when eaten frozen. Enjoy!

   Optional: If you want a slightly sweeter treat, mix the cocoa powder with the icing sugar in a small bowl and roll a few balls at a time in the mixture, until lightly coated. You can coat them in this mixture as soon as you roll them, or simply pour the sugar mixture into the bag once the balls are frozen and coat them right in the bag.

Substitution suggestion: Try smooth peanut butter instead of crunchy; try honey instead of maple syrup; try coconut extract instead of almond extract; try coconut flour, almond flour, or protein powder instead of peanut butter powder; try 1/2 a teaspoon of cinnamon instead of 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder.

Note: Toasting the oats adds a wonderful nutty flavour, but you could omit this step. If you wish to start with whole (raw) flax, after you have toasted the oats and the coconut, you can lower the heat to medium-low and toast the fax in the same pan. Be careful not to have the heat too high or they will pop right out of the pan! Let the flax cool and grind it in a small (blade style) coffee grinder. These mighty morsels pack a powerful punch of flavour and nutrition! A couple of these tiny, tasty treats make a perfect mid-morning (or afternoon) pick-me-up snack!