If you’re looking for a healthy snack that’s nutritious and will give you a boost of energy, look no further than these apple cacao oatmeal balls. They’re a great healthy snack or healthy breakfast, they aren’t sweet and they don’t have nuts or seeds.

They are easy to make and can be customized to what you like. There is no sweetener, it’s just pure ingredients with complex carbohydrates and lots of fiber and nutrients. And they are free of nuts and seeds as well. They are super easy to make too! And they can be gluten free if you make sure you use certified gluten free oats.

For more healthy snack or breakfast ideas, check these out:

• 15 Beautiful Smoothie Bowl Recipes
• Healthy Smoothies for Weight Loss
• Granola Cups with Yogurt and Fruit
• Ancient Grains Granola Recipe

Oatmeal coconut balls

These oatmeal coconut balls have tons of flavor and superfoods like oats and cacao powder. This is not the same thing as cocoa powder. Read below to find out more.

The oatmeal coconut balls are mixed up, rolled, and then rolled in coconut for the final touch. They only have four ingredients. And they last for a week or so in the fridge.

If you want to freeze them for later, put them on a baking sheet in a single layer. Freeze for a couple of hours until firm. Then store them in an airtight container in the freezer. You can take them out one at a time for quick snacking, or put a whole container in the fridge for the week. So bulk up and make some big batches.

What is cacao powder?

You’re probably more familiar with cocoa powder than cacao. We use it in a lot of baking. But cacao powder is a little different and is considered a superfood. Cocoa is processed at a much higher temperature (and often packaged cocoa contains added sugar and dairy). Both start out as beans from the cacao plant, which are separated from the fatty part known as cocoa butter. At harvest, cacao beans are fermented to develop flavor and texture.

Cacao powder is made from fermented beans that have not been roasted. They are processed at low temperatures and then milled into powder. The result is a powder that’s bitter in taste and higher in nutritional content. Cocoa powder on the other hand is made from beans that are both fermented and roasted and processed at a much higher temperature. The result is a less bitter, slightly darker powder that has lost some nutritional value.

Cacao products are rich in disease-fighting plant compounds including flavanols, which have antioxidant, heart-protective, and anti-cancer properties. It also has fiber, magnesium, and iron. For more on superfoods, check this out.

While you can substitute cacao powder for cocoa powder, you will lose some of the antioxidants during the baking process and the flavor will be bitter, so stick with cocoa powder for baking. But it’s great in raw applications like smoothies.

When you start your day with a healthy choice or fuel your afternoon hunger with nutrition, it helps tremendously to stave off cravings that impede your fitness goals. So planning healthy choices for food is such an important part of your fitness journey!

oatmeal cacao balls with coconut

Apple Cacao Oatmeal Balls

Yummy balls of energy that have a chocolatelyflavor, are easy to make, and are good for you. Jammed with fiber and nutrients, but without nuts, seeds, or sugar. Great for breakfast or a snack.

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Prep Time 5 mins

Chilling Time 1 hr

Total Time 1 hr 5 mins

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 16

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups cut oats
• 2 red apple sliced
• 2 tablespoons cacao powder
• Grated coconut for rolling

Instructions

 

• Mix apples and oats in the blender and puree until soft and smooth.
• Add the cacao powder and pulse a few times.
• Place in the fridge for about an hour.
• Scoop balls of dough out and roll them in coconut.
• Store in the fridge until ready to eat.

Keyword apples, cacao, coconut, energy balls,, oatmeal, oatmeal balls

For more diet changes that help you have more energy, check these out.