Healthy Cocoa Protein Balls

By replacing refined sugar and flour with fiber-rich dates and oats, these energy bites provide sustained energy without causing rapid blood sugar spikes.

Ingredients

Calories next to each ingredient are for that ingredient across the whole recipe (4 servings), not per serving.

• 100g pitted dates, soaked in warm water for 10 minutes · 279 kcal in the whole recipe
• 80g rolled oats · 306 kcal in the whole recipe
• 15g unsweetened cocoa powder · 34 kcal in the whole recipe
• 20g raw hazelnuts · 126 kcal in the whole recipe
• 2 tablespoons of warm water

Method

1. Pulse the rolled oats in a food processor until they reach a flour-like consistency.

   

2. Add the drained dates, cocoa powder, and raw hazelnuts, then blend until a sticky dough forms.

   

3. Add warm water one tablespoon at a time if the mixture is too dry to bind.

   

4. Roll the mixture into 8 to 10 equal-sized balls using your hands.

   

5. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes before serving to let them firm up.

   

A Besly kitchen recipe — portions, macros and step photos by Besly.