Cacao and Orange Energy Balls

What is the perfect ingredient to go with chocolate? Orange of course! Who doesn't love a chocolate orange?

This is my delicious recipe for these gorgeous energy balls to eat as a snack. The dates give them the natural sweetness and the combination of cacao and orange makes them feel really yummy and special. However, the nuts, chia seeds and coconut oil are nutrient rich making them lovely balls of goodness too.

They are really quick to make and do not require any baking either!

This recipe makes about 24 balls, and they last for ages too if you store them in an airtight container in the fridge.

You will need:

200g of mixed pecans, almonds and hazelnuts

400g of dates, pitted

4 tablespoons of raw cacao powder

2 tablespoons of almond nut butter

2 tablespoons of coconut oil

2 tablespoons of chia seeds

2-3 teaspoons of orange extract

Desiccated coconut for rolling

Method:

Place the nuts in a food processor and blend for about 30 seconds until they are nicely broken down.

Then add the pitted dates, and all the other ingredients with a couple of tablespoons of water. Blend until everything is mixed together really well. You may need to stop and start and push the ingredients around with spoon, depending on the strength of your food processor.

Pour the desiccated coconut into a bowl (use a small amount at first and then add more when you need it so it doesn't get wasted). Now roll the mix into balls, rolling through the desiccated coconut afterwards to cover them completely.

Put the balls into an airtight container and place in the fridge for 1-2 hours to set before eating.