These Blueberry Almond Energy Balls are packed with nourishing almonds, blueberries, honey and flax seeds. All of that goodness makes for a nutritious yet delicious snacky bite of energy.
Let's just begin by acknowledging that I will do my best to stifle my inner 12 year old boy humor while writing this post about balls. These Blueberry Almond Energy Balls are much more dignified than my childish impulse to make inappropriate and sophomoric ball jokes. Pre-apologies if any drop into this post.
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Blueberry Almond Energy Balls are the perfect hiking snack
My best friend came to visit a few weeks back and I made plans to take her to one of my favorite spots in the world, Big Sur, California. Back in Portland, Bridget and I spent a lot of time sweating our balls off together. Hot yoga, waterfront runs, day hikes and even an aerial yoga class that left me with a mysterious, 2 week long bout of vertigo. I don't want to think about or talk about that experience ever. So, a day of hauling these energy balls while hiking through Big Sur was right up our alley.
Of course I wanted to make something special for her visit, but cookies and cakes seemed counterintuitive to our day of outdoorsy-ness. The perfect fuel for a girls day of hiking? Balls, naturally. Before Bridget arrived, I mixed up a big ol' batch of healthy hiking nibbles. To my surprise, the Blueberry Almond Energy Balls were way better than I had expected, possibly the best balls I've ever tasted.
These energy balls are gluten free and nearly vegan! By simply subbing in agave syrup, Date Syrup or Lyle's Golden Syrup for the honey, they transform into fully vegan energy balls.
These Blueberry Almond Energy Balls are full of healthy energy boosting ingredients
- Almonds, almond butter and almond meal pack an energy boost. The almonds add crunch while the almond butter binds the ingredients together. Almond meal coats the easy energy balls so they aren't too sticky.
- Dried Blueberries bring the antioxidants and natural sweetness.
- Flax seeds fuel with fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.
- Oats give everlasting energy that helps power through any workout.
Tasty bits add major flavor points to these energy balls
All of that healthy goodness combines with some flavorful bits to give these energy balls a deliciously sweet personality. It's the little added flavor kickers that makes these Blueberry Energy Balls the best ever.
- Honey adds natural sweetness and a sticky component to keep these balls bound together. However, date syrup, agave syrup or Lyle's Golden Syrup can be subbed in for a vegan Blueberry Almond Energy Balls.
- Coconut flakes are toasted adding extra toasty flavor dimension and an ultra chewy texture.
- Vanilla Bean Paste rounds out the balls with cozy comfort. Vanilla extract works great too!
- Cinnamon adds a hint of spicy warmth to these easy energy balls.
Energy bites roll up quick and easy!
In addition to the great taste and the abundant health benefits of energy balls, they are also very easy to make. A basic energy ball recipe rolls together with a handful of ingredients in just a few minutes. Not only that, these Blueberry Almond Energy Balls will move you up mountains. Literally.
Bridge and I had an unforgettable trip to Big Sur and Monterey despite my oversight of planning a road trip down the 101 on Memorial Weekend. Oops. But, we cranked our favorite tunes, popped some Blueberry Almond Energy Balls and enjoyed the epic coastal views. Not a bad way to spend time with your best friend.
The thing I enjoy most about hiking in Big Sur is the variety of the landscape. There is a little bit of everything; redwood groves, crystal clear streams, open prairies and dramatic coastal and mountain views all along a single trail. It's truly an American treasure.
Energy Balls taste even better after a 1600' climb through a scenic and pristine setting like Big Sur, CA
We had an incredible hike and crushed another round of Blueberry Almond Energy Balls at the crest of the trail while basking in the warm glow of the California sunshine and taking in the sweeping beach views. Energy balls never taste better than at the peak of an epic hike.
Adventuring with your best bud is one of the grandest joys in life, it's important to make time for these things. Best friends and a good set of Blueberry Almond Energy Balls are a gift to be treasured, always.
Recipe
Blueberry Almond Energy Balls Recipe
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 30
Description
These Blueberry Almond Energy Balls are packed with nourishing almonds, blueberries, honey and flax seeds; making for a nutritious and satisfying snack. This recipe can easily be adapted to a vegan and or non gluten free recipe. Just replace the honey with agave or Lyle's Golden Syrup and use GF or non GF rolled oats as you prefer.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1 cup almond butter
- ¾ cup honey - agave nectar, date syrup or Lyle's Golden Syrup would be suitable substitutes for a vegan recipe
- ¾ cup dried blueberries
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- ¼ cup flax seeds
- ⅓ cup almond or flax meal
- 1 teaspoons ground cinnamon - divided
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
- To optionally toast rolled oats and coconut for extra flavor, preheat oven to 375° F. Spread oats and coconut on a baking sheet and bake for 5-7 minutes until warm and toasty. Set aside to cool.
- Thoroughly blend the almond butter, honey, vanilla, ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and the remaining the salt together in a large bowl.
- Add the cooled rolled oats and coconut flakes, flax seeds, almonds and blueberries. Mix together until the mix begins to resemble a semi-sticky cookie dough. Using a cookie scoop, form the mix 1.5" balls.
- In a separate smaller bowl, mix together the almond meal and remaining cinnamon.
- Roll each ball in the almond meal and cinnamon and set aside on a lined cookie sheet. Chill the balls for at least an hour, this will help them set and hold their form.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature. They taste best from the top of a mountain, FYI.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
Jenni says
I just typed everything into MyFitnessPal, and this is what I got for nutritional information. Another home run, Becky! Thanks for sharing!!
Nutrition Facts
Servings 30.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 180
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 8 g 12 %
Saturated Fat 1 g 7 %
Monounsaturated Fat 0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg 0 %
Sodium 41 mg 2 %
Potassium 223 mg 6 %
Total Carbohydrate 29 g 10 %
Dietary Fiber 3 g 11 %
Sugars 22 g
Protein 4 g 8 %
Vitamin A 0 %
Vitamin C 0 %
Calcium 3 %
Iron 4 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.
beckysue says
Girl, you are rad. This is priceless information, thanks for sharing! You're the best. <3
Carol Balkon says
I made these last night. Love them! Any idea on calories or macro breakdown. I can figure it out myself but was hoping it might be done already.
beckysue says
Hi Carol, so glad you love them! I am not sure of the calories or macro breakdown, sorry. There must be a website or an app that can do this for us, right?