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These powerballs make a great little snack or treat. There are two versions…
1. The Chocolate/Peanut Version (pictured):
I recently bought my first bar of unsweetened chocolate (100% cacao)…and to steal vocabulary from my 5-year-old, it tasted disgusting! However, in some magical way the combination of ingredients in this recipe below make the cacao taste like “regular” chocolate. I have to thank a 100 Days of Real Food reader for introducing me to a version of this recipe. I would have never thought to put these items together and now we can’t stop eating them!
Chocolate Peanut-Butter Powerballs Recipe
Ingredients
- ¾ cup tree nuts (I used pecans)
- ¾ cup dried pitted dates
- 2 tablespoons of peanut butter (an all natural PB is recommended – the only ingredient necessary is crushed peanuts)
- 3 tablespoons 100% cacao (unsweetened chocolate bar – Ghiradelli makes one that I found at 2 different grocery stores in the baking section)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients into a food processor and blend.
- Form into balls (makes about 10 – 12 depending on size) and serve immediately or keep refrigerated.
- For a slightly different variation without peanut butter check out the chocolate torte recipe.
2. The Peanut/Honey Version:
This recipe is from a friend of a friend and you can get creative with adding extras.
Peanut Honey Powerballs
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter (an all natural PB is recommended – the only ingredient necessary is crushed peanuts)
- 1 cup honey
- 3 cups rolled oats (oatmeal)
- 1 cup of nuts or dried fruit (or whatever your heart desires)
- Crushed nuts, granola cereal or unsweetened coconut
Instructions
- Mix the first four ingredients together thoroughly.
- Form them into balls (makes about 10 – 12 depending on size) then roll them in the crushed nuts, granola cereal, or unsweetened coconut.
- Serve or refrigerate.
These are wonderful to freeze and take out as little as one at a time for a treat. You can omit anything you don’t like or add anything healthy you do to this recipe. They are also great snacks before or after workouts (I have one post jog), on road trips, school lunches or snacks, for trips to the park, picnics, and the list goes on and on
[...] Peanut Butter Balls {pictured above} I actually brought a batch of these on the plane to Kansas City so that I would have an alternative to the many sugary options that always abound at family gatherings. This is one of the many recipes that have become very familiar in our house from the 100 Days of Real Food blog. I LOVE these things. 5 simple ingredients: natural peanut butter, honey, oats, almonds and organic coconut. [...]
[...] Homemade Powerballs [...]
My daughter has a peanut allergy but I love this idea! Could I substitute almond butter or sunflower seed butter for the peanut butter? If so would the measurements be the same or different? Thank you!
Hi Jennifer. Yes, I don’t see why you can’t sub the almond butter or sunflower seed butter. I would keep the measurements the same. Jill
Just made the peanut butter honey ones – big hit! The kids (and I) loved them!
Good gracious! Just made 2 batches of the chocolate ones and they are so delicious and addictive! I had to make myself stop at two while I was forming the others to store for the children tomorrow. Hope they make it until the morning! And you’re right, the unsweetened chocolate is magically transformed into this decadent, yet healthy treat. Thanks for sharing this one!
[...] have no idea how she came up with that name, but they are pretty wonderful! The original recipe for Powerballs can be found on 100 Days of Real Food. We added a little more peanut butter to make them a little [...]
Just made the PB Honey Version and perhaps I will try the Chocolate version sometime. I will say they are very sweet even for my sweet tooth. I think if I make them again I will cut the honey in half. Also very messy to make I had coconut stuck to everything in the kitchen (of course not everyone is grossed out by getting messy).
i have an alternate version you can try: 1 cup oats •1/2 cup chocolate chips or dates •1/2 cup natural peanut butter •1/2 cup ground flaxseed •1/3 cup honey •1 tsp. vanilla and 1/2 cup of almonds. refrigerate and enjoy! you can even add other nuts of your choosing or dried fruit or coconut!
Do you have suggestions on making it allergy friendly? Dairy and nut free, vegan? You have a lot of PB stuff on your website, but lots of schools are also nut free..
Hi Chet. You could possibly substitute sunflower butter. As for the nuts, I’m not sure it would work the same if you leave them out all together. There shouldn’t be any dairy that needs to be replaced. Jill
What are the total carbs, if a diabetic or cholesterol diet?
Hi Judy. I’m sorry but we don’t track nutrition information. There are various tools available online that you can use to calculate the specifics. Hope that helps. ~Amy
good real good i liked it lots!
loved them!
I made these chocolate powerballs & they are wonderful. We added brown puffed rice to give them a bit of crunch. Awesome!
Just made the peanutbutter and choc balls – yum! And super easy. Made 18 with 90% choc and worked out bout 40 calories each. Thanks!!
What do you think about cooking the oatmeal first
Hi Brandie. I think it would make the texture mushy. ~Amy