Protein Power Balls

I am pretty sure I've consumed my body weight in nut butter this weekend. ;) I made almond butter last week, cashew butter yesterday, and bought natural peanut butter from Whole Foods today. There are so many things you can do with nut butters. Make sandwiches, desserts, mix them into greek yogurt for a healthy breakfast, spread them on a banana or apple, or in this case, make protein power balls! I got the idea to make protein power balls from my Mom's friend, Carol. She brought them to a party we had a couple of weeks ago, and after I tried one, I knew I had to recreate them.

These make the perfect pre or post-workout snack, a yummy dessert for after dinner, or an easy on-the-go breakfast. 

These little babies are chewy and moist, salty and sweet at the same time, and just bursting with delicious flavor. What I love most about these protein power balls is the versatility. You can use any kind of nut butter you have on hand, and roll them in any kind of topping you want. In my recipe, I used the almond butter, cashew butter, and peanut butter I had in my pantry. For toppings I used chia seeds, chopped chocolate chips, and shredded coconut. Some other toppings you could try are dried cranberries, hemp seeds, sesame seeds or flax seeds. Believe me when I tell you, the possibilities are endless!

Oats are the superfood I chose to focus on in this recipe. Oats contain phytochemicals (plant chemicals) which are known to prevent many different cancers. Because oats contain soluble fiber, they can help reduce hypertension, or lower high blood pressure. Oats contain a fiber called beta glucan which is said to lower bad cholesterol and prevent heart attacks. 

Ingredients:

3 cups oats

1.5 cups nut butter

3 tbsp. honey/agave/maple syrup

2 tbsp. raw cacao powder (optional)

1/2 tsp. cinnamon (optional)

Toppings: I used 1/4 cup shredded coconut, 1/4 cup chopped chocolate chips, and 1/4 cup chia seeds

Directions:

1) Combine oats, nut butter, honey, cacao powder, and cinnamon (if using) in a mixing bowl

2) Wet hands with water and take tbsp of mixture and form into ball

3) Roll the ball in topping of choosing

4) Place protein power balls on a baking sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray

5) Refridgerate at least an hour before serving

*Recipe makes 24 protein power balls. 

*Keep refrigerated up to 3 weeks