mocha pb energy balls
Have you seen what's in a typical chocolate chip granola bar (including fake sweeteners and palm oil!)***? Junk you don't need. This recipe is so easy and delicious, you'll feel good about making your own knowing they are all-natural and much better for your kids (and you) than the store-bought! And bonus, these are gluten-free and vegan**. And if you add the protein powder, they're even healthier for you!
INGREDIENTS
- 1/3 cup Sweet & Cute Coffee Syrup
- 1 ½ cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup all natural smooth peanut butter*
- 2 Tbsp protein powder (optional)
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips**
Combine all ingredients in bowl and mix until well combined. Scoop or form mixture into ~1” balls and place on parchment lined cookie sheet. Freeze ~15 minutes, then place in an airtight container (or package in little "to go" packs of 2-4). To maintain maximum freshness, store in the fridge.
*Natural peanut butter is much more runny than commercial brands like Jif and Skippy, so the natural PB provides the right amount of moisture. If using a regular pb, balls might be dry - so add more Coffee Syrup or a Tbsp or so of liquid - can be water, nut milk, vanilla, etc.
** Not all chocolate chips are Vegan. Wegmans chocolate morsels are vegan, regular Nestle chocolate chips are not. Be sure to check the package ingredients.
*** These are the ingredients in the top brand commercially made chocolate chip granola bars:
Granola (quaker rolled oats, rolled whole wheat, brown sugar, barley flakes, sunflower oil, inulin, honey, natural flavor, modified milk ingredients), glucose, chocolate chips (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, salt, vanillin), whole grain brown rice crisps (whole grain brown rice flour, sugar, barley malt, salt, mixed tocopherols), glycerin, shortening (canola oil, modified palm and palm kernel oils), brown sugar, sorbitol, inulin, salt, natural and artificial flavor, soy lecithin, BHT (preservative).
