protein “truffle” balls
I basically treat chocolate like a daily vital nutrient, though that combined with my general desire for ease, can take me down the slippery slope of reaching for the convenience of a chocolate protein bar when hungry. Unfortunately, for the most part, every bar I’ve ever tried is more processed than I’d like, contains one ingredient or two I’d love removed or are just slightly off in flavor or consistency in some way. There are some great ones, but nothing packaged beats homemade. Cue the protein “truffle” ball to the rescue! These are great to meal prep on a Sunday and can help curb our emergency sweet treat and protein desires for a solid couple weeks, stored in the fridge, or as our home prefers — the freezer. I didn’t stumble upon any recipes that really hit exactly what I was dreaming up, but I did pull some solid inspiration from the “No Bake Lemon Protein Balls” on Secretly Healthy Home. What’s so great about these little gems is that you can easily add your own flair and they truly do fill the void, guilt free.
INGREDIENTS
✧ 1 1/2 servings of desired clean protein power — I’m partial to Standard Process and use 3 scoops of their unflavored SP Complete for this recipe
✧ 4 tbsp unflavored grass fed collagen peptides — I love Vital Proteins, but don’t love it in coffee or any other liquid, so it’s a perfect addition to the balls!
✧ 3 tsp cacao
✧ 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 c arrowroot powder — range dependent on volume of protein powder used, can easily swap for any alternative flour of choice
✧ 2 tsp ground chia seeds
✧ 2 tsp coconut sugar
✧ 1 tsp Ceylon cinnamon
✧ 1 tsp salt
✧ 1 heaping tbsp tahini
✧ 2 tsp MCT oil
✧ 3 tsp Manuka honey
✧ 4 Medjool dates
✧ 6 tsp nut milk of choice
✧ 6 tbsp filtered water
✧ 3/4 c freeze dried raspberries
✧ Approx. 1 c chocolate
NOTES
꩜ Shop organic whenever possible, including spices, oils & chocolate.
꩜ Hu chocolate is my fave…it’s pricey, but they only use coconut sugar to sweeten! I am also a big fan of Lily’s for a no sugar added option.
꩜ I recently discovered the microplastic free Vera salt and it’s great in these!
꩜ Dates can sometimes be dry, but I’ve found Joolies are extra soft and juicy.
꩜Virtually all ingredients can be swapped for desired consistency, nutrient profile, and general personal preference. Feel free to add more or less water, swap or add things like maca or ashwagandha powders, etc if you know you love them! Even the chocolate coating is entirely optional, as are the raspberries. Perhaps you’d like to add chopped pistachios or to coat the balls in organic grass fed (or even coconut based) yogurt with a little honey and vanilla, the sky is the limit! Get creative and have fun.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Combine protein powder, collagen, cacao, arrowroot powder, ground chia, coconut sugar, cinnamon and salt in a bowl.
2. Place tahini, MCT oil, honey, dates, nut milk and half of water in a blender or food processor and run until smooth.
3. Pour blended contents into a separate mixing bowl and carefully mix in dry ingredients, about half at a time.
4. Add remaining water as needed to the mix to ensure all ingredients are fully combined, like cookie dough.
5. Fold in ½ cup of freeze dried raspberries, careful to not completely crush into dust.
6. Roll the dough into balls and chill in fridge for at least 1 hour.
7. Melt chocolate in glass bowl over a pot of simmering water (I’ve found this is the most foolproof way to not burn the chocolate and I don’t own a microwave), option to add a splash of MCT oil to the chocolate or a tiny dollop of organic virgin coconut oil to thin.
8. Coat the chilled balls in chocolate with a couple forks and place on unbleached parchment paper (If You Care’s is fantastic because they’re pre-cut), sprinkle balls with crushed freeze dried raspberries immediately after placed on paper so the coating doesn’t harden. And quick note: as you’ll see from the photos, I like to go wild with a extra crushed berries so I can do it quick and ensure maximum coverage. There’s no waste though, as I just slide the leftover berry dust on top of yogurt as a treat while I’m cleaning up, or I save it for the next morning.
9. Place balls in fridge or freezer to set for at least an hour — once fully hardened, jar up and store in fridge or freezer — we prefer the freezer, but always make sure to either cut them in half or soften a bit in the fridge prior to biting.
As with everything I make, I love to know the ingredients will fuel not only a beautiful plate, but a beautiful feeling inside. Steeped in the culture of being raised in Japanese and Italian homes, I understand the magnitude of importance food holds. I also believe in the philosophy of eating to live versus living to eat. It really is not about deprivation, it’s about remaining mindful and raising the vibration — no matter how incredible something taste’s, it’s also about how it “tastes” to our minds, bodies and souls that will keep the true “deliciousness” with us long past the moment of actual consumption. Pillars I continue to remind myself:
1. The quality of ingredients matter.
2. Less is always more.
3. Think loving thoughts while cooking and the food will taste better! #truth
4. Remain present while enjoying the intimate act of eating, it’s a game changer.
With love & gratitude, cheers to your good health!
medical disclaimer: all information is intended for general information purposes only and should not be considered as personal medical advice. individuals should always consult their healthcare provider before administering any of the suggestions made on thebalancedcalm.com to ensure they are appropriate for their specific circumstance.
