Chocolate is one of the foods I could never live without, second only to pizza! As prep for some endurance riding and because my husband wanted a tasty recovery snack, I began my long quest to make the perfect "power ball". I failed many times, but also found a few recipes that came close. This recipe is based on Rich Roll and Julie Piatt's Superfood Energy Balls in The Plant Power Way. It has taken me a number of times to get the consistency right. Here is my final version. Loaded with amazing fuel, eat them up, make more, eat them again, no guilt.

INGREDIENTS:

16 Medjool dates, soaked for 1 hour

1/2 cup cacao nibs

1/2 cup raw walnuts

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter

6 tablespoons hemp hearts

4 tablespoons raw cocoa powder, plus a little extra for dusting

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 pinch sea salt, I like course Himalayan

2 tablespoons shredded coconut

coconut oil

Extra add ins - 1/2 teaspoon Foursigmatic adaptogenic mushroom powder, maca, cinnamon…go crazy!

PREPARATION:

Place dates, cacao nibs, walnuts, peanut butter, cocoa powder, salt, vanilla and 4 tablespoons of hemp seeds into a food processor and pulse until the ingredients begin to come together into a ball. Prepare three plates, one with cocoa powder, one with coconut flakes and one with hemp seeds. Place a small amount of coconut oil in your hands and rub together, this will keep the batter from sticking. Make 1 inch balls by rolling the dough between your hands. Roll in your desires topping (hemp seeds, cacao powder, coconut) Makes about 18 balls, 9 coated with cocoa powder, 9 with hemp seeds and 9 with shredded coconut.

SHOPPING LIST:

Medjool dates, cacao nibs, raw walnuts, natural peanut butter, hemp hearts, raw cocoa powder, vanilla, Himalayan sea salt, shredded coconut, coconut oil