Mango-Lime Energy Balls

Oh, you thought my ball days were over? THINK AGAIN! I’m back with the most tropical, refreshing, flavorful energy balls yet. They’re also the stickiest, but in a good way. I’m going to attempt to not put words “balls” and “sticky” in a sentence, but you know how it is. I probably will. Be warned.

We take snack time really seriously around here. So much so that I made a batch of peanut butter balls the day of my wedding, just so the ladies could have a snack while we got dressed. There were also mango-lime mimosas, so maybe my brain blurred the two together and popped out these balls. 

Lately, I have been packing a few of these into a container, going for a hike, and stopping for a little ball-snack when I get to the top of the mountain. You could definitely pack a few in your gym bag, lunch box, or bring them on the next picnic you go on, too. Or, you know, eat them while binge-watching a show on Netflix. No judgement here. 

These balls have 7 simple, super nutritious ingredients, like:

Dates, for their caramel-y flavor and super sticky texture. Dates aid in digestion, and are full of potassium, calcium, and iron. They are also super sweet, but have actually been shown to regulate blood sugar levels. 

Dried Mangoes give these energy balls their fresh, tropical flavor. They are full of vitamins C and A, and have antioxidants that can help your body fight cancer. If you’re not already eating lots of mangoes, now would be a great time to start.

Almond Meal helps bind the fruit together and provides a little bit of texture to the balls. If you can’t find almond meal at the store, you can definitely grind your own in the food processor before you make the balls. Either way, the almonds are adding extra protein, fiber, and heart-healthy fats to these balls. 

Hemp Seeds add a boost of omega-3 & omega-6 fatty acids, and round out the balls (pun intended) with what is apparently the most easily digestible, balanced source of protein found in nature. If you equate hemp with marijuana, might I suggest a little research on the difference? Don’t worry, these balls won’t get you high. <–stranger sentences have never been said, my friends. 

Lime Zest adds a bright, fresh flavor to these otherwise dried fruit-laden balls. Without the lime zest, I wasn’t impressed with the flavor of these balls. With it, though, I was completely obsessed. 

Turmeric is an optional ingredient, but adds an extra dose of yellow color and a little boost of anti-inflammatories to each bite.

and finally, a pinch of salt balances out all that sweetness. 

 Have you heard? Energy balls are making America great again! Balls for president! 

You know I want to see all your mango-lime energy balls, so leave me a comment below or tag me #bakedgreens on Instagram so I can follow along with your ball-scapades. 

Mango-Lime Energy Balls

Chelsea Colbath

These energy balls are soft, sticky, and full of tropical flavors.

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Ingredients

  

• 1 cup tightly packed dried, unsweetened mango (this was about 12 slices for me)
• 1 cup pitted medjool dates this was about 10 for me
• 1 1/2 cups almond meal*
• 1/4 cup hemp seeds aka hemp hearts
• Zest from 2 limes
• 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric optional**
• A pinch of salt
• Extra almond meal and/or hemp seeds to roll balls in

Instructions

 

• 1. Place mangos and dates in a large bowl or glass measuring cup, and cover with hot tap water. Let sit for 15 minutes to soften.
• 2. Drain dates and mangoes, then put them in the bowl of a food processor or high-powered blender (I used my Vitamix). Blend until almost thoroughly puréed, about 1-2 minutes.
• 3. Add all remaining ingredients and pulse just to combine. The batter should be soft and sticky.
• 4. Pour a little extra almond meal and/or hemp seeds in a small bowl. Scoop batter with a mini ice cream scoop, or a spoon, and drop into the bowl of almond meal, stirring to coat. Use your palms to roll each dollop of dough into a ball. Repeat until all the dough has been used up.
• 5. Store balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. These energy balls will remain soft and sticky, and only slightly harden after refrigeration.

Notes

*I buy almond meal at Trader Joe's, and have seen it at almost every major grocery store in the natural foods" section. If you can't find almond meal, or happen to already have raw almonds at home, you can easily make it yourself. Just put 1 1/2 cups of almonds into the food processor when it's dry (before you blend the mangoes and dates), and blend until it forms a coarse, flour-like meal. Don't over mix, or it will eventually turn into almond butter.
**I love turmeric for its health benefits and bright orange color. If you don't have any at home, you can just skip it and the recipe won't be affected. If you do have some, though, I highly recommend using it. The sometimes astringent, earthy flavor of turmeric is completely lost in the bold flavors of date, mango, and lime, so you won't even notice it's in there!

Adapted from Minimalist Baker