These carrot cake energy balls are absolutely divine for a wee snack in the afternoon. They’re easy to make with a sturdy food processor, they keep very well in the fridge for a week or so. I find a number of energy ball recipes feature either a lot of peanut butter or a lot of sweet dried fruit. Neither options are particularly inspiring in the afternoon so instead I look towards alternatives that were in my cupboard.
Carrot cake is my favourite cake. I find something quite soothing about the healthy component and yet love the complex flavours of the spices. I also tend to find energy balls that have a dried fruit base are often very sweet. Here I use a few dates and the natural sweetness of the carrots is allowed to shine. Bulked up with some oats, they can form a fairly wholesome snack that is perfect for three p.m. snacks. You can use either the lovely fresh Medjool dates that are found fresh in the produce section. Or the dried dates from the baking section of your supermarket that have been soaked in hot water for a little bit. This is to soften them up before they’re blitzed in the food processor.
My Canadian isn’t fond of a lot energy balls. It’s the desiccated coconut on the outside that simply puts him off. I’m also sure there are people out there who would love an energy ball that isn’t rolled in coconut, so I’ve used hemp seeds. They provide a beautiful crunch and add a lovely texture to these snacks. Hemp hearts or hemp seeds are my new favourite sprinkle – I adore adding them salads, scrambled eggs and pretty much everything. With a flavour a little like pine nuts, they’re a gorgeous addition to the outside of these carrot cake energy balls.
Ingredients
- 1 cup carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
- 12 x dates, soaked in hot water for 20 minutes
- 1 tbsp dried ginger, roughly chopped
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground cardamon
- 1 pinch of salt
- 2 tsp maple syrup, more to taste
- Hemp seeds to roll in
Instructions
Place everything except for the hemp seeds into a food processor and blitz until chopped and mixed together. Spread the hemp seeds evenly into a flat dish. Take small spoonfuls of the mixture and roll in slightly damp hands. You want them to be slightly smaller than a golf ball. Then roll each finished ball in the hemp seeds, ensuring they get stuck to the outside.
