Something occurred to me the other day, I haven’t bought any shop bought snacks for ages. Now that I know how easy healthy snacks are to make at home I love getting creative in the kitchen and whizzing up something new. What I love even more is that I don’t even have to go to the shops to buy any special ingredients for these impromptu snack creation sessions. I simply use whatever happens to be in my cupboards after a good rummage – it’s amazing what you can find abandoned in the back of your kitchen cupboards.
Today’s recipe came about because I was looking for something to snack on while sipping on my now routine afternoon tea. Not wanting chocolate or the cookies from the bakery, I had everything that I needed to make up some snack balls and that’s exactly what I did!
- 4 medjool dates
- 1/4 cup oats
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp tahini
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
- 2 tbsp cacao nibs
- pinch of rock salt to taste
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Put all of the ingredients into a blender and blitz until a breadcrumb-like texture forms.
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Portion the mixture into 8 and roll into balls.
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These are ready to eat straight away or you can store them in the fridge.
Look how quick these are to make! By the time the kettle had boiled I had almost finished making these snack balls. To be honest, I’m not a massive tahini fan when using it alone but mixed with other ingredients it really tastes amazing. Chocolate and tahini probably sounds like a super weird combination, similar thoughts ran through my head when I was making these. Trust me when I say that the two together just works!
With my generous portion sizes, I managed to squeeze 8 snack balls out of the mixture using the quantities above. You may be able to stretch it to 10, but it really depends on how big you like your balls…ahem! Did I just type that? Sorry, the childishness in me just couldn’t resist.
I’m going to be creating you lots of easy to make healthy snack recipes like this because they are my most requested type of recipes. Snacking healthy can be a struggle with all that temptation out there.
Some cuteness to end the post…my cheeky one-year-old stealing my props while I was shooting the recipe. You’ve got to love him!
I love big balls! You always have the most lovely sounding recipes on your blog, I think I will give this one a try! I’ll let you know how many balls I get out of.mine ; (
Haha! Your comment just made me laugh out loud. I hope you like them.
These sound absolutely yummy. I need to take a leaf out of your book – we’ve been trying not to eat crisps lately (which we usually have for lunch alongside a sandwich or wrap), but I’m struggling to think of any healthier snacks to have alongside. Maybe homemade is the way to go!
Homemade is definitely the way forward! You can make so many delicious healthy snacks in minutes.
Amazing Jemma! I keep meaning to have a go at some energy balls. Salted caramel sounds fantastic x
Thanks, Emily! I do love salted anything!
I love tahini, its one of my favourite flavours so can imagine how good these taste (and I’ve made tahini snack balls before myself too)
yum! Lovely recipe Jemma.
Great minds! Tahini works so well with chocolate.
It’s so easy to just make your own snacks, isn’t it. I can’t remember the last time I bought energy balls/bites.
I looooove salted chocolate too.
It’s surprisingly easy and I’m definitely going to be doing it a lot more.
I’ve never had Tahini and those look very tasty. Might give them a try.
You really should! 🙂
All I have to say is YUM! I’ve been a long time lurker so I always enjoy your recipes. xx
Thanks for commenting Anna! So happy to hear that you like my recipes.
I love salty/sweet flavor combos- in my opinion that makes it the perfect snack!
A lady after my own heart…
That looks delicious! Gonna have to add this to my to do list and give it a try!
Thanks! Let me know what you think of them!
You had me at salted chocolate…
My go-to healthy snack is always an apple…obviously 😉 But recipe-wise I don’t know as I never really bake. I tend to just buy cake for something naughty. But for healthier snacks I go for ready-made stuff like cottage cheese or beef jerky. I’m quite boring I suppose!
No boring at all I haven’t even tried beef jerky yet, must give it a go!
Ialways thought salted caramel sounded a bit weird but I must admit I am a convert and I love making healthy homemade snacks.
It tastes so good doesn’t it!
What a lovely idea to add tahini. I’ve made cookie dough with chickpeas before, but never used tahini. Something to try! 🙂
http://lilinhaangel.com/
Love the idea to use chickpeas in cookie dough, yum!
These sound delish! Definitely going to try these out – it might even stop me reaching for the biscuit tin!
Ha! I have the same issue with the biscuit tin sometimes too.
Oh wow! These look amazing. Definitely on my list of recipes to try. I might make these tomorrow actually. Thank you for sharing xx
Oh lovely! Did you like them?
Snack balls are awesome but also soooo dangerous for me! I make a whole bunch and put them in the freezer… And right now I have a few calling to me, ha ah ah! But I WILL RESIST – I will 😉
The freezer is also my best friend when it comes to things like these, so addictive!
Yummy! These look scrumptious – I so have to give them a try!
Thanks, I hope you like them if you do try them!
They sound good, although like you I am not a big tahini fan- I find it can taste a bit bitter or almost burnt. Looks like you have a fun helper in your kitchen now!
I do think tahini is a acquired taste, but I do like it mixed in with things like these. I would use the word helper rather loosely, ha! 🙂
Those sound so good, I need to try something out that might be a little more healthy for me
xo Michelle
http://rosetolife.com
Thanks Michelle, these would be perfect for you then! 😉
These look so good! Now I have a blender I can actually try these out yay!
Yay! I couldn’t live without my blender.
These look amazing! I love using dates as a base for healthy sweet treats!
Thanks Ryan, dates are great for things like this.
They sounds delicious I am always looking for quick little snack recipes as I am a serial snacker and it usually ends up being something bad for me! Going to try these x
Fab! I really hope that you like them. 🙂
These balls are fantastic also because you can put so many different ingredients in them and have different tastes. These sound interesting i would never have though of using Tahini in them I must definitely try this recipe. Thank you for sharing. x
Thanks! The tahini really adds a lovely flavour.
What cute little treats! I bet my little boy would enjoy these. Anything with chocolate he loves!
Thank you! They were a hit with my one-year-old!
Ooo they look delicious! Dates and tahini are of my favourite combos ever since I was a little girl 😀
Thanks Nadia! They work so well together don’t they.
These look super delicious. I need to make some.
Thanks Jodie!
I love making my own snacks too! It’s so great to have control over all the ingredients – these look great 🙂