For a healthy little treat that doesn't require baking, try these No-Bake Gingerbread Cookie Energy Balls. If you're anything like me during the holidays, you want to eat ALL the things. Not just all the things but all of all of the things. It's hard for me not to have a sugar cookie and a gingerbread cookie and a piece of fudge and a slab of peppermint bark.
Having delicious and packed-with-flavor protein balls on hand helps me strike a balance. Don't get me wrong - I don't feel guilty about eating a cookie. Or three. These energy balls are filling, naturally sweet, and delicious...and keep me from recreating a meal approved by Buffy the Elf.
You may recall the pecan pie energy balls and the spiced pumpkin energy balls. Yeah, my food processor can make them without my help at this point. This version is gingery and spicy with gingerbread cookie flavor.
These are the main players...
Raw sunflower seeds (I buy big bags of them on Amazon), almond flour, oats, Medjool dates (Rancho Meladuco has the best!), crystallized ginger, gingerbread spices, molasses, olive oil, and just a bit of salt.
Crystallized ginger adds a bright ginger punch in addition to the ground ginger.
Now technically, you WILL turn your oven on, but you won't bake the energy balls in there. I'm still saying these are no-bake. Start by toasting almond flour in the oven. I did this to give the energy bites a little more of a baked flavor like cookies.
You'll give all of the ingredients a spin in the food processor until they come together and stick together when pressed.
Scoop with a small cookie scoop or a teaspoon and roll into balls.
Store in the refrigerator.
No-Bake Gingerbread Cookie Energy Balls
3/4 cup almond flour
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/4 cup old-fashioned oats
pinch fine sea salt
1/2 cup chopped Medjool dates
2 tablespoons chopped crystallized ginger
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon molasses
Preheat oven to 350°. Spread the almond flour onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 4 minutes. Remove and let cool. Whir the sunflower seeds, oats, and salt in a food processor until the seeds and oats are chopped fine. Add the dates, crystallized ginger, and spices. Mix until the dates and ginger are mixed throughout with no large chunks remaining.
Pour in the toasted flour and pulse to combine. Add in the olive oil and molasses. Process until incorporated, and the mixture holds together when pressed.
Use a small cookie scoop or teaspoon to portion; roll into balls. Store in the refrigerator.
No-Bake Gingerbread Cookie Energy Balls...make a stash for Christmas snacking. You'll be so glad you did!
