Valentine’s Day just got a whole lot sweeter and healthier with these delightful Chocolate Cherry Power Balls! Packed with love and nutrients, these little bites are not only a delicious treat, but also a guilt-free indulgence. The dark chocolate in them has been linked to improve heart health, reduce inflammation, and even enhance mood – making it the perfect cupid-approved ingredient for Valentine’s Day.
(Crumbly texture of Chocolate Cherry Power Balls mixture before shaping into balls.)
Real peanut butter adds a creamy and nutty essence, delivering healthy fats and protein to keep you fueled and satisfied. I used a “Peanuts Only with Sea Salt peanut butter from Kraft” for this recipe, which always makes a positive difference in any recipe in my opinion!
(Shaped balls before chocolate drizzle addition.)
The almond flour in these protein balls adds a nutty and wholesome touch, contributing healthy fats and a boost of vitamin E. Paired with cacao nibs, these crunchy bits not only bring a delightful texture, but also provide an extra kick of antioxidants and magnesium. But let’s not forget the protein powder, the unsung hero of this love-filled creation. (I used President’s Choice Natural Source Whey Protein Isolate Powder, which I will include a link to in the Note section of this recipe.) Packed with essential amino acids, the protein powder not only supports muscle recovery, but also helps keep you full and energized. So, indulge in these Chocolate Cherry Power Balls guilt-free and share the love, one delicious bite at a time!
Chocolate Cherry Power Balls
A power ball that satisfies chocolate cravings and gives an extra punch of protein
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond flour
- 3/4 cups pitted dates
- 1/3 cup Kraft Only Peanuts and Sea Salt peanut butter
- 1/3 cup chocolate protein powder President's Choice , Natural Source Whey Protein Isolate (25g protein per 30g serving)
- 1 tbsp cocao powder
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/3 cup dried tart cherries (pitted)
- 1/8 cup cocao nibs
- pinch kosher flaked salt
Chocolate Drizzle Topping (optional)
- 1/4 cup dark Lily's chocolate chips
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- OR 1/4 cup melting wafers
Instructions
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You will need a food processor for this recipe. A blender will likely work too, but I think a food processor will be the easiest to use. Put the first 7 ingredients in the food processor and mix to a fine crumbly texture. Take a look at the picture above for reference. It should easily press together to form a ball at this point. If it's too dry, try adding a bit more water (a teaspoon at a time - because a teaspoon goes a long way).
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Add the cherries and pulse them in so they are chopped up a bit. I like slightly larger pieces of cherry, that way I can taste it more.
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Once you have the cherries at the desired consistency, add the cocao nibs and salt. Pulse again a few times. Because the nibs are already in small pieces, you really don't have to chop them up too much more. Chop/blend till desired consistency. Again, if the consistency is too dry add a bit more water.
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Once you've reached the right consistency, where the mixture will press together well, form mixture into balls. I made 15 balls from this recipe (about 1.5 inches in diameter). Place rolled balls on a sheet of parchment paper.
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There are 2 options for the chocolate drizzle. 1) If you're using melting chocolate wafers, simply place wafers in a bowl and melt in the microwave then drizzle over Power Balls. 2) If you're using Lily's chocolate chips sweetened with stevia or even regular chocolate chips, you will need to add coconut oil so that it will "drizzle" properly.
A little chocolate drizzle hack: Put melted chocolate in a thick medium size freezer bag and cut a very small hole in the bottom corner of the bag and squish the melted chocolate through the hole onto the balls. It makes this procedure very simple to do as you can just throw the bag away when finished drizzling. Also, the chocolate drizzle is optional, but who can say no to chocolate?! Another option if using the chocolate drizzle is to sprinkle a little kosher flake salt on the balls immediately after drizzling for that little bit of extra yum.
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Let balls set in the refrigerator and then serve. Store in fridge for a couple of weeks or freeze in a sealed container for 3-6 months.
Recipe Notes
Kraft Only Peanuts with Sea Salt Peanut Butter
President's Choice Natural Source Whey Protein Isolate
Kirkland Signature Culinary Parchment Paper
Obviously you can switch out these products for products of your choice. I do, however, recommend a real peanut butter that has only peanuts and salt in their ingredient list. It makes a much better product. Also, choose a protein powder that has high grams of protein, at least 25g or higher and choose one that is sweetened with a sugar alternative like stevia, not sugar! Enjoy.
