Dirty Chai Energy Balls: Satisfy Your Afternoon Cravings
When the clock hits four PM, there are three places you might find me: at Acorn, eating a chocolate chip cookie, at Oak House, drinking a vanilla latte, or in my dorm room, snacking on whatever chocolate I can find. It’s not even that I ate poorly or skipped a meal during the day; when the afternoon rolls around, I just can’t help it! My sweet tooth, tiredness, and hunger hit all at once. And, let’s face it: the granola bars are getting old.
My new go-to is a few dirty chai espresso energy balls. They don’t take long to make and don’t require I kitchen — I was able to make them in my dorm room. This delicious, healthy snack curbs my hunger, coffee need and chocolate craving all at once.
Time: 15-20 minutes
Yields: 18-20 energy balls
Ingredients:
Chai spice blend
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon allspice
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Energy Balls
- 1 1/4 cups rolled oats (gluten free or steel cut works, too)
- Chai powder
- 1 tablespoon espresso powder or coffee grounds, depending on your preference
- 1/2 cup creamy nut or seed butter (My personal favorite is this one from Trader Joe’s)
- 1/3 cup honey or brown rice syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon cacao nibs (I used dark chocolate instead, which has 53% cacao, to satisfy my chocolate cravings)
Directions:
1.Combine oats, chai spice blend, chai powder, espresso/coffee grounds, and cacao nibs in a large bowl (or whatever you can find – let’s be real, we’re college students)
2.Mix in nut butter, vanilla extract, and honey or brown rice syrup.
3.Using a tablespoon, scoop the mixture into rounded balls and smooth by rolling the mix between palms.
4.Freeze for ten minutes, unless you can’t wait (like me)… bon appetit!
These energy balls can be stored in the fridge for two weeks, or stored in the freezer in an airtight container for two to three months.
