The whole family will love these dinosaur energy balls! Packed with wholesome ingredients and covered in crushed pistachios.
How to Make Dinosaur Energy Balls
- Make the dough: Place the goji berries, almonds, coconut, chia, dates, cacao powder, and honey in a food processor and process until well combined. With the processor running, add one tablespoon of water, check the dough, and repeat until you get a dough you can shape with your hands.
- Make the balls: Roll the dough into balls about one tablespoon in size. Dip each dinosaur energy ball into the melted chocolate and sprinkle with chopped pistachios.
- Refrigerate: Refrigerate for 30 minutes or keep the dinosaur energy balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
To Store: Dinosaur energy balls will last in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. To keep them fresh, use a resealable, airtight container or ziplock bag. If you’re going to stack them, separate the dinosaur energy ball layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
To Freeze: For longer storage, you can also freeze the dinosaur energy balls for up to three months. Just put them in a freezer-safe ziplock bag and freeze until ready 30 minutes before you serve them.
Recipe Variations for Dinosaur Energy Balls
Cinnamon twist: Add one teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the dough mixture — dust with more cinnamon on top of the chocolate.
Coconut-lime dough mix: Replace half of the shredded coconut with toasted coconut flakes and add one tablespoon of lime zest to the mix.
Matcha twist: Replace two tablespoons of cocoa powder with matcha powder to infuse the balls with earthy, antioxidant-rich green tea flavor.
Sunflower balls: For a nut-free option, swap the almonds for sunflower seeds and replace the pistachios with a mixture of crushed sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
Pumpkin spice energy balls: Mix two teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice with the dough ingredients. Replace the chocolate with cinnamon-infused chocolate.
Mango twist: Add half a cup of dried mango chunks to the dough mixture.
Almond coating: Roll the balls in finely chopped almonds along with the pistachios for extra nutty energy balls.
Chili orange zest balls: Add one tablespoon of orange zest to the dough mixture. Add half a teaspoon of chili or cayenne powder to the chocolate coating and mix well before dipping the balls.
Cherry chocolate balls: Fold half a cup of chopped dried cherries into the dough and top each ball with a dried cherry before refrigerating.
Peanut butter and jelly dinosaur energy balls: Mix a quarter cup of peanut butter with the dough ingredients and press a small dollop of strawberry jam into the center of each ball before dipping it in chocolate.
Dinosaur Energy Balls
Ingredients
- ½ cup dried goji berries
- 1 cup 160g almonds
- 2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- 10 fresh dates, pitted
- ½ cup raw cacao or cocoa powder
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tbsp boiling water or as needed
- 1 ½ cup dark chocolate chips, melted
- ¼ cup pistachios, finely chopped
Instructions
- Place the goji berries, almonds, coconut, chia, dates, cacao powder and honey in a food processor and process until well combined.
- With the motor running, add the water, a tablespoon at a time, until you get a dough you can shape with your hands.
- Roll the dough into balls about 1 tablespoon in size.
- Dip each ball into the melted chocolate and sprinkle with chopped pistachio.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Keep the balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Notes
- Use soft dates: If your dates are too firm, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes before using them to soften them up for easier blending.
- Check consistency: When forming the dough, aim for a texture that holds together when squeezed but isn’t too sticky. To do this, don’t just add the water. Start with one tablespoon, mix, and test. Add another tablespoon and repeat until you get the consistency you want.
- Chill chocolate: Allow the melted chocolate to cool slightly before dipping the balls to prevent excessive dripping and ensure a smoother coating. The chocolate should be liquid but not burning hot. Work fast before it sets.
- Storage tip: Store the energy balls in a single layer or with a sheet of wax or parchment paper between dinosaur energy ball layers to prevent sticking together in the fridge.
- Experiment with toppings: You can customize the toppings with your favorite nuts, dried fruits, or seeds for a personalized flavor and texture.
- Adapt for allergies: Replace offensive ingredients as needed to accommodate allergies or dietary preferences, such as using sunflower seeds instead of almonds for a nut-free option. Keep the ratios the same.
