We recently deep breathed our way through homemade raw cashew butter, and while I gave you many good suggestions for it's use, I am going to give you the ultimate, most delicious, practical, energizing and impressive suggestion of all. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Little balls of scrumptious, ooey, gooey, sweet, slightly crunchy, perfection. And guess what - they are healthy and so handy to have in the fridge. They are full of good fats, fibre (prebiotic fibre too!), some protein, antioxidants, some iron, some B's and lots of minerals-the list is endless. 

I'm often running out the door in the mornings, getting the kids off to school and trying to make it to the gym on time. Usually, about 10 minutes into my workout, when I'm shaky & anxious and way too tired, I realize that I forgot to eat. This is when my anxious, hungry mind starts to think about all of the terrible things that go on inside the body when you workout while fasting (for those of you who do fast & workout - it's generally safe as long as you're prepared and have done your homework - for the rest of us, it can halt our progress & recovery!).

That's why these guys are so great. Not only do they double as a treat when you've got a sweet tooth happening (and they don't increase your cravings the way high sugar snacks and candy do), they provide the body with the right nutrients to keep you going. You don't have to be heading to the gym to enjoy these little dudes. They are great between meals to keep hunger at bay or as a quick morning bite if you're running around in a kid - herding frenzy like most of us 30-somethings. And again, they're great little replacements to the more refined, high sugar treats that we are too often tempted by.

We're using about 20 dates for the base. Dates are high in glucose, but they are natural. They usually come dried and that is about the only messing around that's been done to them. They contain fibre - about 6 grams per 100 gram serving, as well as minerals like potassium, copper, manganese and magnesium. I never feel guilty when I eat dates. I just eat them in moderation,  remembering that the body needs glucose before and after a good, hard workout or when we're on the run. It's best, however, not to sit around eating them in front of the T.V, which is actually very hard to do with dates. They are a whole food, and even though they're very high in sugar, their wholeness allows your body to be satisfied with one or two. Sugar in nature does not cause the brain to lose all control the way it does when it's been removed from it's natural source and refined.

Next comes our delicious raw cashew butter, and together, the dates & butter make the 'cookie dough'. We're going to whirr that dough up with about one cup of hemp seeds  and mix in some raw cacao nibs.

I'm using Medjool dates here. They come whole and are usually nice and soft. If you find yours aren't very soft (which can happen) just soak them for a bit before using (pit them first). Pitting dates is absolutely no big deal, so I don't want to hear any complaints. As mentioned above, I've got 20 dates in the food processor and I'm going to whirr them up until they are pretty soft.

It's OK if the dates are a bit lumpy at this point. They will continue to soften and puree down as we carry on with the recipe.

To our pureed dates, we're going to add about 1/2 cup of our raw cashew butter, 2 tbsp of coconut oil and a splash of vanilla. The coconut oil is excellent for energy production. You may recall from my energy drinks post that the body uses MCT oil as an immediate energy source. Coconut oil is a source of MCT oil, so it's perfect in any sort of energy - aiding recipe. It also helps to give these balls a bit of shape (keep your thoughts wholesome, please), as coconut oil firms right up as it cools. The vanilla contributes to that cookie dough vibe. Add a pinch of salt while you're at it.

When the cookie dough base is smooth, you can go ahead and add the hemp hearts. I love these little seeds. Hemp hearts are soft and nutty (but not too nutty) and incorporate very well into foods like energy balls, granola bars, smoothies, porridge, etc. I tend to shy away from eating too many grains for the sake of health (grains are a treat in my books) so rather than adding dry oatmeal to these balls, I like to stick solely with hemp. They've got a great nutritional profile. They're very high in one of my most favourite things - fat, with omega 3 and 6 being present in a very good ratio- 1:3. They also contain GLA (gamma linolenic acid), which is great for skin and hair health. The protein in hemp is quite impressive too. About 3 tbsp contains 10 grams! Woot! The fat and protein contained in these little numbers help to ease the effect that the dates may have on our insulin levels.

I've added about one cup of hemp hearts and pulsed them in. The food processor starts to get a little tired at this point. Don't try to push it. When all looks good and incorporated, go ahead and add your cacao nibs. These guys add a wonderful chocolatey crunch to the balls (stop giggling). Pulse them in even gentler, as at this point, your food processor is not impressed with you, at all.

When your dough is ready and everything is incorporated, scoop it out of your processor and into a bowl. Next to your bowl should be another bowl holding some lovely, unsweetened coconut flakes. Roll your dough into balls (I like them kind of small for convenience sake, but it's up to you) and roll them in the coconut. When all your balls are rolled and coated, place them in the fridge to chill (place them on a plate in a single layer, don't pile them up just yet, you can store them piled in a sealable container when they've chilled). 

Keep them in the fridge for about one week.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Energy Balls

• 20 medjool dates, pitted
• 1/2 cup raw cashew butter (you can use roasted cashew or almond butter if you must. Peanut butter is pretty awesome too)
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tsp vanilla
• pinch of sea salt
• 1 cup hemp hearts
• 1/4 cup raw cacao nibs or chunks for a very very dark chocolate (because we don't need any added sugar in this recipe)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes for rolling

1. Place pitted dates in food processor
2. Process until mostly smooth (some texture is ok)
3. Add the cashew butter coconut oil, vanilla and sea salt
4. Process until smooth and dough-like
5. Add the hemp hearts and pulse until combined
6. Add the cacao nibs and quickly pulse until combined 
7. Apologize to your food processor
8. Remove the dough from the processor and place it into a separate bowl
9. Form into balls and roll in coconut
10. Chill on a flat surface for about 1 hour
11. Once chilled, balls can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 1 week

Enjoy!