Easy Chocolate Energy Balls (kid-friendly, dairy-free, nut-free, vegan)

I love these kid-friendly chocolate energy balls! Don’t you love it when classic kid-friendly snacks get a makeover? I sure do! These chocolate chews remind me of eating Rice Krispies squares after school as a kid. Pulling up a chair at the table with a glass of cold milk… that was bliss.

Luckily I didn’t know (or care) back then how much sugar was in those snacks!

Now I know that these are the real (healthy) deal: portable, sticky, chewy snacks, but revamped for better health.

This recipes gives us kid-friendly, bite-sized portions. I increased the protein by swapping the rice for puffed quinoa (a complete protein). I lowered the glycemic index with cacao and brown rice syrup. This replaces the marshmallows made from refined white sugar.

Of course, these are still a treat – not a health food!

I created these easy chocolate energy balls for a Stress-Busting Snacks workshop at Banting Memorial High School in Alliston last month.

The students went wild for them and I think you will too!

Nutritional Benefits of these Easy Chocolate Energy Balls

I call these “stress-busting” because of the cacao. It’s packed with magnesium, a key stress-busting mineral that’s often deficient in many, many people. Cacao (especially raw, organic) is considered one of the highest food sources of magnesium on the planet.

Magnesium is needed for over 300 enzyme reactions in the body. Among other things, it helps relax the nervous system and muscles throughout the body. It’s the key mineral in Epsom salts, which are excellent after strenuous exercise. Magnesium helps balance many of our body’s neurotransmitters, including serotonin. This helps calm our nerves, boost our good mood and fend off all types of stress.

Sunflower seed butter is a nut-free alternative to peanut butter that I’m obsessed with. I love its delicious taste and it’s a great option for kids with nut allergies (and schools). You can substitute peanut butter or almond butter though if you have them.

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Using Brown Rice Syrup to Sweeten these Easy Chocolate Energy Balls

The secret to these easy chocolate energy balls is the brown rice syrup. It’s stickier than honey or maple syrup and it binds ingredients together unbelievably well. Brown rice syrup is like CEMENT in this recipe… which also makes these easy chocolate energy balls fun for kids!

Many health food stores carry brown rice syrup. If you can’t find it, you could try to substitute honey. But it likely won’t hold as well. You can also buy the popped quinoa and sunflower seed butter at the bulk foods store. If you have raw cacao, use it here. If not, cocoa powder is definitely fine. And that’s what I used for the workshop to make it more accessible for all.  

Here’s the recipe for these easy chocolate energy balls:

What’s your favourite kid-friendly snack from childhood? What do you love most about it?

Ashleigh

Looking for more kid-friendly snacks? Check out my round-up of A+ Kid-friendly Back to School Snacks.