Hazelnut Chocolate Balls / Chocolate Hazelnut Energy Balls

By Jigna

These energy balls are healthy, soft, nutty, delicious, and will remind you of Ferrero Rocher.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 15

Total Time 15

Course Snack

Diet Healthy, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings Balls

Ingredients

▢ 1¼ cups hazelnuts
▢ 240 gms dates pitted ((approximately 12 Medjool dates))
▢ 2 tablespoon cocoa powder
▢ 1 tablespoon Maple Syrup (or choice of sweetener)
▢ 2 teaspoon pure vanilla
▢ ⅛ teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

Place hazelnuts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Toast the nuts in the preheated oven at 350° F for 7-8 minutes.
When hazelnuts are still warm, rub the kitchen towel to remove most of the skin. Then let them cool completely.
Take out ¼ cup of hazelnut, chop them roughly, and set them aside for later use.
Add 1 cup of toasted hazelnut to a food processor and process them until the nuts turn into a coarse powder.
To this, add dates, cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla, and sea salt. Process until everything is well combined, stick together, and becomes almost like a dough.
It will take only 30-40 seconds, so do not process for longer.
Scoop the dough with your hand, a tablespoon or a small ice cream scoop, and form it into small balls using your hands.
If it is too sticky and hard to form balls, lightly grease your palm with coconut oil or any other neutral oil.
Roll each ball into chopped hazelnuts and enjoy!

Storing The Hazelnut Chocolate Balls

Store the Hazelnut Chocolate Balls in an airtight container and place them in the fridge for up to two weeks.
These energy balls also freeze well for up to a month in a freezer container or bag.

Notes

If you don't want to roll the balls into chopped hazelnuts, toast only one cup of hazelnuts. And skip the step of rolling the balls into chopped nuts.
Do not add maple syrup if you are okay with the sweetness of dates, or add more sweetener for extra sweetness. Instead of maple syrup, you can use honey or agave syrup.
Medjool dates are my favorite. They are more naturally sweetened than other varieties. Also, they are large, juicy, and very soft. But you can use your favorite dates.
Soak hard or dry dates in warm water for at least 15-20 minutes. And drain them well before using them in the recipe.

Nutrition (Approximate Values)

Calories : 95kcalCarbohydrates : 13gProtein : 2gFat : 5gSaturated Fat : 1gSodium : 17mgPotassium : 161mgFiber : 2gSugar : 10gVitamin A : 22IUVitamin C : 1mgCalcium : 20mgIron : 1mg