Carrot Oat Energy Bites

This recipe started for carrot oat energy bites started as a foray into healthy Christmas food ideas, but honestly, these balls don’t need to be kept for Christmas time, so whether you have popped over to my site to find the reindeer food or to find a lower sugar nut free ball, do not panic. You are in the right place for both.

These carrot bliss balls started as a wee flurry of healthy Christmas treats I created a couple of years ago when my blog was still very new and all my kiddos were very small.

The original idea was that calling them ‘Reindeer Food’ was not only a fun Christmas idea but also a great introduction into bliss balls for kids.

When I was little we always left carrots out for the reindeer, and I am proudly continuing the tradition of chomping on carrots in the middle of the night to please my kids going!

It was this tradition that was the launchpad for this healthy Christmas food idea, that and my never-ending quest to make the perfect bliss balls for kids.

Ingredients:

• 3 medium carrots
• 1 Cup oats
• 1 Cup sunflower seeds
• 1/2 Cup dates
• 1 TBSP coconut oil or other light flavoured oil
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ginger dried
• Desiccated coconut for rolling

Instructions:

1. Watch the quick recipe video before you get started, scroll up a little to find it
2. Check the notes at the bottom of the recipe for little bits of extra info and help
3. Place carrots in a sturdy food processor and blitz until very finely chopped
4. Add remaining ingredients, excluding the desiccated coconut and blitz until the mixture comes together into a large ball. This may take some time, 5 or so minutes of blitzing but be patient it will get there
5. Using a teaspoon form balls, the mixture will be quite sticky (because of the water content of the fresh carrot) , but the texture improves once you roll in coconut. If yu keep your hands damp it stops the mix sticking to your fingers, Get the kids involved they will love the mess
6. Roll the balls in desiccated coconut (You don't have to, I sometimes leave some coconut free)
7. Refrigerate

Notes:

• The balls will be quite soft when first made as the mixture is quite warm for them blitzing. Refrigerate for a good few hours and this will improve immensely.
• This recipe is wheat-free but does contain traditional oats so is not gluten-free
• You can use either medjool or regular dates, regular dates may need to be softened by soaking in hot water if your food processor is not sturdy
• The dates can be substituted for raisins or sultanas