christmas in july balls

A.k.a. cinnamon tahini energy balls. Tom thinks that anything with cinnamon in it is Christmassy. Fair enough, it is a very festive spice. But I am a cinnamon-everyday-of-the-year kind of girl. I put it in my coffee, my smoothies, and my granola. It was while making my cinnamon + tahini granola that I got the idea for these balls! And since I had all the ingredients (most of them already out on the counter) I made them while the granola was in the oven. And they turned out amazing! I think they are my favorite energy ball yet!

Christmas in July balls

• 1/2 cup almonds
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• dash of salt
• 1 cup soaked dates
• 4 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1 Tbsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 

Start by grinding the almonds in a food processor until they are well chopped.

Next add the oats and a dash of salt. Pulse until ground into a course meal. 

Transfer the oat/almond mixture into a bowl and set aside. Add remaining ingredients to the processor and blend until smooth (or almost smooth). Add the dry oat/almond mixture a little bit at a time and pulse to combine. You may have to mix the last bit by hand.

Nice. At this stage I like to pop it in the fridge to chill a bit. This just makes it easier to handle, but it isn't necessary. Roll into little energy balls and enjoy! Store in the fridge, eat regularly, and pretend it's Christmas... in July.