Rawnola Sprinkle & Plant-Based Pop-'ems (Energy Balls)

I searched high and low for a simple, whole food, recipe with a short ingredients list for making energy balls that taste delicious. I tried many recipes and settled on simplicity. No expensive gooey nut butter, no weird protein powder, definitely no oil and no crazy seeds if you don't want them. I also wanted to have a nut variety that works with ANY nuts, great for protein, and also a non-nut variety for those who are allergic to nuts as well as those who want a cheaper, lower-fat snack. (Those dang nuts can be expensive!)

I call 'em Pop-'ems because that's what you do: Pop 'em in your mouth!

Vegan Cooking Level: Beginner

Plant-Based Pop-'ems

1/2 cup rolled oats

10 Medjool dates, pitted

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Dash of salt

Optional: 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut, shredded (leave out to make these balls fat-free.)

Optional: 1 or 2 tablespoons (to your taste) raw cacao powder for chocolate flavored balls!

Combine the oats, dates, cinnamon and salt (and coconut and cacao powder if using) in a food processor and pulse until incorporated and chunky. Grab some in one hand and squeeze. If it sticks together completely, try rolling it into a ball (If not add a date or two more to the mixture and process again). To roll, wet the palms of your hands slightly (to prevent sticking) and roll the mixture between your palms. Rinse palms when they get too sticky and repeat. Makes approx. 10 balls. Keep in a glass or plastic container or baggie on the counter.

This mixture also doubles as both a raw granola (Rawnola) cereal to enjoy with milk or a sweet topping for any other cold or hot cereal or nice cream or even sweet potatoes.

TURN IT INTO RAWNOLA SPRINKLE TOPPING

If using as a topping, simply add 1/2 cup more oats to the mixture to make it crumblier and able to sprinkle! Feel free to add raisins, dried apricots, and any kind of nuts or seeds you have laying around to the mixture to make it more crumbly for a topping, before processing!

(You can also make this crunchier, as in Granola, by simply baking it in a 300 degree F oven spread out on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet for about 10-15 minutes until golden brown, depending on how finely it was ground. Check often so it doesn't burn!)

Sprinkle Rawnola on:

Cereal flakes

Oatmeal

Banana nice cream

Sweet potatoes

Nut butter toast

Apples dipped in nut butter

Also, makes a fantastic whole food plant-based gift!

Both types of Pop-'ems and Rawnola keep several days in a sealed container, jar or even a Ziploc bag. Perfect for lunch boxes and after school snacks or for anyone, any time you want a sweet bite of something.