We are not sure we need to give you another reason to eat chocolate this Christmas, but together with our friends at Trewhitts, we’re going to anyway!

These energy balls are to die for, and by using Raw Cacao, Maca and Mindful Extracts CBD they are a naughty treat, whilst still being healthy and nutritious!

They are perfect for entertaining guests or just to have in the fridge as a healthy source of energy as part of a balanced diet.

Firstly, here’s some information on the two main ingredients that we are using with our CBD oil.

Raw Cacao 

Cacao has more than thirty times the antioxidants of blueberries or beetroot and is an excellent source of plant-based iron and magnesium. Just be sure you are purchasing raw cacao powder, not cocoa powder – cocoa powder is massively processed and roasted to the point where nearly all of the antioxidants have dissipated.

We’re sorry to say a lot of normal chocolate has no health benefits but fortunately you can find cacao powder in most health food shops and even in a lot of big supermarkets.

Maca

The maca plant is sometimes referred to as Peruvian Ginseng. It predominantly grows in the Andes of central Peru, in rough conditions and at very high altitudes, above 4000 meters. Maca is a cruciferous vegetable and is related to broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale. It has a long history of culinary and holistic use in Peru.

The main edible part of the plant is the root. It exists in several colours, ranging from white to red.  Maca root is generally dried and consumed in powder form, but it’s also available in capsules and as a liquid extract. The taste of maca root powder has been described as earthy and nutty. Many people add it to their smoothies, porridge and of course, energy balls.

There are a number of supposed benefits of maca powder, you can find more info here.

Recipe

Ingredients

• 5 Drops of Mindful Extracts CBD oil – 5%
• 60g raw walnuts
• 60g cup raw hazelnuts
• 30g hulled hemp seeds
• 30g pomegranate seeds
• 4 tbsp raw cacao powder
• 1 tbsp maca
• 20g cacao butter / coconut oil
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 60 g cup soaked dates, chopped
• 1 tbsp maple syrup

Process

Step 1

Start by putting the hazelnuts, walnuts, hulled hemp seeds, CBD oil, and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the nuts break down and combine with the other ingredients. 

The meel should be fine, but retain some texture.

Step 2

Next add the soaked dates, pomegranate seeds (save some seeds for decoration), maple syrup and melted cacao butter, (put cacao butter or coconut oil on the hob and heat on a low heat until melted) run the food processor until the mixture becomes thick and sticky. 

You should be able to squeeze a bit of the mixture between your fingers. If it’s too loose and crumbly, add a tablespoon of water and process until everything comes together.

Step 3

Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper. Scoop pieces of the mixture and roll it into balls between your palms adding some pomegranate seeds on top for decoration, we usually aim for slightly smaller than the size of a golf ball. 

Line them up on the baking sheet and place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least an hour, overnight if possible. Store the raw cacao energy balls in an airtight container in the fridge ready to eat when you like. They are suitable for freezing.

Step 4 

Enjoy!