Mud-n-Moss Energy Balls {with Pistachio and Chocolate}

Mud-n-Moss Energy Balls are such a great springtime snack. They’ll give your kids a big boost of energy, but they’re also really fun to eat, because they look like muddy moss balls found on a rainy spring day. 

I love making energy balls for my kids. They’re loaded with protein, taste delicious, they’re easy to make, and they travel well. Oh, and my kids will actually eat them, unlike so many other healthy things I make for them. There are so many variations you could try, but my kids love these particular protein balls because they look like mud and moss! Mmm…yummy. Ha ha!

What’s in Mud-n-Moss energy Balls

• Nut butter – I used cashew butter, but any kind of nut butter would work fine. Almond butter or peanut butter would be great options too! No matter what kind you choose, it will have a lot of protein and healthy fats in it. They also lend a thick, sticky consistency needed to create the spherical shape.
• Nuts – If you add whole nuts in your protein balls, not only does it increase the protein and healthy fat content, but it also gives each bite a nice crunchy texture. I used pistachio, because they are green, like moss. We put coarsely ground pistachios inside the ball dough and used finely ground pistachios to coat, which gave the balls a fun, mossy appearance.
• Oats – Adding organic rolling oats to your protein balls adds extra protein and fiber, but it also gives the nut butter something to cling to, which is necessary to shape the balls.  
• Protein powder – I used unsweetened chocolate protein powder. If you use a sweetened kind, you could skip the optional sweetener listed below. Protein powder is essential because it provides up to 25 grams of protein in each serving!
• Dried fruit – Dried fruit will give your protein balls extra flavor and sweetness, but they provide extra fiber too. We used dried apricots for ours, but dates or raisins would be a good option for these protein balls as well.
• Plant-based milk – I used oat milk for our protein balls, but almond or coconut milk would work as well. 
• Sweetener – This is optional. Since our protein powder was not sweetened already, I added a tablespoon of maple syrup, but honey would work great as well.

How to make Mud-n-Moss energy balls

• Gather everything you need.  First, you’ll need use a food processor or a good quality blender.  Now, gather cashew butter, chocolate protein powder, rolled oats, pistachios, dried apricots, maple syrup, and oat milk.
• Mix ingredients together. Place 1 cup of ground rolled oats, 1/2 cup of dry roasted pistachios (whole and shelled), 1/2 cup of chocolate protein powder, 1/3 cup of cashew butter, 1/4 cup of dried apricots, and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup into a food processor. Pulse on high until everything is ground up very fine and combined well. The dough will be a bit dry and crumbly at this stage.
• Add plant-based milk. Keep the dough in the food processor and add 1 tablespoon of oat milk and pulse on high. Scrape down the edges, if needed. Keep adding 1 tablespoon of oat milk at a time until your dough has reached a sticky, thick consistency. The consistency should resemble cookie dough. It needs to be sticky and thick enough to maintain a firm ball shape but not so sticky that it sticks to your fingers or so dry that it crumbles.

• Roll into balls. Once your dough has reached the correct sticky, thick consistency, using a spoon, scoop out a large spoonful of dough. Then with the palms of your hands, roll it into the 1-inch sized balls. This recipe yields about 12 1-inch size balls.
• Cover with nuts. After you have rolled out each of your protein balls, while they are fresh and still a bit moist, you’ll need to cover them with a coating of ground nuts. First, place 1/4 cup of whole, shelled pistachios in the food processor. Pulse on high until the nuts are ground very finely, resembling Panko bread crumbs. Then roll your protein ball into the nuts until they are completely covered on all sides. Your balls should resemble mud covered in moss.

• Enjoy right away or refrigerate. You can eat the protein balls right away or place them in a sealed container and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

What we love about mud-n-Moss energy balls

• They are convenient – These protein balls are perfect for when you’re on the-go or in a hurry and you need to pack a quick snack. Throw them in a container to take them on a hike or on the road or add them to your child’s school lunch or snack.
• They will keep your child feeling full for hours – How many times a day do you hear, “I’m hungry!” or “can I have a snack?” Ha ha! Well, there is so much protein, fiber, and healthy fat in these energy balls that just one or two will fill up your kids and they’ll feel full for hours.
• They can be easily modified – Depending on your taste and what ingredients you have access to, you can make many different variations of this energy ball. Basically, if you have a nut butter, protein powder, cereal grain, and dried fruit you can make any variation you like!
• They’re kid-sized – Just like our Mini Pizza Bagels, these energy balls are small and easier for little hands to manage. 
• They give your kids a lot of energy – Okay, okay, kids already have a lot of energy, I know! But sometimes they do need an extra boost to get through their tough school work or finish a long hike or need an afternoon pick-me-up to last until dinner. 
• They are easy and quick to make – All you have to do to is throw all the ingredients into a food processor, whir it around for a moment, and they’re ready to form into balls. A few minutes later, you have a fun and healthy snack ready for eating!
• They are full of protein – Kids need about .45 grams of protein for every pound of body weight. So, a 40 pound child needs approximately 18 grams of protein a day. Protein, especially for growing children, is extremely important. It is needed to repair tissue and build strong bones and muscles. For more information on kids and protein check out the Feed Nutrition Consulting website. 
• They are full of healthy fats – Healthy fats like nuts and seeds are important for your child’s brain development and help fuel their growing bodies and absorb vitamins.
• They are fun for kids – Okay, my kids can’t possibly be the only kids out there who love eating food that resembles something gross. Ha ha! These energy balls are so fun because it makes kids feel like they’re eating mud covered in moss. Yummy!!

Mud-n-Moss Energy Balls {with Pistachio and Chocolate}

Yield: 12

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Additional Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Mud-n-Moss Energy Balls are such a great springtime snack. They'll give your kids a big boost of energy, but they're also really fun to eat, because they look like muddy moss balls found on a rainy spring day.

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Ingredients

• 1 cup of ground rolled oats
• 1/2 cup of pistachios (whole and shelled)
• 1/2 cup of protein powder (chocolate)
• 1/3 cup of cashew butter
• 1/4 cup of dried apricots
• 1 tablespoon of maple syrup

Instructions

Place cashew butter, chocolate protein powder, rolled oats, pistachios, dried apricots, and maple syrup into a food processor. Pulse on high until everything is ground up very fine and combined well. The dough will be a bit dry and crumbly at this stage.

Keep the dough in the food processor and add 1 tablespoon of oat milk and pulse on high. Scrape down the edges, if needed. Keep adding 1 tablespoon of oat milk at a time until your dough has reached a sticky, thick consistency. The consistency should resemble cookie dough. It needs to be sticky and thick enough to maintain a firm ball shape but not so sticky that it sticks to your fingers or so dry that it crumbles.

Roll into balls. Once your dough has reached the correct sticky, thick consistency, using a spoon, scoop out a large spoonful of dough. Then with the palms of your hands, roll it into the 1-inch sized balls.

After rolling out each of your protein balls, while they are fresh and still a bit moist, cover them with a coating of ground pistachios. Place 1/4 cup of whole, shelled pistachios in the food processor. Pulse on high until the nuts are ground very finely, resembling Panko bread crumbs. Then roll your protein ball into the nuts until they are completely covered on all sides. Your energy balls should resemble mud covered in moss.

Enjoy right away or place them in a sealed container and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Nutrition Information

Yield 12 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 123Total Fat 7gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 1mgSodium 50mgCarbohydrates 11gFiber 2gSugar 4gProtein 6g

Nutrition information will differ depending on the brand of products used.