Snickerdoodle Protein Balls

Satisfy your sweet tooth with snickerdoodle protein balls - A no-bake, healthy treat that will keep you full!

#1 favorite protein ball recipe that the girls at the gym absolutely love! And rightfully so because who doesn’t love the flavor combinations of cinnamon and sugar?!

Cinnamon and sugar are what makes a snickerdoodle, but that doesn’t mean we have to stick to the traditional unhealthy, sugar filled dessert.

Because these snickerdoodle protein balls are good for you! Not only are they made with natural sweeteners like pure maple syrup and coated with coconut sugar but they are also gluten-free, dairy free and filled with lofts of healthy fats, flavor and protein.

HOW TO MAKE SNICKERDOODLE PROTEIN BALLS

Let me give you the easy answer. Add all of the ingredients to the food processor and blend until the mixture is thick and creamy. Roll into balls and that’s it!

Main reason why I love these protein balls so much is because it doesn’t require baking, using only one kitchen equipment and takes less than 10 minutes to prepare.

WHEN TO EAT

• Pre | Post workout - Need a quick bite before or after a workout to tie you over? Well, these protein balls are perfect in a pinch. Packed with protein and complex carbs to drive better performance at the gym!

• Afternoon delight - If I am needing a snack or feel sluggish around 3PM, 1-2 of these protein balls will push me through with energy before dinner time.

• Dessert alternative - Sometimes I will have a sweet tooth after dinner and these balls come in clutch!

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

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Satisfy your sweet tooth with snickerdoodle protein balls - A no-bake, healthy treat that will keep you full!

Servings: 40 balls | Prep: 5 MIN | Cook time: NA

Ingredients

• 3 cups oats (or oat flour)

• 1 cup vanilla protein powder

• ½ cup pure maple syrup

• 1 ½ cup nut butter

• ½ cup coconut oil

• 2 Tbsp ground cinnamon

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• ½ tsp sea salt

• Cinnamon sugar coating (optional)

• ¼ cup coconut sugar

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. To a food processor, (if not using oat flour), add oats to the processor and blend on high until oats have turned into oat flour. Add all of the ingredients, except cinnamon sugar coating, and blend on high until completely incorporated.

2. If its too dry, add more honey or water and if it’s too wet, add 1 tbsp increments of oat flour.

3. Using a tablespoon or cookie scooper, form into balls and place on a plate.

4. If making the cinnamon sugar coating, add both ingredients in a small bowl and toss until incorporated. Add 3-4 balls in the cinnamon sugar mix and roll each ball around until fully coated.

5. Store in an airtight container for up to one week or in the freezer for up to a month.

Notes

• My favorite protein powder is Equip Foods! Use code ROOTS for 15% off your first order at this link. 

Gut Nourishing Stewed Apples

Need a gastrointestinal support that is affordable, tastes heavenly, and will make your house smell like a freshly baked apple pie? 

Then look no further, because this stewed apple recipe checks all the boxes! 

I can’t take all the credit - this simple recipe that I’m sure you have made before but not realizing it’s magical GI powers, came from Dr. Tom O’Bryan - leading expert on gluten and Autoimmune disease. Essently, this recipe is applesauce, but cooked in such a way as to really bring out the pectin from the apple skins, which is a wonderful prebiotic, and very nourishing for the microbiome. 

Apples contain pectin which has many health benefits. When cooked, the pectin inside the skin is easily accessible to the microbiome in the colon and helps to repopulate beneficial flora and helps heal leaky gut. When taken daily (at least 2 large spoonfuls daily) many clients of mine have noticed regular bowel movements and less bloating. 

Pair stewed apples with plain greek or coconut yogurt, oatmeal, smoothie, or with a meal. My go-to dinner lately has been adding a dollop of stewed apples over grilled pork chops with a side of baked sweet potato and kerry gold butter. Delicious! 

Last thing, apples are considered a high FODMAP food, so if you are sensitive, this may not be the best food first prebiotic approach for you! 

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

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Prep Time: 10 Min | Cook Time: 10 min

Ingredients

• 4 organic apples, washed, seeded, chopped, but not peeled!

• Filtered water

• 2 Tbsp ground cinnamon

• 2 Tbsp raisins (optional, sweet preference)

Directions

1. Add apples, cinnamon, and optional raisins to a saucepan and barely cover with filtered water. Bring to a boil ~ about 8-10 minutes. 

2. As the mixture is boiling, watch the apple skins. When the skins begin to take on a sheen, the apples are done. Turn off the heat. 

3. If there is water leftover, you can drain it or I personally use it to make adrenal cream cider!

4. Eat 2-4 spoonfuls daily to support your gut lining and microbiome - enjoy!

Prosciutto Wrapped Figs

A sweet, salty and acidic appetizer or snack delight that features figs stuffed with goat cheese and pistachios, wrapped with prosciutto, and air fried or baked to tender goodness.

Confession time: I don’t like figs, there I said it! Dried figs, sure. Fig newtons as a kid when that was the only snack you could find in the pantry, you bet. But fresh - you can forget it! 

So when my personal training client handed me a bag of freshly picked figs, I had no idea what to do. But she entrusted me to create a recipe using them and I didn’t want to let her down! So not only does this recipe goes out to my client … you know who you are ;) This fig recipe also goes out to my newfound fresh fig taste buds! 

The secret to enjoying fresh figs is wrapping them in prosciutto and roasting or air frying them. Having the addition of goat cheese and pistachio for added creaminess and texture doesn’t hurt either. And to take it to an even magical level, enhance the complexity in sweet, salty, and acid flavors with a drizzle of honey. 

It quite literally cannot get any better than this! 

So if you are looking for a summer appetizer, macro balanced snack, or trying to figure out ways to use figs, then this is your recipe ladies and gentleman! 

And feel free to switch out ingredients: figs for dates, goat cheese for blue cheese, pistachio for almonds, honey for balsamic glaze, prosciutto for bacon, air frying for baking…you get my drift ;) 

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

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A sweet, salty and acidic appetizer or snack delight that features figs stuffed with goat cheese and pistachios, wrapped with prosciutto, and air fried or baked to tender goodness.

Servings: 4 | Prep Time: 4 min | Cook 5 min

Ingredients

• 8 figs

• ⅓ cup goat or blue cheese, softened

• 8 prosciutto slices

• 2 Tbsp raw pistachios, chopped

Garnish

Local honey and chopped pistachios

Directions 

1. Cut the figs in half and set aside. 

2. In a small bowl, mix softened goat cheese and chopped pistachios until well combined.  Dollop a small amount on one fig half and place the other fig half on top like a sandwich. Repeat with the remainder of figs where you should have 8 fig sandwiches. 

3. Wrap the prosciutto around each fig sandwich. The ends of the prosciutto should overlap. Place a wet toothpick through prosciutto wrapped fig so that it doesn’t fall apart. 

4. If using an air fryer: preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees and cook for 5-7 minutes flipping halfway until prosciutto is crispy. 

5. If using the oven: preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place in the oven on the top rack and roast for 8-10 minutes. 

6. Garnish with honey drizzle and leftover chopped pistachios and enjoy! 

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SHOP OUR FAVORITE TOOLS + INGREDIENTS FOR THIS RECIPE!

Java Chip Almond Butter Dates

Java Chip Almond Butter Dates - The perfect pre-workout shake replacement! 

If you have been here long enough, you know I love medjool dates! Whether they’re in sweet dishes like chai latte donut holes, matcha and mint chip energy balls, and dark chocolate chip protein bites or in savory dishes like bacon wrapped stuffed dates found on my Instagram, I love them all the same. The main reason I use them in these types of dishes is because dates are a natural sweetener like pure maple syrup ( my second favorite ingredient), coconut sugar, and honey.

As you may have guessed,  dates are a healthier alternative to sugar. Stuffed dates are my ultimate go-to for a pre-workout snack because they’re also great for athletic performance. I would rather have a plant-based food source to naturally energize me than a pre-workout drink that gives me the shakes and keeps me up all night! 

So, if dates taste sweet and are used in desserts, then how can they ever be good before a workout!? Well, I’m so glad you asked! :) Here are the wonderful benefits of using dates as fuel before a workout: 

• Dates are packed with slow-burning carbs which are a main fuel source for our muscles during moderate-intensity and high-intensity exercise. The sustained release of carbs refills your body’s glycogen, the main source of energy that is expended during strenuous activity. 

• Dates contain a significant amount of potassium which is great for muscle cramps! During a sweaty sesh, you need to replenish your potassium and rebalance electrolytes so dates are helpful to prevent post-workout cramping and aid with muscle recovery. 

• They’re a super easy “on the go” snack. Whether you make the recipe or eat dates on their own, dates are super portable.

If dates don’t provide you enough energy and alertness before a workout, then this almond butter mixture will! With the addition of a superfood like maca powder (which is great for enhancing energy/mood), I have also added espresso powder. This combo will get you alert and going to the gym! I love using maca powder for this recipe because the flavor provides a honeycomb taste to the butter. By mixing, almond butter, espresso, maca, and ground cinnamon, this combination tastes just like a latte from Starbucks! 

Now, you can imagine that this almond butter mixture would be bitter considering no sweeteners, but if you dollop this on top of a date, it’s the winning combo! Cacao nibs are also bitter but, I’m telling you, if you have never tried a date before - it literally taste like sugar.

I hope you enjoy these amazingly delicious java chip almond butter dates before your workout! If you need some workout inspo, I’ve got a plank tabata and a booty workout already planned out for you.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with! 

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Java Chip Almond Butter Dates - The perfect pre-workout shake replacement! 

Ingredients

• 12 medjool dates (pitted)

• 12-24 raw almonds 

• ½ cup almond butter

• 1 tsp espresso powder (or more!)

• ½ tsp maca powder

• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon

Toppings

Cacao nibs

Directions

1. Insert an almond (or two) into each medjool date.

2. In a small bowl, mix almond butter, espresso powder, ground cinnamon, and maca powder. Spoon about a teaspoon of mixture onto each medjool date. Top each date with cacao nibs. 

3. In an airtight container, store in the fridge for up to two weeks. 

Notes

1. If you have leftover almond butter mixture, you can add about a teaspoon of pure maple syrup and spread over a piece of toast, pancakes, waffles, anything!

Chocolate Hummus

Chocolate hummus - The perfect healthy sweet treat! Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free.

I’m not sure why I waited so long to jump on the “sweet hummus” train. At first, it sounded like a weird concept. Who would add sweet ingredients to chickpeas, olive oil, tahini, and lemon!? But once you take out certain ingredients and replace them with sweet substitutes, you can see how genius this concept actually is!

In the health world, you can find tahini and chickpeas in most vegan desserts. If you follow Ambitious Kitchen, you know she is the #tahiniqueen for all of her most recent desserts like my personal fav grain free tahini brownies.

What’s great about this hummus is…. it’s still hummus! Which means you can eat this as a snack, use as a spread, or for dessert and still feel good about yourself.

I mentioned this in my IG stories a few weeks back but in order to create a super creamy hummus, you need to boil the chickpeas with baking soda until the chickpeas become mushy.

I have stayed true to this tip for both my savory hummus like roasted beet hummus (link), and this one. The only downside of this trick is that your hummus will be lighter in color, but sometimes choosing texture over aesthetics is better.

By making a creamy hummus you could almost use this as an icing! I think I might be onto something here. So, while I figure out how to make a chocolate cake to go with this hummus, how ‘bout you check out how to make this chocolate hummus?

Feel free to add fresh strawberry sauce as the “olive oil” and chocolate chips and cacao nibs as garnish!

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

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Chocolate hummus - The perfect healthy sweet treat! Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 canned chickpeas (washed and drained)

• ¼ cup tahini

• ¼ cup cocoa powder

• 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• Pinch of salt
  
  

DIRECTIONS

1. Place chickpeas in a medium saucepan with ½ tsp baking soda. Cover the chickpeas with several inches of water, then bring to a boil over high heat. Boil for about 20 minutes or until the chickpeas look bloated, soft, and their skins are falling off. In a fine mesh strainer, drain the chickpeas and run cool water over them.

2. Add the chickpeas to a food processor along with the rest of the ingredients.

3. Blend until the mixture is thick and creamy. Scrape down the sides and add more water as necessary.

4. Pour into a bowl and serve with various fruits, pretzels, and cinnamon sugar pita chips!

NOTES

1. You can make this hummus without having to boil the chickpeas. The hummus may just be chunkier but the flavor is still there!