Christmas Energy Balls
Mmmmm....Christmas food. Sausage rolls, canapés, mulled wine, brandy butter....Let’s face it; life’s too short to turn down the odd mince pie or Great Aunt Bessie’s Christmas trifle. But with Christmas fever starting earlier each year, getting the balance right can be an uphill struggle.
Whatever age, your pupils will enjoy making these amazingly delicious ‘no-cook’ Christmas energy balls; they make a fab ‘superfood’ alternative to a mince pie. Rich in heart-friendly unsat fats, dietary fibre, vitamins and essential minerals such as potassium, they’ll revitalise the body and sustain you through your yuletide festivities!
Nutrition per ball
Energy (kcal) 73
Carbohydrate (g)13 (of which sugars (g) 9)
Protein (g) 1
Fat (g) 2 (of which saturates (g) 0.5)
Salt (g) trace
Fibre (g) 1
Ingredients to make 15-20 balls
40g walnuts or pecan nuts (optional)
120g dates
160g mincemeat
80g porridge oats
1 tsp mixed spice
25g ground almonds
Zest of one orange, finely grated
2 tsp coconut oil
100g icing sugar
Juice of ½ lime
Preparation
If using nuts, place them in a food processor and blitz until roughly chopped. Add the dates and blitz again, until the mixture starts to stick together. You can do this by hand if you prefer, by chopping the nuts and dates as finely as possible with a sharp knife.
Add the mincemeat, porridge oats, mixed spice, ground almonds, orange zest and the coconut oil and blitz again, very briefly, until combined.
Roll into small balls in the palm of your hands, about 1 ½ cm in diameter.
Pour the icing sugar into a clean bowl and beat in the lime juice until smooth. Spoon the icing over the energy balls and decorate with your favourite Christmas cake decorations!