Warning this is not a dessert but it tastes like one!  Let me be clear what I think dessert is made of: anything gooey, soft, chewy, crunchy and sweet {of course}! Well then, my warning is only fair in the fact that this recipe tastes like one but my intention was to have some healthy on-the-go snacks!

So here we have apple pie a’ la mode protein! That is not a pretty vision but it is a pretty amazing taste!  I know personally if I plan ahead to have healthy snacks around then I am more likely to eat clean and not grab empty carbs that leave me hungry.

Don’t get me wrong, I do love enjoying something conventionally sweet but in my head, I have no guilt if I have been eating clean most of the time.  If I can have a bite of something sweet every now and then {every day} I don’t feel deprived.

I would classify something sweet as a few bites of Lily’s chocolate bars, 2 Ginny Bakes Chocolate Chip Cookies or even something a little more grand from my friends over at Tiny B Chocolates! They make the most beautiful experiences between your mouth and their chocolates!  My taste buds swooned over these scrumptious {gluten free} Brazilian beauties. Especially the coconut cream and spicy dark chocolate, those were my favorite!

With that said, these Apple Pie Protein Balls would not classify as my sweet treats unless I added the extra honey and my favorite Nikki’s Coconut Butter pecan pie flavor drizzled on top {see the picture above}! This is still healthier than any other full blown Apple Pie served a’ la mode and yet satisfies the sweetest sweet tooth!  Great news too is that this recipe has a nice amount of plant protein from the Organic Pea Protein I added!  Happy to offer our readers a $5 discount on this super clean protein! Just mention this post when you call {561-627-5800} to order or stop in to the Natural Medicine Clinic!

5.0 from 1 reviews

Apple Pie Protein Balls {paleo, vegan, raw, refined sugar & gluten free}

 

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Prep time

20 mins

Total time

20 mins

 

Author: Dawn Rofrano

Serves: 15-20

Ingredients

• 2 cups raw pecans
• 1 sweet cored apple
• ½ cup Nikki's Coconut butter {any flavor}
• ¼ cup hemp seeds
• ½ cup vanilla pea protein
• 8 dried apricots
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• ½ tsp. nutmeg
• ¼ tsp. pink Himalayan sea salt
• ½ tsp. vanilla extract
• optional:
• 3-4 tbsp. raw honey
• few drops cinnamon extract or oil
• Cinnamon Coating:
• 3 tbsp. coconut sugar
• 3 tbsp. ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. In a food processor grind up the pecans to a coarse flour like consistency.
2. Put in a big bowl and add protein set side.
3. In a food processor puree apple, coconut butter, hemp seeds, apricots, salt, vanilla and spices.
4. Add apple mixture to pecan flour. Mix well, taste if sweet enough add honey or stevia.
5. For coating mix 3 tbsp. cinnamon and 3 tbsp. of coconut sugar.
6. Roll apple pie mixture into balls and roll in sugar coating.
7. Refrigerate for a few hours to help them set or in freezer for ½ hour and enjoy right away.
8. These are best stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
9. Or in the freezer for longer duration.

Notes

Baking the pecans for 20 min. at 300 degrees gives them a delicious toasted flavor in this recipe and at the same time eliminates yeast. If you are following the FreeDiet and depending on what phase you are in you can omit the honey and apricots. It will not effect the recipe. What will make a difference is your protein. If you use pea protein the batter will be thicker since it is fibrous. If you use a whey protein it will be thinner. Therefor, you may need to firm up batter with more nuts. If you like a crunchy texture reserve ½ cup of pecans and chop those coarsely to add to mixture. To make this a sweet dessert treat add the 4 tablespoons of honey and choose your favorite Nikki's Coconut Butter to drizzle over the top. I used the Honey Pecan Pie flavor but the Vanilla Cake Batter is so good too!

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