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October 4, 2023

Oat and banana bliss balls

 

Food Checker classification: AMBER*
No matter the time of day, these bliss balls are the perfect, nutrient-dense snack to have on hand! Whether that be for a quick breakfast on the go, an energy-boosting afternoon pick-me-up or even as a guilt-free dessert.
We encourage you to use at least a 72% cocoa powder, packed full of antioxidants such as polyphenols and flavanols.¹ A study found a diet rich in flavanols can improve blood flow to the brain, meaning it could help improve brain function.² We know what we’ll be snacking on while studying!
We didn’t think one flavour was enough, so we’ve added an additional 4 flavour combinations that we’re sure will keep you going back for more.

Oat and banana bliss balls

Prep Time 10 minutes
Refridgerate 1 hour
Course Snack
Servings 12

Dietary

1 Vegetarian
Estimated cost $0.36

Please note: costs are 'per serving' and may vary. Costs were accurate at time of publish.

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 1 tbsp cocoa powder - at least 72% cocoa
  • 1 ripe banana
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 zested orange
  • 2 tbsp tahini
  • desiccated coconut to serve (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Blend 2 cups rolled oats and 1 tbsp cocoa powder - at least 72% cocoa until fine in a food blender.
  • Add remaining ingredients (including any flavour combos) and blend until it forms a soft dough.
  • Roll into bite-sized balls and refrigerate for at least an hour.

Notes

Tips

  • The dough may seem quite soft initially, but it will become firmer in the fridge.
  • You can substitute the rolled oats with quinoa flakes to be gluten-free.
  • Roll your bliss balls in desiccated coconut for a different finish before refrigerating them.
  • *Food checker status becomes GREEN if honey is omitted. You may like to do this, but honey does add an enjoyable sweetness and acts as a binder. If you do not want to use honey, you may need to add a small amount of water to help the mixture come together.

References

  1. Magrone T, Russo MA, Jirillo E. Cocoa and dark chocolate polyphenols: from biology to clinical applications. Front Immunol. 2017 Jun 9;8;677.
  2. Francis ST, Head K, Morris PG, Macdonald IA. The effect of flavanol-rich cocoa on the fMRI response to a cognitive task in healthy young people. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2006 Jun 1;47:S215-20.
Sourced from:The Heart Foundation (NZ)
Keyword banana, bliss ball, oats, snack
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!


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