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12th October 2019 by Jamie Raftery Leave a Comment

Chocolate Brazil Nut Balls

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These South American-inspired healthy Chocolate Brazil Nut Balls are a nutritious addition to your weekly menus. They take minutes to make and provide you with a daily dose of selenium.

brazil-nut-fig-energy-balls
Healthy fig, brazil nut, and cacao energy boosters

We all need a sweet chocolaty fix from time to time! I have a sweet tooth myself, it takes daily discipline for me to avoid unhealthy snacks.

My strategy is to not buy unhealthy snacks in the first place, then I don't have to try to resist the temptation!

I always have some sort of a healthy snack available, or if I run out, it only takes 5-10 minutes to make a batch of energy balls.

I believe that eating something guilt-free plays has a positive impact on overall digestion.

These chocolate Brazil nut balls were developed while I was working at Thanyapura Sports & Health Resort in Phuket. The aim behind this particular recipe was to provide it as a selenium booster.

Selenium is an essential trace mineral that supports many bodily processes. It can help improve cognition, immune system function, and fertility. Selenium is a nutrient that plays a key role in maintaining thyroid hormone metabolism and DNA synthesis and protecting the body from oxidative damage and infection.

This recipe is a win-win; it tastes delicious and provides good nutrition. I recommend making a batch every couple of weeks at least.

They make great lunch box treats for kids, they go well with your cup of morning coffee or before your workout for an extra boost.

chocolate-brazil-nut-balls

Ingredients for Chocolate Brazil Nut Balls

  • Brazil nuts
  • Raw cacao powder
  • Dried figs
  • Sesame seed tahini
  • Maple syrup
  • Cinnamon

1. Brazil Nuts

High in unsaturated fats and packed with selenium, Brazil nuts support inflammation, heart health, brain health, immune system, and thyroid function.

Read more about the Brazil nuts here

Brazil-nuts
Fresh Brazil Nuts - Full of good fats and essential minerals

2. Dried Figs

Figs are high in natural sugars, minerals, and soluble fiber. They are rich in minerals including potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and copper. They are a good source of antioxidants, vitamins A and K.

dried-figs
Dried figs - delicious and nutritious

3. Raw Cacao

Raw cacao is packed with antioxidants and essential minerals such as calcium, iron, and magnesium. Cacao is a natural mood elevator and anti-depressant.

Cacao benefits our cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure and reducing heart disease risk, it has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, it can help balance blood sugar and reduce insulin sensitivity, it contains brain and mood-boosting compounds.

Read more on the health benefits of cacao

fresh-cacao-fruits-growing
Cacao beans growing in the tropical forest

4. Sesame seed tahini

  • Tahini contains more protein than milk
  • It's a rich source of B vitamins that boost energy and brain function.
  • It contains vitamin E, which is protective against heart disease and stroke.
  • It contains essential minerals, such as magnesium, iron, and calcium.
sesame-seed-tahini-in-a-bowl

How to make chocolate Brazil nut balls

This recipe takes minutes to assemble.

  • First of all, remove the stem from the tip of the dried figs and slice.
  • Put the Brazil nuts into a magimix or blender.
  • Pulse to a coarse breadcrumb consistency. 
  • Add the raw cacao, tahini, maple syrup and sliced dried figs.
  • Process the mixture until it forms a thick paste. This will take 10 - 20 seconds.
  • Transfer to mixing bowl with a spatula.
  • Using your hands, roll into 25g balls.
  • Place on a tray and roll in raw cacao or desicatted coconut.
  • Place in the fridge for 1 hour to set up.

Recipe variations and substitutions

Raw cacao and sesame tahini are naturally a little bitter in flavor, this is why I add a touch of maple syrup to balance the sweetness. You can add as much or as little sweetener depending on the bitterness of the sesame tahini you use.

You can use dates, prunes, or apricots in place of figs for this recipe.

Try adding some real vanilla, green cardamom powder, or orange zest as extra flavors.

green-cardamom-powder
Green cardamom powder adds a nice flavor variation

Storage instructions

These chocolate Brazil nut energy balls can be assembled in a matter of minutes. I suggest making a double or triple recipe and store them in the fridge for up to 10 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

More healthy recipes to try

  • Raw cacao and fig flapjack
  • Chocolate and spirulina energy balls
  • Coconut and black sesame bliss balls
  • Tahini chocolate spread
  • Chocolate chia seed pudding
healthy-chocolate-bliss-ball-snacks
Chocolate and black sesame bliss balls

We hope you enjoy this delicious recipe. If you give it a try, let us know in the comments below - we love hearing your feedback and seeing your recreations.

๐Ÿ“‹ Recipe

brazil-nut-fig-energy-balls
Jamie Raftery

Chocolate Brazil Nut Balls

5 from 1 vote
Delicious chocolaty, fruit and nut energy balls, perfect for a post training snack or for in between meals.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Add to CollectionGo to Collections
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Setting time 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Servings: 20 Nut Balls
Course: Sweets
Cuisine: International
Calories: 129
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition

Ingredients
 
 

  • 200 g Dried figs stem removed
  • 200 g Brazil nuts
  • 100 g White sesame tahini
  • 30 ml Maple syrup optional - to taste
  • 20 g Cacao powder
  • 1 g Cinnamon powder

Equipment

  • Weighing scales
  • Mixing bowl
  • Spatula
  • Blender
  • Tray
  • Spoon

Method
 

  1. Assemble and weigh all ingredients.
  2. Put Brazil nuts in the magimix and then pulse to coarse crumb consistency.ย 
  3. Add the remaining ingredients and continue to process until the mixture comes together.
  4. Transfer to mixing bowl with spatula.
  5. Using your hands, roll into 25g balls or to whatever size you like!
  6. Place on a tray and roll in desicatted coconut or raw cacao
  7. Place in the fridge for 1 hour to set-up.

Nutrition

Serving: 25gCalories: 129kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 3gFat: 9gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 162mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 4IUVitamin B1: 1mgVitamin B2: 1mgVitamin B3: 1mgVitamin B5: 1mgVitamin B6: 1mgVitamin C: 1mgVitamin E: 1mgVitamin K: 2ยตgCalcium: 41mgCopper: 1mgFolate: 7ยตgIron: 1mgManganese: 1mgMagnesium: 53mgPhosphorus: 113mgSelenium: 12ยตgZinc: 1mg

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5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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Hi, weโ€™re Thara & Jamie

Weโ€™re a Thaiโ€™rish chef duo based between our jungle kitchen studio in Phuket, Thailand, and a new culinary studio and permaculture farm weโ€™re developing in Galway, Ireland.

Together, we run the Holistic Chef Academy - a space for exploring healthy, wholesome, plant-based cuisine.

With our roots in Michelin-star kitchens and a shared passion for food as medicine - we create recipes, courses, and experiences that aim to educate, inspire, and empower.

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