Cold Brew Chocolate Crunch Energy Balls

Though I’ve been on a major matcha kick as of late, I’ll always have a serious soft spot for coffee in any form. There’s just nothing better than that very first sip after rolling out of bed. But I also love this flavor in other sweets and snacks as well, with energy balls always at the top of my list of course.

I might be reaching for a warm matcha in the morning, but I’ve been enjoying coffee in other ways like my Skin-Loving Peppermint Mocha and Mocha Almond Fudge Bars. But for a little different spin on this daily boost, I recently gave Ancient Nutrition’s Cold Brew Collagen a try and can never go back.

It adds the perfect amount of coffee flavor to everything from energy balls to smoothies, pancakes, baked goods, oatmeal and more. This powder is packed with protein and uses 5 different forms of collagen derived from non-GMO, cage-free, hormone-free and cruelty-free sources.

For those unfamiliar, collagen peptides help support a healthy gut, skin, hair, nails and joints. Collagen is an important building block for our skin and connective tissues, which are made up of these proteins. Incorporating additional collagen into your diet stimulates the body’s own production of collagen, which naturally declines as we age.

While I personally add a scoop of collagen powder to my morning drink, this ingredient can likewise be incorporated into a variety of other simple recipes such as my Pistachio Chocolate Collagen Protein Balls, Lemon Coconut Collagen Bites, Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal and Creamy Stovetop “Zoats”.

Try out this particular cold brew flavor or any other Ancient Nutrition products for yourself using code goodness_with_g for 20% off! I can’t speak more highly of the quality of everything they sell.

And though coffee doesn’t need a wing man to make it amazing, I find that the coffee and chocolate combo just can’t be beat. In this recipe, cacao powder and cacao nibs bring all of that chocolatey goodness we love without any added sugars. And the nibs themselves add the perfect crunch that I personally love in any protein ball – texture is key!

Finally, to take this already superfood-packed recipe up a notch, I added walnuts and hemp seeds to the mix for even more healthy fats and nutrients. Hemp is incredibly high in plant-based protein, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, iron and zinc. Walnuts likewise provide tons of omega-3s as well as antioxidants to promote hair, skin, brain and heart health.

Perhaps the best part of energy balls, though, is just how dang easy they are to throw together. Simply mix up all of the ingredients, roll into balls and store in the freezer for a nutrient-dense, delicious and easy on-the-go snack or morning pick-me-up.

So go ahead and brew yourself up a fresh cup to sip on alongside these easy peasy bites.