Delicious energy balls might already be a staple in your fridge, but did you know that with a few simple tweaks, you can turn a favorite snack into a healthy, hormone-balancing treat with the addition of medicinal herbs?
Let me introduce you to one of my go-to recipes: Women's Bliss Bites. These are enhanced with Maca, an adaptogenic herb that has been used traditionally in the Peruvian mountains, and is now used by many herbalists around the world, to promote mental acuity, physical vitality, endurance, and stamina. Maca can help to reduce anxiety and depression and is rich in essential amino acids, iodine, iron, and magnesium, as well as health-promoting plant sterols that may possess a wide range of activities that support adrenal and hormone function. It has been used to support fertility, and reduce menstrual and menopausal symptoms as well. Bonus: it's known to boost libido, too!
In addition, you're blending in highly Omega-3 rich walnuts, with a rich plant nutrient boost from cacao for powerful anti-inflammatory and mood-boosting impact. Cardamom is a flavorful aromatic herb that promotes healthy digestion and metabolism, while cinnamon has been shown to reduce insulin resistance common in women with PCOS and metabolic syndrome. The right herbal blends upgrade your usual energy bites into powerhouse bites that nourish and boost health at the same time.
Here's my recipe for Hormone-Balancing Bliss Bites.
Women’s Bliss Bites: A Hormone-Balancing Treat
Print Recipe
Equipment
- Food processor
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1/2 cup dates, pitted – Up 1 cup if they're not sweet enough for your taste
- 4 tbsp almond butter – 3 tbsp if you use the larger amount of dates; sub in tahini if you don't eat nuts
- 1/4 cup dark cacao powder – dark unsweetened + 1 tbsp for dusting
- 1/4 cup shredded coconut – the finely ground kind
- 2 – 4 tbsp maca powder
- 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
- Optional: orange zest
Instructions
- Put the walnuts into your food processor and grind until they are close to finely ground
- Add in the dates and grind to form a thicker blend
- Add in the almond butter and mix until a dough forms. Sometimes you might have to add a little extra to get the dough to form nicely
- Add in the 1/4 cup of cacao powder, your maca, cardamom, and cinnamon until well mixed
- Remove your blade from your food processor, then form round balls using about 1 tbsp of “dough” per ball.
- Roll these in your hands, then roll in the extra cacao powder, coconut flakes and optionally, the orange zest
- Place on a platter or into a glass storage container for later enjoyment.
