No Bake Cookie Balls (Toasted Fig & Hazelnut)
Today we are making a No Bake Cookie Balls Recipe – Toasted Fig & Hazelnut flavor! Because (surprise surprise) I wanted to take today to focus on the humble fig.
When it comes to figs, you’ve probably seen their dried counterpart at the supermarket if not the fresh version – or maybe fig jam! These fruits are part of the ficus tree, which is in turn a part of the mulberry family. They’re naturally very sweet (one of my favorites second to dates), have a thick exterior and a soft and chewy filling with crunchy little seeds inside. These fruits are native to the Middle East/Mediterranean. Fig trees are even featured in many historical documents, including the Bible!
What is their nutritional profile like? They are rich in many vitamins, minerals and nutrients, including the following of your recommended daily intake (RDI) in 100 grams:
- Potassium: 14% of RDI
- Calcium: 12% of RDI
- Magnesium: 16% of RDI
- Copper: 7.5% of RDI
- Vitamin K: 5% of RDI
- Vitamin A, Iron, Vitamin B6, and more!
- Lots of soluble fiber
Fiber and Digestion
With regards to fiber, figs are used as a natural laxative due to their high fibre content. In the westernized world, a lot of the foods we eat contain loads of salt. Too much salt can cause potassium deficiencies and lead to high blood pressure. But eating foods like figs, that are high in potassium can keep blood pressure at a normal level. Foods high in fibre also reduce hunger by keeping you full longer. On top of all this, figs also contain prebiotics, which support the pre-existing gut bacteria for improved digestion.
A note on their calcium content as well: Calcium is a mineral that helps with bone density. Having a high level of potassium (and more calcium too) helps to counteract calcium being flushed out of the body by a high salt diet. Keeping more calcium in the body will help with strong bone density and lowers the risk of osteoporosis.
Where Else Can I Use Figs?
I LOVE to stir fry a couple of dates and figs in olive oil over medium-high heat in a pan. The taste somehow just becomes so much more than what it normally is. I’ve tried it without olive oil, and you just don’t get that same flavor without it. At the end, I sprinkle some pink salt over them. Just three quick ingredients! Pink salt + Olive oil + Figs and/or dates. The perfect naturally-sweetened, sweet treat?
Why You’ll Love These No Bake Cookie Balls
Afternoon Snack: I do enjoy a cup of warm tea with an afternoon snack, such as healthy energy bites! This easy recipe satisfies just that. It’s full of nutritious, simple ingredients that make you feel good, are filling and provide a natural source of energy. It’s a family favorite, and one that children can also join in on making!
Substitutions
Almond Flour: Replace a quarter of the almond flour with oat flour (made using certified gluten free oats, if looking to avoid gluten) or vanilla protein powder. To make homemade almond flour, blend blanched almonds together (or pulse them in a spice grinder) until they make a flour. Use this as a homemade almond flour.
Bob’s Red Mill or Kirkland make great brands for almond flour.
Maple Syrup: Use 100% pure maple syrup. Substitute with agave nectar.
Figs: Do not substitute these. They make up the main component of the flavor here!
Medjool Dates: Dates are a natural sweetener in these cookie dough balls (and frankly, in all the no bake energy bites I make). You can usually find them in the dried fruit section of the grocery store. Do not substitute!
They also make a yummy snack for your sweet tooth all on their own, drizzled with a little bit of your favorite nut butter, like creamy peanut butter, sunflower seed butter, cashew butter or almond butter!
No Bake Cookie Balls Recipe Notes
- Add-in ideas include vegan dark chocolate chips to drizzle over top of the energy bites, if you’re a chocolate fan!
- Mix in a little chocolate, such as cacao nibs (“raw” chocolate chips) or dark vegan mini chocolate chips into the dough by hand. This gives an added crunch and chocolate flavor! I don’t recommend semisweet chocolate chips or white chocolate chips, because they contain more sugar than dark chocolate.
- Add in a teaspoon of chia seeds, flax seeds or hemp seeds for added nutrition!
More No Bake Recipes You’ll Love
Funfetti Cream Cheese Truffles: This recipe uses Golden Oreo cookies with cream cheese, sprinkles and cool whip made into an easy cheesecake-like truffle recipe. This is a fun recipe to make for a party!
If you make these No Bake Cookie Balls, then leave a comment and star rating! Don’t forget to tag your photos @peanut_palate on Instagram. Enjoy!
No Bake Cookie Balls (Toasted Fig & Hazelnut)
Equipment
- High-speed blender or food processor
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup toasted, dried figs
- ⅔ cup toasted hazelnuts skins removed
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 5 large Medjool dates pitted
- ¼ cup almond flour
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- pinch pink salt
- 2 tbsp toasted, crushed hazelnuts skins removed // these are for rolling the balls in
Instructions
- To toast the figs and hazelnuts, add them to a steel pan over high heat. Stir them around constantly until they are browned. You can taste the hazelnuts before and after toasting, and you'll notice that the nutty flavor comes out after toasting it. The figs should also start to turn brown and toast.
- Remove from heat. Remove the skins from the hazelnuts by rolling them in a paper towel and removing the skins.
- Blend together these hazelnuts, figs, and all other ingredients except the 2 tbsp hazelnuts for rolling. You can also toast these hazelnuts with the 2/3 cup you will use for blending, but set these aside and crush them with a mortar and pestle to use later.
- When a dough forms in the blender, turn it off and shape it into 10 balls. Roll dough in the crushed hazelnuts that were set aside earlier.
- Enjoy!
Notes
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Storage
- Store the bites in an airtight container in a single layer with parchment paper in between layers. Keep at room temperature for up to one week.
