Coconut Goji Protein Balls

Goji berries are amazing. Coconut is delicious. What could be better than putting the two of them together? Umm… nothing? These Coconut Goji Protein Balls are packed with both and busting at the seams with tropical flavor in a cookie dough-like shell. And they’re healthy, so basically we’re making guilt-free snacking in a toasted coconut covered ball. I think I’ll have seconds…

I first came across goji berries a decade ago. Some obscure recipe landed in my inbox and touted their health benefits so obviously I had to try them. I hunted the aisles at our local natural foods store because this was back in the day before Costco and Amazon carried massive bags of them. They were 4x the price of today and I cringed buying the bag. But as soon as I tasted one, it was clear they were worth every penny. Oh yeah, and they’re healthy, too!

The Ingredients

• Oat flour – high in iron, B vitamins, and fiber
• Almond flour – packed with protein and healthy fats
• Goji berries – tropical, bright flavored dried berries high in fiber, iron, vitamins A and C
• Coconut – high in iron, magnesium, and fiber
• Almond butter – ditto the almond flour
• Maple syrup – unrefined sweetening at its best
• Pure vanilla – such a small amount yields a huge flavor payoff

Do I need a food processor to make these Coconut Goji Protein Balls?

Nope. All that’s needed for these healthy treats is a mixing bowl and a spatula. Hallelujah because I’m not a fan of cleaning my food processor. I love a good date-sweetened energy ball, but that food processor is my nemesis when it’s time to clean up.

How do I toast the coconut?

Toasting coconut sounds kind of complicated, right? Like it’s this big extra step that we could do without? Well let me be the bearer of great news – it’s as easy as spreading a cup of coconut over a baking sheet and popping it in the oven. I like to toast it at 350 F for 8 minutes, and it comes out perfectly golden brown. Times will vary from oven to oven, so just watch for the golden brown color.

Plus you’ll be able to smell it toasting as it fills up the room. My 2-year-old walked in when I was toasting coconut for these balls, and asked if I was making granola (granted she has an insane sense of smell for a toddler). But even if you’re not a bloodhound, the smell is totally intoxicating and will definitely spark your appetite!

Looking for more delicious “ball” recipes? Check these out:

• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls – Vegan
• Peanut Butter Chip Cookie Dough Balls
• Healthy Vegan Energy Balls
• Pumpkin Spice Cookie Dough Balls

So here they are, our Coconut Goji Protein Balls. They’re bright, tropical, full of berry, toasty coconutty flavor, and a nice change from the usual chocolate chip options! If you make these protein balls, let us know how it went below! And as always, we hope you love them as much as we do – Enjoy!