Gingerbread spiced almond & apricot energy balls

Dagmar's Kitchen :: Gingerbread spiced almond & apricot energy balls

I hope you’re having the best holiday ever. Me and my family have had the coziest and laziest days just listening to music, playing board games (ok, some iPad too…), sniffing hyacinths, playing with new toys (very much enjoying Wii Just Dance 2014) and taking long walks in the rain. We’ve had nothing but rain for the last three weeks or so, hence the christmas feeling is mostly inside. And we’re trying hard to give the rabbits a bit of christmas feeling too (they live outside) – making sure they have dry hay and a piece of apple or carrot every day. We even made a little wreath for them.

Dagmar's Kitchen :: Gingerbread spiced almond & apricot energy ballsDagmar's Kitchen :: Gingerbread spiced almond & apricot energy balls

I wasn’t planning on blogging anything this christmas. But these little energy balls filled with goodness and nutrition turned out so good. I simply had to share them with you. And if you’re tired at all of traditional christmas sweets, these could be the thing for you.

I know you read gingerbread in the title but don’t let that put you off. I promise, these are worth considering making. And they are really versatile too, as you can easily swap the gingerbread spices for cocoa powder and make these, should you be tired of traditional christmas flavors…

Dagmar's Kitchen :: Gingerbread spiced almond & apricot energy ballsDagmar's Kitchen :: Gingerbread spiced almond & apricot energy balls

Most recipes with dried fruit call for dates, but I like apricots better. They aren’t as sweet as dates and they have one of the lowest glycemic index of all dried fruit – only 31 in fact. Just make sure you go for sulfite free apricots (they are dark brown in color) and preferably organic.

Wishing you a wonderful new year and thank you for your support this year. See you in 2014!

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Utskriftsvänligt recept
Printable recipe

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Gingerbread spiced almond & apricot energy balls

makes about 20

1 cup (200 g) dried apricots
1 1/2 cup (200 g) almond flour
50 g raw cocoa nibs (can be omitted but they do add a nice crunch)
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground cardamom
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 vanilla bean, seeds scraped out
0,5 tsp sea salt
juice from 2 small clementines (or 1 orange)

finely chopped almonds, cinnamon, chia seeds etc. to roll in

1) Place all ingredients in a high speed blender or in a food processor. Pulse until mixed well. You might need to stop and scrape the mix down the sides a few times during the process if your blender isn’t powerful enough. I have a Kitchen aid blender and the only thing I find a little problematic is to mix sticky stuff. But it does the work fine with a little help.
2) When all ingredients are well mixed and puréed use your hands to form 20 round balls. Roll them in chopped almonds, cinnamon or chia seeds and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving.

Dagmar's Kitchen :: Gingerbread spiced almond & apricot energy ballsDagmar's Kitchen :: Gingerbread spiced almond & apricot energy balls

show hide 15 comments

Sini | my blue&white kitchen - December 28, 2013 - 9:18 am

We too had a rainy Christmas. It has been a crazy warm winter here… It was all about food, spending time together, relaxing, listening to music, and reading a good book or two. I almost felt like 3 days were not enough.

Wishing you a wonderful 2014, Sonja! Can’t wait to see and taste more of your recipes.

xx, Sini

Sonja {Dagmar's Kitchen} - December 28, 2013 - 10:05 am

Sini – Sounds like you had a lovely christmas despite of the rain… Wishing you too a wonderful 2014 and looking forward to more beauty on your blog in the new year!

Anna/Frostrosor - December 28, 2013 - 8:51 pm

These pics are to die for! <3

Erin - December 29, 2013 - 10:11 am

These look absolutely divine, and not a trace of refined sugar – perfect!

Anna-Karin, Landet Krokus - December 29, 2013 - 6:47 pm

Som vanligt behöver man bara kika in här lite snabbt för att snålvattnet ska rinna till.. ;) Allt ser så himla gott (och snyggt) ut. Hoppas du har fina dagar och hinner njuta ordentligt!
Kram!

Astrid - December 30, 2013 - 2:47 pm

Så gott det låter och nyttigt också! Gott nytt år – ser fram emot att följa dig även under 2014! Astrid

Sonja {Dagmar's Kitchen} - December 30, 2013 - 2:57 pm

Erin – thank you! You should try!

Sonja {Dagmar's Kitchen} - December 30, 2013 - 2:58 pm

Anna-Karin – tack så mycket! Hoppas du har det fint också – hoppas få träffa dig till våren igen kanske ;-) Kram

Sonja {Dagmar's Kitchen} - December 30, 2013 - 2:59 pm

Astrid – ja, det är både gott och nyttigt (åtminstone i små doser). Tack för att du följer bloggen!

Joacim - January 6, 2014 - 10:48 pm

Du tar otroligt inspirerande bilder!

Sonja {Dagmar's Kitchen} - January 13, 2014 - 4:59 pm

Joacim – tack så mycket!

Melting [Po]Pot #1 | Blog de Châtaigne - December 29, 2013 - 1:18 pm

[…] Salut ma biche ^^ J’espère que tu te remets doucement de tes orgies de chocolat (ou pas d’ailleurs), bien calé dans ton chez toi, car aujourd’hui le temps n’est pas de la partie ! Du coup, on va en profiter pour faire un ptit tour de choses et d’autres que j’ai vu dernièrement sur la toile. Oué, je me dis que ça peut peut-être t’intéresser (à toi de me dire !) …  Comme je ne me suis pas gavée de chocolats (enfin, juste ce qu’il faut), j’ai salivé devant ces billes de pain d’épices aux abricots secs et amandes faites par Dagmar’s Kitchen. […]

[…] you like the flavor of gingerbread but these nuts don’t do it for you, perhaps you could try this or this. Or head over to The Year in Food to try her Gluten free Gingerbread Cookies or to A Tasty […]

[…] you like the flavor of gingerbread but these nuts don’t do it for you, perhaps you could try this or this. Or head over to The Year in Food to try her Gluten free Gingerbread Cookies or to A Tasty […]