Spirulina is basically the superfood to end all superfoods, what with all its protein, vitamins, and antioxidants -- and with the right recipe, it can actually be pretty darn tasty as well. This protein ball recipe combines spirulina with delicious ingredients like dried apricots, raw cocoa powder, and pistachio nuts for a delightfully complex final product.

Ingredients:
1 cup organic raw almonds
1 cup organic dates, soaked (keep 3-4 Tbs. of the water you soaked the dates in)
1/4 cup dried apricots
1/4 cup pistachio nuts
1/4 cup organic raw almond butter
2 tablespoon ground flax seed
2 heaping tablespoons raw cocoa powder
2 tablespoons of shredded coconut into the mixture (have 2-3 tablespoons for rolling)
1 tablespoon organic spirulina
1 teaspoon Celtic sea salt (or other sea salt varieties)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Directions:
1. Combine all the nuts and seeds in a food processor or high-speed blender to pulse until broken down (you can choose to leave some chunks or pulse until fine).
2. Pour the processed almonds, pistachios, and flax seed into a large mixing bowl.
3. In a high-speed blender or food processor, combine softened dates and apricots.
4. Add the nut/seed mixture with the dates/apricots into the blender.
5. Combine until the mixture resembles a sticky, thick "batter".
6. Place the combined mixture into a large mixing bowl and fold the remaining ingredients manually (that's right, get those hands messy...really messy!)
7. Place the "batter" into the freezer for about 10 minutes or until cooled.
8. Take a Tbs. or a small ice-cream scooper to measure the batter.
9. Gently roll the Tbs. of "batter" into your hands until a small ball forms.
10. Once you have formed all the "batter" into small balls, you may roll them into the 2-3 Tbs. of shredded coconut (this is optional)
11. Store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days OR you may keep them in the freezer and grab and go for a quick snack.
12. Enjoy!

Recipe via nutritionstripped.com

Who knew you could eat something so decadently chocolatey whilst following a raw food diet? Featuring raw cacao and cacao nibs, these energy bites are both healthy and delicious.

Ingredients:
1 cup raw seeds or nuts of choice
1/4 cup cacao or cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 cup medjool dates, pitted and chopped
1-3 tbsp water
1/4 cup cacao nibs or chocolate chips
cacao powder or unsweetened shredded coconut, optional for coating

Directions:
1. Place seeds/nuts in a food processor, and process until finely ground. Pulse in cacao, vanilla, and salt.
2. Add in the chopped dates and water, 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough comes together nicely. Process until all ingredients are distributed evenly (you may need to stop a few times and scrape down the sides and separate the dough if it forms a ball).
3. Pulse in the cacao nibs or chips.
4. Roll pieces of the dough into small, tablespoon-sized balls. You may roll them in the cacao powder, shredded coconut, or any other toppings of choice.
5. Place your energy bites in a container in the refrigerator or freezer for at least 30 minutes, then serve!

Recipe via createnourishlove.com

OK, who out there doesn't love Nutella? This energy bite recipe boosts the delicious Nutella flavor by adding in roasted hazelnuts, as well as honey and shredded coconut. Flax seeds, chia seeds, and oats add in some extra protein and fiber as well.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
2/3 cup Nutella
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup roasted hazelnuts
2 Tbsp. ground flax seeds
1 Tbsp. chia seeds
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients together in a food processor and pulse until combined. Cover mixture and transfer to the refrigerator, and let cool for about 30-60 minutes. (This will slightly harden the mixture and make it easier to form into balls.)
2. When mixture is cool, remove and roll into balls of your desired size. (Mine were about 1-inch in diameter.) Enjoy immediately, or refrigerate in a covered container.

Recipe via gimmesomeoven.com

Talk about having your cake and eating it too! This carrot cake-inspired protein ball recipe is still majorly healthy, even though it includes some tasty frosting.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup nut butter
1 cup quick oats
1/3 cup raisins
3/4 cup whey protein, vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1/2 cup finely shredded carrots
2 Tbsp sugar-free honey or additional sweetener
*optional 2 Tbsp of milk

Frosting (Optional):
1/4 cup yogurt chips
1 tsp coconut oil


Directions:
1. In a large bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients (oats, whey protein, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves) Then mix in the raisins and carrots.
2. Add in the peanut butter, honey and mix until it starts to come together. Add in the milk to make the dough a good consistency to roll into balls.
3. Roll into balls and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
4. Chill in the fridge and store in fridge or freezer in a sealed container.
5. For the frosting, in a small bowl add in the yogurt chips and coconut oil, microwave in 30 second increments stirring after each 30 seconds until melted.

Recipe via busybuthealthy.com

You love your protein balls for the boost... so why not add even more boost by introducing some caffeine to the equation? Honestly, you can't beat that rich mocha flavor.

Ingredients:
1/2 c raw cashews or almonds
1/2 c gluten-free oats
2 T ground flax
1 scoop vanilla or chocolate protein powder
8 Medjool pitted dates
1 tsp vanilla extract, optional
1/3c espresso almond butter, or nut butter of choice
1-2 T water, as needed*
2 T sweet cacao nibs or chopped dark chocolate
2 T chopped espresso beans

Directions:
1. In a food processor grind nuts and oats into a coarse to fine powder depending on how much texture you want.
2. Add flax and protein powder and pulse to combine.
3. Add dates, vanilla, and almond butter and process until mixture comes together add water as needed. Dough should stick together when pinched between two fingers.
4. Pulse in cacao nibs/chocolate and espresso beans. Remove mixture from food processor and roll into balls.
5. Store in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to enjoy!

Recipe via awhiskandtwowands.com