These Orange Vanilla Energy Balls are the perfect summer snack for busy days! Full of protein and carbs to fuel a workout!

Hey friends.  We are friends right?  Like such good friends that you aren’t surprised at all that I am sharing an orange & vanilla recipe?!  Phew good I thought so!  I LOVE this combo.  I recently put it in a salad dressing and years ago when this was a baking blog I put it in the cutest mini cupcakes and donuts!  And now, i’m doing the 2017 version – energy balls!  I make energy balls on the REG and love having them in our freezer to pop either before a morning workout when I don’t want a full breakfast before, or as an afternoon snack! They even qualify as dessert sometimes because they are just that good!!  This energy ball idea came from my love for Creamsicles and it was perfect because I am partnering with Summer Citrus from South Africa!  As you probably know citrus here in the US is in season in the winter, but in South Africa, their citrus season is from June – October, so they have us covered!

And as I am writing this I am suffering from a cold that came on out of no where!  Summer colds are pretty much to worst but when I got 2 bags of citrus on my doorstep I was SO grateful I didn’t have to go to the store for my Vitamin C hit.  I used oranges in this recipe so I kept the bag of tangerines to demolish myself and they are pretty much perfect.  So juicy and sweet and perfect for these hot summer days too.  To be honest I was originally going to do a popsicle recipe with oranges but it failed pretty bad.  Sometimes that happens! But I have been loving testing out different recipes with my popsicle mold. Speaking of popsicle molds, would you want to win one? And a cooler with ice packs, a fruit infuser water bottle and a popsicle recipe cookbook?? Well it’s your lucky day!  Summer Citrus from South Africa is having a Swing Into Summer Sweepstakes where you can win all of that! AND there will be 5 winners so chances are pretty good!! Enter to win HERE!

Okay now that you are probably a winner winner – congrats btw – let’s talk about these BALLS!  Want to know the secret to their orange color?  Nope, not only oranges.. dried apricot!!  Dried fruit always gives energy balls their sweet flavor and these apricots were the perfect vehicle for the orange vanilla flavor.   They don’t have a strong flavor so the balls don’t taste like apricot, just creamsicle goodness.  We throw the orange flavor in with both orange juice and orange zest! You can head to the bottom for the full recipe but for now let’s gaze at how pretty they are!

These Orange Vanilla Energy Balls are the perfect summer snack for busy days! Full of protein and carbs to fuel a workout!

This post is sponsored by Summer Citrus from South Africa. I was compensated and all opinions are 100% my own. Thank you so much for supporting Little Bits Of!

More citrus love coming your way:

Creamy Chocolate Orange Cups

Orange Ginger Asparagus & Radish Salad

Citrus Garlic Shredded Beef Tacos {instant pot}

Bourbon Orange Spritz

These Orange Vanilla Energy Balls are the perfect summer snack for busy days! Full of protein and carbs to fuel a workout!

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These Orange Vanilla Energy Balls are the perfect summer snack for busy days! Full of protein and carbs to fuel a workout!

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These Orange Vanilla Energy Balls are the perfect summer snack for busy days! Full of protein and carbs to fuel a workout!

Orange Vanilla Energy Balls


  • Author: Kelsey

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 cups almond flour
  • ¾ cup dried apricots (about 18)
  • 2 pitted dates
  • 1/4 cup vanilla protein powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • pinch of salt

Instructions

  • Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor.  
  • Blend on high until it all comes together and the dough can be easily formed into balls.  
  • Scoop the dough in about 2 tablespoon sizes balls and roll in your hands.
  • Place them on a plate or baking sheet lined with parchment paper and place in the refrigerator or freezer to harden a bit.  Enjoy!