No Bake Energy Balls

If you are keen to sign up for the health benefits of The Mediterranean Diet but think it’s all about savoury dishes, think again, as there are many ways to bring Mediterranean flavours to your favourite deserts.

Whether you choose to substitute saturated fats like butter for a healthier alternative like extra virgin olive oil or simply make the most of seasonal fruits, there are lots of options in The Mediterranean Diet for those of us with a sweet tooth.

Using Healthy Fats And Unrefined Sugars In Your Desserts

We jumped on this inspiring article from Clean Plates which offers six winning Mediterranean Diet deserts to tempt the sweet tooth. Our favourite were these No Bake Energy Balls but why not make them healthier by using olive oil instead of nut butter? Below are a couple of our sweet tooth recipes:

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No Bake Energy Balls

Energy Base Ball

  • 1 1/4 cups  rolled oats you can also swap quick oats or a blend of half quick, half old fashioned
  • 2 tablespoons “power mix-ins” chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, or additional rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup nut butter of choice
  • 1/3 cup sticky liquid sweetener of choice honey or maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup mix-ins see below for flavor options

Classic Chocolate Chip

  • Any nut butter honey, 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Trail Mix

  • Peanut butter honey, 3 tablespoons chocolate chips, 3 tablespoons chopped peanuts, 2 tablespoons raisins

White Chocolate Cranberry

  • Almond butter or cashew butter, honey, 1/4 cup dried cranberries, 1/4 cup white chocolate chips

Almond Joy

  • Replace 1/2 cup of the oatmeal with 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes almond butter, any sweetener, 1/4 cup chocolate chips, 1/4 cup chopped almonds

Double Chocolate

  • Any nut butter any sweetener, 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, ADD 2 tablespoons cocoa powder

Oatmeal Raison Cookie

  • Almond butter or cashew butter, maple syrup, 1/2 cup raisins, ADD 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Place all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl: oats, power mix-ins, nut butter, sweetener, vanilla extract, salt, mix-ins, and any other spices you’d like to add. Stir to combine. If the mixture seems too wet, add a bit more oats. If it’s too dry, add a bit more nut butter. It should resemble a somewhat sticky dough that holds together when lightly squeezed. Place the bowl in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to set (this will make the balls easier to roll later on).
  2. Remove the bowl from the refrigerator and portion the dough into balls of desired size. (I use a cookie scoop to make mine approximately 1 inch in diameter). Enjoy!

Yoghurt and Honey Olive Oil Cake

Yoghurt And Honey Olive Oil Cake

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole or 2% plain Greek yogurt
  • 2/3 cup olive oil, plus more for coating the pan
  • 2/3 cup honey
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 325°F.
  2. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan or springform pan lightly with oil. Line the bottom with parchment paper and grease the paper if using a cake pan.
  3. Whisk together the yogurt, olive oil, honey, thyme, and lemon zest in a large bowl. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir with a rubber spatula until the batter is almost smooth with just a few small lumps, but do not overmix.
  4. Transfer the batter to the cake pan, and use a spatula to spread it out evenly. Bake until the top is lightly browned and a tester comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes.
  5. Transfer the cake to a cooling rack and let it cool for 10 minutes before removing it from the pan. Run a knife around the pan to loosen. If using a springform pan, unclasp the sides. Otherwise, flip the cake onto a plate and flip it back onto the rack or serving plate. Serve warm or at room temperature.

This blissful cake recipe (Yoghurt and Honey Olive Oil Cake) comes from TheKitchn.com and is a great way to try out baking with olive oil as a fat substitute. Image credit to Lauren Volo.

So, if you’re considering following The Mediterranean Diet but want some sweet tooth recipes, remember there are many options out there to choose a desert or sweet snack with healthy fats and unrefined sugars.

For more inspiration and other sweet tooth recipes which are inspired by The Mediterranean Diet come and check out our recipe pages here.

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