Apricot and Coconut Balls

Apricot and Coconut Energy Balls are a delicious snack for any holiday travels! Dried apricots blended with pecans, walnuts and coconut shreds creates a quick treat made in only 5 minutes.

Apricot-Coconut-Energy-Bites | www.8thandlake.com

Take me back three years to the icy chill of winter, lying numb in a paper-thin sleeping bag and I hate camping. Now fast forward three years to the summer heat on your skin, winding roads leading to blue sky and seas, cooking an impromptu tuna and quinoa paella on an edge of a cliff as the sun sets over Big Sur and I love camping. Same place, two different seasons.

This week was good. Really good. I went on holiday and explored the majestic Big Sur coast. We hiked redwood trails leading to hidden waterfalls, ate every meal cliff side, trekked the edge of that cliff, jumped around the beach that that cliff lead us to, drove aimlessly for hours with the sole purpose of finding reception (forewarning: not possible in BS), hung out with a raccoon family very acclimated to humans, paid $10 for 2 macchiatos (a little crazy, eh?), saw some elephant seals, drove to Hearst Castle but didn't want to front the money to go in and finally remembered that I stuffed these Apricot and Coconut Energy Balls into my bag!

Dried apricots blended with pecans, creates gooey energy bites that are caramel-esque in flavor with a hint of the tropics from the sweet coconut. Roll into a ball or lay flat and cut into small squares, making these bites all your own. I love rolling them into a pile of coconut shreds and adding a drizzle of dark chocolate on top for extra sweetness! Camping, hanging out at home, in the car, at work or school, these apricot and coconut balls will satiate any sweet craving while leaving you with energy that will last an afternoon. Maybe even enough to drive to a place that you’ve always wanted to explore…just bring at least 3 :)

3-Apricot-Coconut-Energy-Bites | www.8thandlake.com

Serves: 12

Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients for the Apricot and Coconut Balls:

- 1 cup pecans

- 1/2 cup walnuts

-2 cups dried apricots

-1/3 coconut shreds

- 1 teaspoon coconut oil

- 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)

- pinch of sea salt

Instructions:

Start by adding the nuts into a food processor and chop until the nuts form a crumble, about 1-2 minutes. Then simply add the remaining ingredients to the food processor and blend until its all mixed together and forms a sticky ball, about 2 minutes. Now with your hands, roll the mixture into small balls and store in the freezer or refrigerator for up to a few weeks.  Enjoy!

2-Apricot-Coconut-Energy-Bites | www.8thandlake.com

I hope you guys enjoy this recipe and that it inspires you to create some fun little snacks to take with you on your summer travels! 

Enjoy you guys and be sure to tag me so I can see how you make your creations! #8thandlake.

xx Marie