I think we’ve conditioned our toddler to think every time the mailman comes, he gets a package. Little gifts from grandma and grandpa, Amazon boxes at our door…every single time it’s “MOMMA! I get a package?!” – doesn’t even matter what’s inside. But what’s inside these paleo key lime pie energy balls does matter – date and cashew coating with a naturally-sweetened key lime cream inside? The mailman got nothin’ on me.

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My son gets excited about anything we get – cards, clothes, food items, whatever. My in-laws once sent a book to my husband and included a tiny stuffed bumble bee thing that looked like a cat toy. But he loved it. He got a package. And some boxes to stack. A winning day for any toddler.

But let’s be honest, if I never received bills in the mail I’d be pretty stoked about everything I get too…

Sometimes I think as parents we come up with the greatest ideas and then realize shortly after implementation, they were the worst ideas – face palm worthy. Like for his birthday – my mom was visiting a week before the big celebration, so we let him open the gift from my parents early, with all the other gifts stashed in the closet. Later, when FaceTiming uncles and aunts, we pulled out their gifts. “We should space it out, so he’s not totally overwhelmed,” a sensible thought. But didn’t take long for him to associate the closet as the holy grail of presents/packages. He still opens it (7 months later), trying to find new toys…

I kind of feel his pain when I open the freezer to these paleo key lime pie energy balls. It’s like a huge stash of presents that I KNOW are in there. And once they were gone, I couldn’t get over it.

“I want a package!” “Where are the presents?” “But I don’t WANT the nut balls to be all gone!”

It’s like an overwhelm of 2-year-old emotions in a 25-year-old (plus a few years) body. Almost worth that infamous ‘loose all leg control and flop like a fish’ move that toddlers are oh-so-good at perfecting. I won’t apologize for getting highly emotional about these paleo key lime pie energy balls. Put me in a timeout if you will, but these healthy snacking balls are worth getting in a tizzy over.

Because…that cream center – it’s full of sweetly soured lime goodness. Drool-worthy doesn’t even cover it.  And you’d never know these balls have ZERO sweeteners – nope, not even honey or maple syrup. The secret? Coconut cream, ripe banana puree, and fresh lime juice. It’s amazing. It’s life changing. It’s perfect for summer.

Paleo Key Lime Pie Energy Balls

To start, combine medjool dates, raw cashews, and unsweetened coconut flakes in a food processor. Pulse until well combined and mixture sticks.

The trick is to then roll the cashew/coconut/date nut mixture on parchment paper and flatten (either with a parchment-lined rolling in or with your hands).

Next, combine coconut cream (the thick stuff at the top of full-fat coconut milk), avocado, ripe banana, lime juice, and zest into the food processor and blend well. Pour the mixture into a container and freeze for 20 minutes. The cream needs to freeze slightly and harden in order to make moldable balls.

Once the cream is set, scoop out a heaping 1/2 teaspoon and quickly mold into a ball, then place on a parchment-lined plate. You may have to do this in batches, to keep the cream slightly frozen and moldable. The balls do not have to be perfect – they’ll be covered by the nut mixture anyway. Freeze the balls for another 10-20 minutes, until hardened.

As the balls are chilling, use a circular cookie cutter to cut out the flattened date and nut mixture. Once the key lime balls are frozen, place one in the center of the cutout, and gently wrap it around the cream ball, using only enough to cover (remove any extra and set aside to make another flattened circle), then quickly and very gently roll, just enough to make into a ball form and seal the ends. Place back in the freezer. You may have to do this in batches, so the lime cream doesn’t melt as you work.

Voila! The time spent wrapping these little beauties making the best dang package you’ve ever received is totally worth it. Paleo, gluten free, dairy free, and sweetened only with fruit, these paleo key lime pie energy balls are the perfect treat to share with the kids, the neighbors, or just hoard them yourself (I like your style).

And be sure to check out a few more healthy ball recipes when you need a ‘lil treat without the guilt: paleo almond cocoa mocha energy balls and paleo carrot cake energy balls

Paleo Key Lime Pie Energy Balls

★★★★★

4.7 from 3 reviews

• Author: Physical Kitchness
• Yield: 16-18 balls 1x

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 13 medjool dates
• 1/2 cup raw cashews
• 1/4 cup unshredded coconut flake

Key Lime Cream

• 1/3 cup coconut cream
• 1 small avocado
• 4 small limes, juiced
• 1 lime zest
• 1/2 ripe banana

Instructions

1. Combine medjool dates, raw cashews, and unsweetened coconut flakes in a food processor. Pulse until well combined and mixture sticks
2. Roll the cashew/coconut/date nut mixture on parchment paper and flatten (either with a parchment-lined rolling in or with your hands).
3. Next, combine coconut cream, avocado, ripe banana, lime juice, and zest into the food processor and blend well. Pour into a container and freeze for 20 minutes or until hardened to make moldable balls
4. Once the cream is set, scoop out a heaping 1/2 teaspoon and quickly mold into a ball, then place on a parchment-lined plate. You may have to do this in batches, to keep the cream slightly frozen and moldable
5. Freeze the balls for another 10-20 minutes, until hardened
6. As the balls are chilling, use a circular cookie cutter to cut out the flattened date and nut mixture Once the key lime balls are frozen, place one in the center of the cutout, and gently wrap it around the cream ball, using only enough to cover (remove any extra and set aside to make another flattened circle), then quickly and very gently roll, just enough to make into a ball form and seal the ends
7. Place back into the freezer. You may have to do this in batches, so the lime cream doesn’t melt as you work
8. When ready to serve, set balls at room temperature for a few minutes to thaw. Balls can be kept in the freezer or the refrigerator for later

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