As kids, all of the treats we had in our house were ones that our mom baked from scratch. Although they were yummy, we have vivid memories of excitedly going to our friend’s houses after school to eat indulgent snacks that our mom would have never bought… the ones we’d see on commercials and we felt like we were being so stealth and like we were sneaking them, particularly Ho-Ho’s and Double Stuffed Oreos. We would lick by lick eat the cream first. And once the insides of the Oreos were licked clean, we’d proceed to eat the outsides. We felt so sneaky (despite having the chocolate cookie crumbles all on our fingers and around our mouths…and we’d have more than one. 🙂 Those were the days!
In honor of those carefree childhood days, we have created this guilt-free version of Oreos, so that your taste buds can be tantalized while your waistline doesn’t pay the price. Our clients love these 50-Calorie numbers, inspired by some of our other popular dessert balls like our Chocolate Drizzled Granola Balls, our White Chocolate Drizzled Wild Blueberry Granola Balls and Chocolate Coconut Chia Balls. Made with mostly healthy ingredients, these low calorie balls are the perfect treat to end a light meal and satisfy a craving. We all deserve a little sweetness in life once and a while 🙂
Money may not grow on trees or buy happiness, but when it comes to chocolate, it does both—chocolate DOES grow on trees and it makes you happy! Chocolate causes the brain to release endorphins, chemicals like serotonin that make us feel good and happy. Chocolate, or in this sense cocoa powder (we actually use and recommend cacao powder, you can read about it and see it here in our Spiced Hot Chocolate, also has multiple health benefits! Cacao, (the raw form of the bean that makes chocolate) is packed with phytonutrients, particularly cocoa flavanols which support healthy circulation. This means that aside from promoting cardiovascular health, they improve the flow of oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body, helping you to perform and feel your best while nourishing your skin, eyes, muscles and all parts of your body! Hello gorgeous complexions, energized muscles and strong hearts!
An added bonus? The cacao contains minerals like magnesium (important for your bones)copper (to help your body use iron and synthesize collagen) and manganese (also important for collagen and bone growth).A little bite of heaven will keep you on the healthy eating track, and help you to keep your sanity… so you don’t end up bingeing from being too strict and feeling deprived! Just one ball is only 50 calories. Perfect to satisfy that sweet tooth!
Skinny Oreo Balls
Yield 20 (1-in.) balls
Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour of your choice (we used Bob’s Mill gluten free flour)
- 6 tbsp unsweetened cacao powder (OK to use unsweetened cocoa powder)
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- ¼ cup stevia
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup almond butter (or peanut butter)
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 5 natural “Oreos,” smashed (found at most health food stores)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, and grease an 8-in square or round pan. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and sweetener, and stir very well.
- If your nut butter is not stir-able, gently heat it until stir-able.
- In a new bowl, whisk together the nut butter, ¼ cup yogurt, water, and vanilla.
- Pour wet into dry and stir until just combined (don’t over-mix), then pour into the greased pan.
- Bake 25 minutes or until batter has risen and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out mostly clean. Let the cake cool.
- When cooled, roll cakes into small balls (about 1 inch), just start scooping pieces of cake out and form the balls.
- Once balls are formed, roll them in the remaining Greek yogurt and then the crumbed Oreos. Serve immediately or refrigerate until serving
Bon appe-tiny bites of heaven!
Nutritional Information per Oreo Baby:
Calories 50; Fat 2.5g; Saturated Fat 0g; Carbohydrates 8g; Protein 2g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 22mg; Fiber 3g
- 1 cup flour of your choice (we used Bob’s Mill gluten free flour)
- 6 tbsp unsweetened cacao powder (OK to use unsweetened cocoa powder)
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ cup stevia
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ¾ cup water
- ¼ cup almond butter (or peanut butter)
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 5 natural “Oreos,” smashed (found at most health food stores)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, and grease an 8-in square or round pan. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and sweetener, and stir very well.
- If your nut butter is not stir-able, gently heat it until stir-able.
- In a new bowl, whisk together the nut butter, ¼ cup yogurt, water, and vanilla.
- Pour wet into dry and stir until just combined (don’t over-mix), then pour into the greased pan.
- Bake 25 minutes or until batter has risen and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out mostly clean. Let the cake cool.
- When cooled, roll cakes into small balls (about 1 inch), just start scooping pieces of cake out and form the balls.
- Once balls are formed, roll them in the remaining Greek yogurt and then the crumbed Oreos. Serve immediately or refrigerate until serving