One step towards having balanced hormones is to stabilize your sugar levels. Sugar cravings, crushes, feeling jittery, moody and anxious when hungry, waking in the middle of the night are signs of unbalanced sugar levels.
I developed this recipe to show you how to snack at night and help you stabilize your sugar levels.
Sugar Crashes And Sleep
Reaching for sugar-filled carbs like chocolate and sweet biscuits late at night won’t do your sleep any favors. Sweet snacks cause a sugar crash. Later when you’re in bed, that dip in your blood glucose may lead you to wake at 2 or 3am, disrupting your sleep quality for the rest of the night.
The Sleep Power of Protein
Protein snacks create a chemical chain reaction to help you fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly. Here’s why:
- Protein increases tryptophan – this is a key ingredient for sleep.
- Tryptophan increases serotonin – also called the ‘happiness hormone’.
- Serotonin increases melatonin – the ‘sleep hormone’.
So if you want to prime your brain and body for a better night’s sleep, these high-protein Cashew Butter Protein Balls are the perfect choice. As well as being chewy and flavorsome, they feature a healthy mix of sleep-friendly ingredients including:
Cashew Nuts
Originally from Brazil, these crescent-shaped nuts have a slightly sweet flavor. They are high in iron, B-vitamins, and zinc. Most importantly, they’re rich in magnesium, a natural relaxant that nourishes your nervous system.
Nuts contain phytic acid, which can bind to minerals like iron and zinc, making you absorb less. So before cooking, I always soak them overnight in salt and water. This triggers the germination or sprouting process, reducing the phytic acid and making the nuts gentler on the digestive system.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is high in antioxidants and medium chain saturated fatty acids (MCFAs). They boost the body’s immune defense against viruses and bacteria. MCFAs are also small enough to enter the mitochondria (powerhouse) of your cells. There, they help your body effectively complete it’s energy cycle, promoting better fat-burning.
Cinnamon
In ancient cultures this fragrant spice was valued more highly than gold. In our modern world, studies suggest that it can stabilize blood sugars, helping your body release less insulin.
Cranberries
These tart, crimson berries are popular in Scandinavia and the US. They are high in fiber, vitamin C and other antioxidants. Compounds found in cranberries also help to fight bacterial infections and may help protect against everything from gum disease to cancer.
Ready to get in the kitchen? These protein balls are so simple that from start to finish, they take only 30 minutes to make. Just a couple will satisfy late-night hunger pangs. You can also pop them into brown-bagged lunches or enjoy as a snack between meals.
Learn how to add more hormone-balancing ingredients to your meals with our FREE 15 Breakfasts to Rebalance Your Hormones guide here.
- ¾ cup raw cashews
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted, plus extra if necessary
- ⅓ cup almond flour
- ⅓ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons water
- ½ cup chopped dried cranberries (or cherries)
- Place the cashews in a large bowl and cover them with hot water. Let the cashews soak in hot water for 15 minutes, then drain the cashews thoroughly.
- Place the soaked cashews in the bowl of your high-speed blender and process for a few minutes until you get a very thick paste. You will need to stop the blender and scrape down the sides of your blender every once in a while. Add in the melted coconut oil and process a bit more until you get a thick but smooth cashew butter. If needed, add a bit more coconut oil until you get the texture required.
- In a large bowl, combine the cashew butter, almond flour, unsweetened shredded coconut, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract and water and mix until you get a homogeneous mixture, much like the texture of cookie dough.
- Gently fold in the dried cranberries until they are evenly distributed between the dough.
- Scoop one tablespoon of dough and roll it into a small ball between your palms. Repeat until all the mixture is used up. You should be able to get 12 protein balls.
- Eat immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to a month.
If you’re looking for more healthy takes on dessert, you can find more recipes like this in my cookbook, Cooking For Hormone Balance, with over 125 easy, delicious recipes to nourish your body and balance your hormones without calorie restriction or deprivation.
All of the recipes are based on twenty hormone-supporting superfoods and twenty hormone-supporting super herbs—with modifications for Paleo, Paleo for Autoimmunity (AIP), anti-Candida, and low-FODMAP diets. Get the cookbook here.
I’m confused. You say that these cashew balls are high in protein and low in carbohydrates, so it won’t lead to a sugar crash and poor sleep. But when I look at the nutrition facts (courtesy of the caloriecount.com recipe analyzer), the “just a couple” of balls (2) said to “satisfy late-night hunger pangs” and help me to sleep contain 4 g protein and 15 g carbohydrates, 8 g of which is in the form of sugars. That’s only 0.5% of my daily protein needs but 41% of my recommended daily sugar intake!
Hi Amy, yes this has healthy fat, some protein and not too much sugar. So, it is still a good option (compared to others) for having a satiating treat before bed. It invites sleep and can help in healing. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Did you use sweetened or unsweetened dried cranberries? 1/2 cup sweetened craisins adds 58 gm sugar to the whole recipe. 1/2 cup unsweetened cranberries adds only 5 gm sugar to the recipe. Recipe should probably specify.
Hi Kamie, Magdalena encourages keeping sugar very low. So unsweetened cranberries for this recipe 🙂
Hi, this recipe looks great! I usually take magnesium before bed, would the oxalates in the almond flour in this recipe bind to the magnesium, thus canceling it out? Should I use coconut flour instead? Thanks for all of your wonderful advice
Hi Michelle, trying it with coconut flour is a great idea! Please let us know how it turns out when you make it 🙂
Just keep in mind that some people, like me, find coconut very stimulating and if they eat it too late in the day, it actually interferes with sleep.
Thank you Amanda, good to point that out~Deanna HB Team
What’s the alternative? I am allergic to tree nuts and coconut.
I too am allergic to tree nuts and coconut (except the oil) How would using sunflower seeds and maybe rice flower work for this recipe? How does it change things chemically?
Hi Tamian, That is a creative option. Some people do not do well with rice flour. However, if your body is accepting of it, then it could be tasty. Magdalena’s kitchen has not tested your idea. If you make them that way, please share your results 🙂
Hi Sandy, this snack may not be the best option for you. There are many others on Magdalena’s website. I hope you get to check them out.
Cashews are not actually nuts. They are the seed of the cashew apple, so should be fine. Find out more here http://www.businessinsider.com/nuts-that-arent-actually-nuts-2016-2/?r=AU&IR=T/#peanuts-1
Thank you Amanda ~Deanna HB Team
I tried this recipe tonight and they taste amazing! However, I had to move the nut butter part of the recipe over to my Cuisinart because the nuts were not forming nut butter even after adding extra oil. So my first batch is super yummy, but slightly oily. Perhaps the nut butter would work with more nuts…I’ve pureed cashews dozens of times in my Blendtec, but the smaller quantity just spun to the walls of the blender and stuck there. 🙁 Other than that, great recipe!
Hi Shannon, Thank you for sharing your experience and review. If you make a double batch (maybe for a friend with hormonal balance issues or the holidays?) You can see if your theory works and share the results!
Do these follow a paleo diet?
Hi Jillian, many aspects of this recipe do follow Paleo, as it is grain-free.
Is flour blanched or unblanched new to this so need specifics please.
You can use either. thanks for asking and we will clarify in future updates.
can I eat these everyday? lol!
Absolutely!
Can I use dates instead?
Hi Andrea,
we can’t guarantee it would work the same but let us know how it goes?
I make them with coconut flour, it came out perfect, I made it with
almond flour the same and delicious, thanks
Hi Maggie,
great substitutions ideas! Thanks for sharing.
Allergic to cashews and almonds. So I will try to sub coconut flour or tiger nut flour.. what nut can I substitute? Do all nuts help with serotonin production? I can have pecans and walnuts..and may I also ask what brand of cranberries do you use.. can’t find any that don’t have added sugar and sulphites?
Hi Laura,
This was how the recipe was tested in the HB kitchen. You have some good creative suggestions~Deanna HB Team
Where do you find unsweetened dried cranberries or cherries? I’ve only sound ones with sugar added.
Hi Laura,
You can find them on Amazon or Nuts.com Let us know how you like the recipe when you make them. 🙂
Angela – HB team
Hi! Is this good for people who fighting with fibroids ?
Thank you
Gina
HI Gina,
The Cashew protein balls will help you reduce cravings. Estrogen dominance is often behind fibroids so reducing estrogen will be helpful with fibroids. Here is an article to learn more. https://hormonesbalance.com/articles/what-is-estrogen-dominance-as-a-hormonal-imbalance-in-women/
Warmly, Angela HB Team
Since you recommend soaking the cashews do you also recommend the almond flour be from soaked almonds?
Hi Heather,
You can use regular organic almond flour ~Deanna HB Team
This looks simple enough for me to make and NOT mess up! I’ll definitely give this recipe a try
Yes, it is a good recipe to try. Please let us know what you think ~Deanna HB Team
Can one use already made cashew nut butter, like Justin’s Cashew Nut Butter?
Hi Tanya,
We haven’t tested that in the HB kitchen. If you do try it, please look for one with no added sugar and let us know your results. ~Deanna HB Team
OMG love this cashew twist on Buckeyes – my Ohio pride side is proud of you for this creation. Chamanicecream
Great thought Chamanicecream-I am from Ohio and didn’t connect that! ~Deanna HB Team
Thanks, this is great, appreciate all your recipes.
Wonderful. Thank you for saying so Chrissy 🙂
Is organic dry cranberries with apple juice and a bit of sunflower oil ok?
Also what is best for this recipe sour or sweet organic no sugar cherries?
Hi Natalie, whatever you can do to knock down the sugar is preferred. The cashews have a good flavor and can carry it 🙂 ~HB Team
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