The Untamed Optimist

you do you and people will follow

  • About
    • Q & A
  • College
  • Recipes
    • Breakfasts
    • Lunches
    • Dinners
    • Desserts
    • Snacks
    • Refreshers
  • Wellness
    • Health
  • Style
  • Garden

Explore

  • Q & A
  • About
  • Let’s Be Insta BFF’s
  • Pin Your Favorites
  • Like TUO on Facebook
  • Join the TUO Newsletter

What are you looking for today?

Recipes, Snacks · January 27, 2022

Granola Bliss Balls 3 Ways

With summer hikes being one of my go-to activities for a day off, it’s important to make sure I’ve got the right amount of protein to fuel my day. These granola bliss balls help to ensure I get the nutrients I need while going on a difficult hike in the warm weather.


They pack well, stay fresh, and taste like your favorite grocery store picks while being chocked full of protein! This week I took them on two hikes in the middle of a heatwave and they were perfect for energizing at the beginning and end of the trip.

Dark Chocolate and Almond Bliss Balls

Pop a few granola balls in your bag to snack on before or during the toughest part of your trail for a quick burst of energy. I have been eating them with my breakfasts as well to be sure I have enough protein to feel well throughout the hike. If I’m feeling low on energy during the hike, I’ll pull a few more out and share them with my friends to make sure we get through it.


Hiking in the heat is much harder than on a cool day and you should always pack extra water to compensate for your body sweating. No matter how much protein you have in your diet, if you are dehydrated, you will not feel well during or after the hike.

Ingredients

For the base:

  • 2 1/2 cups rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup flax seeds
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup nut butter
  • 1/4 cup chia seeds

Add-ins: 1/8th cup of the following

  • Dark chocolate
  • Milk chocolate
  • White chocolate
  • Almonds
  • Walnuts
  • Cashews
  • Pistachios
  • Dried cranberries

I separated the combined base ingredients into three even sections before adding in the extras.

Three flavor combinations that taste well and replicate those found in the supermarket are:

  • Pistachio, cranberry, and white chocolate
  • Dark chocolate and walnuts
  • Milk chocolate and almonds

Finely chop the dark chocolate and nuts being used, unless the chocolate is already in chip form.

For this batch, I used barred dark chocolate and chopped it into pieces. For the walnuts and almonds, chopping each nut 2-3 times is enough to break it down, though you can always chop it finer if preferred.

Instructions

Don’t preheat your oven because these bliss balls are no-bake!

  1. In a large bowl, combine all base ingredients until the mixture is just sticky enough to bond to itself and hold shape, but not so sticky that it sticks to your hands.
  2. Divide the batch into equal parts depending on the number of flavors you plan to make. You can store in the fridge with cling wrap if worried about keeping it out while mixing the other ingredients in.
  3. Make a large ball with your first batch and press into the center for a space to pour in your other ingredients.
  4. Fold the edges over—this won’t be as neat as it sounds— and then knead the batch for about a minute. Just enough to combine the ingredients well and have nothing fall out.
  5. Use a spoon to remain consistent with the size of your granola balls. I used a generous tablespoon to achieve the right size for the batch pictured, but you can always change it!
  6. Repeat for as many batches as you choose and let the formed bliss balls chill on a parchment covered plate in the fridge for about an hour. When the hour is up, either add cling wrap or put in an airtight container to avoid drying out.
  7. Optional: you can always dip your granola balls in chocolate for added sweetness, but they taste great regardless! I prefer mine plain with chocolate chips or chunks.

If you have a problem with chocolate chips falling out of the batch, you may want to cut them in half or add more nut butter to your mix. This could mean your mix is too dry and cannot hold itself together.


I’ve been so excited to share this post with you all and there will be some similar posts in the near future! I always use my free time in the summer to go on hikes with close friends and discover new places, but we’ve got to be prepared.


Thanks to everyone who has been active on the questionnaires and polls on my Instagram story @TheUntamedOptimist that have helped me shape this post into more than just a simple recipe. I’ll be asking more questions on my future stories so stay tuned! Your feedback is so helpful in deciding which direction to go when writing and I love to hear back from you!


Until then, keep your eye out for unexplored places to venture out to and stay untamed!

Posted By: byshannonamos@gmail.com · In: Recipes, Snacks

Sustainable Meals for Students
Oven-Baked Crispy Chicken Recipe

You’ll Also Love

20 Minute Nutritious Shrimp Tacos!
Oven-Baked Summer Squash Chips
3 Ingredient Tomato Sauce!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • Italian Herb Crackers
  • Sowing Seeds Ahead of Spring
  • Margherita Pizza
  • Wild Violet Pink Lemonade
  • Wild Violet Syrup

Reader Favorites

Managing and Maintaining 3A Curls

10 Journal Entries for Self-Discovery

keep reading

  • About
    • Q & A
  • College
  • Garden
  • Instagram
  • Recipes
    • Breakfasts
    • Desserts
    • Dinners
    • Lunches
    • Refreshers
    • Snacks
  • Style
  • Wellness
    • Health
Who remembers these journals? They were the very f Who remembers these journals? They were the very first product I ever made with my TUO photography on it and I still have a couple leftover 💕 I of course kept one for myself and have since filled it almost halfway full of journal entries straight from the heart

What would you use this journal for?
Alright y’all, who’s ready for my Italian herb Alright y’all, who’s ready for my Italian herb cracker recipe?! 🙋🏻‍♀️ I made these for our trip to Deep Creek as we always stop by @fireflymarketdeepcreek and they made the perfect base for all the different flavors we got 🤤

I’m in the final stages of getting this posted, so keep an eye out!
I’ve been considering an update to last year’s I’ve been considering an update to last year’s post on fall earring inspiration… these definitely need to make it on there!
There’s always something to admire in the space There’s always something to admire in the space around us. This little guy was happy buzzing around (quite loudly) while I washed my car and I couldn’t help but watch him for a while. If you’re lucky, you can catch them leaping from one flower to the next, letting their wings dance around in the wind rather than putting them to work.
In case you didn’t know, the Untamed Optimist is In case you didn’t know, the Untamed Optimist is 7 years old as of August 2023 and I couldn’t be more proud of where it’s come in all these years. I know it’s been pushed to the back burner recently as my other business has picked up, but I can’t wait to make more TUO content for you in the coming weeks ☺️ thank you for sticking with me all this time, and get ready for new posts by #theuntamedoptimist coming soon!

I’m definitely sharing my Italian herb cracker recipe with you cause it was just too damn good not to, and I’ve got a few new ideas brewing for my local readers 😉 you’ll have to stay tuned for that one though!
There’s something so special about the wildflowe There’s something so special about the wildflowers that pop up around our garden spaces. The ones that are planted by the birds and cultivated by only Mother Nature’s touch.

Some might consider them weeds, but I know they serve a purpose. Take a moment to appreciate the ‘weeds’ in your yard today.
Our Hostas are blooming and I’m feeling grateful Our Hostas are blooming and I’m feeling grateful for the long lasting blooms we get this time of year. I made a point to scatter the Hostas around the garden beds earlier this season in an effort to do two things:

Toward the end of last summer, the hostas had completely outgrown their space and weren’t living up to their potential. Dividing them filled the otherwise empty spaces in our beds whilst allowing each individual plant to grow bigger to fill it in.

While the largest section of Hostas wasn’t quite as showy as last year, our garden is already fuller and will only fill in more as the years go on. Turns out, plants and people aren’t so different if you think about it 🤔
It’s important to be present in each moment as i It’s important to be present in each moment as it comes. I try to remember this as often as I can and my garden is often the best reminder.

Each bloom changes day by day. The colors and conditions are always a sight to see and I don’t think I’ll ever not look forward to it. Nothing beats an evening stroll during harvest season.

Ask yourself, how do you ground yourself in the present? There are more opportunities than you may expect.
  • Q & A
  • About
  • Let’s Be Insta BFF’s
  • Pin Your Favorites
  • Like TUO on Facebook
  • Join the TUO Newsletter

Copyright © 2023 The Untamed Optimist · Theme by 17th Avenue