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    Hummusapien Β» Recipes Β» Snacks Β» Salted Chocolate Chia Popcorn Balls

    ★★★★★ from 2 reviews

    Salted Chocolate Chia Popcorn Balls

    Published Apr 2, 2015 Β· Modified Nov 8, 2021 Β· by Alexis Joseph Β· 25 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Popcorn is food for DA SOUL.

    Salted Chocolate Chia Popcorn Balls

    It's a sensitive little kernal thang. It's there for you at the movies when all you want is for the hot-salty-crunchy-goodness to take over the space in your brain that your recent breakup is rudely occupying. It's there for you when you're studying and you want a healthy snack with energizing B vitamins. It can be salty. It can be sweet. It can make your life complete.

    But seriously. Popcorn has got to be the simplest snack of them all. It only has one ingredient that just so happens to be packed with filling fiber and disease-fighting antioxidants. And while it's oxidizing all the damaging free radicals in your bod, you're just sitting there smiling at the crumbs in every nook and cranny known to womankind.

    IMG_2150a

    I didn't mean for this post to turn into a poem. Or did I?

    When Bob's Red Mill asked if I wanted to do a post on popcorn, I was all like "IS THE SKY BLUE? IS HUMMUS DELISH?" But then I sat back and thought, "Wait. I've never made anything cool with popcorn." All I ever do is heat in on the stovetop with coconut oil and salt and say "mmmmm" after each bite until someone yells at me.

    Salted Chocolate Chia Popcorn Balls

    So naturally I got out my army of sensational superfoods (ahem cacao, almonds and chia seeds) and got to work. Popcorn and chocolate is a done deal. But popcorn and chocolate and salt? AND chia seeds?! I know you can't but can you even?

    These wondrous little snacks double as dessert. And breakfast. And even dinner on lazy days. They're sweet, salty, crunchy, chewy, and quite possibly the stuff of dreams. Because I'd be lying if I said I haven't dreamed about them more than once.

    IMG_2162a

    I started this post having absolutely no idea what to write about. All I knew was my sincere love for all things popcorn. I swear my fingers take over my brain as soon as they touch the keys. I don't think they even need me anymore.

    Say hello to the most sensational superfood snack you've ever laid mouth on. Then say goodbye because I guarantee they'll be gone in a SNAP CRACKLE POP.

    Print
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    Salted Chocolate Chia Popcorn Balls

    ★★★★★ 5 from 2 reviews
    • Author: Alexis Joseph, MS, RD, LD
    • Prep Time: 10 mins
    • Cook Time: 5 mins
    • Total Time: 15 mins
    • Yield: 15 1x
    • Category: Snack
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Deliciously chocolatey popcorn balls with a superfood boost!


    Ingredients

    Units Scale

    For the popcorn:

    • ½ cup Bob's Red Mill white popcorn kernels
    • 2 tbsp coconut oil

    For the popcorn balls:

    • 4 cups popped popcorn (you'll have leftovers)
    • 2 tbsp chia seeds
    • 2 tbsp almond meal
    • 2 tbsp raw cacao powder
    • ¼ tsp sea salt
    • ½ cup sunbutter (or nut butter of choice)
    • ¼ cup pure maple syrup

    Instructions

    1. Place coconut oil in a medium or large pot over medium-high heat. Once melted, add two popcorn kernels and cover pot with lid. Once the kernels have popped, and the rest of the kernels and cover. Shake pan continuously as kernels start to pop. After a couple minutes when the kernels stop popping, remove pot from heat.
    2. Line a large plate with parchment paper and set aside.
    3. Place 4 cups of popped popcorn in a large bowl. You'll have plenty of leftover popcorn for snacking! Add chia seeds, almond meal, cacao powder, and salt, tossing to combine.
    4. Place sunbutter and maple syrup in a medium bowl. Microwave for about 20 seconds and then stir to combine. You could also do this in a small pot on the stove.
    5. Pour sunbutter mixture over popcorn mixture. It will be thick, that's ok. Using your hands, toss everything together. This may take a couple minutes. Be sure to incorporate all the dry ingredients sitting at the bottom.
    6. You will need to wet your hands in between each ball. With wet hands, start tightly packing mixture into balls the size of a golf ball. If the mixture isn't sticking together, keep wetting your hands and pressing firmly!
    7. Set balls on plate lined with parchment paper. You should have about 15. Place in freezer or fridge for 20 minutes to set prior to serving. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

    Notes

    Inspired by these chocolate peanut butter popcorn truffles

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @hummusapien on Instagram. I love sharing what you make!

    [Tweet "These Salted Chocolate Chia Balls via @TheHummusapien double as snack and dessert! @bobsredmill"]

    Thank you Bob's Red Mill for sponsoring this post! For more delicious recipes and a coupon for $1.00 off any product, please visit BobsRedMill.com. Thanks for supporting the brands that make Hummusapien possible!

    About Alexis Joseph

    Oh HEY there! I'm Alexis Joseph, food writer, blogger, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), new mama, and co-founder of local restaurant group, Alchemy. I use my passion for cooking and wellness as fuel to help others ignite a more freeing and happy relationship with food. Learn more about Alexis!

    5 Secrets to Delish, Healthy Lunches

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Brittany says

      December 07, 2015 at 5:12 pm

      Totally trying these soon!!

      Reply
    2. lindsay says

      April 18, 2015 at 2:40 pm

      sharing, pinning, drooling. Now please send me some. K?

      Reply
    3. Anna says

      April 04, 2015 at 4:22 pm

      OMG i wanna make these so baddd! But thank you so much for making me not feel bad about desserting on some (entire bag of) popcorn. I'm making these pronto!

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        April 16, 2015 at 10:27 am

        Awesome! Hope you love them!

        Reply
    4. Amanda @ .running with spoons. says

      April 03, 2015 at 8:22 am

      It's completely natural to crave popcorn for breakfast, right? Because that's totally what I'm dealing with right now πŸ˜›

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        April 16, 2015 at 10:44 am

        Popcorn for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner please!!!

        Reply
    5. Anna says

      April 03, 2015 at 6:08 am

      these look super super deliciouuus!!! yumm

      https://aspoonfulofnature.wordpress.com/

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        April 16, 2015 at 10:45 am

        Thanks, Anna!

        Reply
    6. Emma says

      April 03, 2015 at 1:44 am

      Making this tomorrow! What a great idea.

      Reply
      • Emma says

        April 03, 2015 at 9:05 pm

        I should let you know that I made a half batch of these today and then I went to talk to my cousin on the phone for 30 minutes and then when I came back there was one left. Thanks bf for leaving me at least one.

        Reply
        • Alexis says

          April 16, 2015 at 10:27 am

          Bahahahaah this is perfect. Obsessed!

          Reply
      • Alexis says

        April 16, 2015 at 10:45 am

        Yay! Hope you adore them.

        Reply
    7. Thalia @ butter and brioche says

      April 02, 2015 at 11:36 pm

      I definitely could devour many of these popcorn balls! They look awesome!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        April 16, 2015 at 10:46 am

        They are quite devourable πŸ˜‰

        Reply
    8. Shannon says

      April 02, 2015 at 1:11 pm

      Popcorn is the best snack. And with chocolate! Yum

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        April 16, 2015 at 10:46 am

        Amen. Chocolate makes everything better.

        Reply
    9. Lacey @ Runs and Roses says

      April 02, 2015 at 12:28 pm

      Yum! I love all of these things separately but combined into one???? Oh my goodness I can't wait to make these!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        April 16, 2015 at 10:47 am

        That's where the magic happens! I basically threw all my favorite foods in a bowl. Except hummus.

        Reply
    10. Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says

      April 02, 2015 at 10:29 am

      You know I am 100% on board with anything and everything that involves popcorn!

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        April 02, 2015 at 10:36 am

        You're gonna DIEEEE for these. Absolutely die.

        Reply
    11. Rebecca @ Nourishing Blog says

      April 02, 2015 at 10:14 am

      I love this!! Popcorn just doesn't get enough love sometimes. Pinned for sure!!

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        April 02, 2015 at 10:37 am

        I so agree! It's under-rated for sure πŸ™‚ Not anymore!!

        Reply
    12. Julia says

      April 02, 2015 at 9:25 am

      Best.use.of.popcorn.evah! I love the way your mind works. Someone says "popcorn" and you say "supahfood!" These cacao chia balls are straight-up perfecto! P.S. I'd add "perfect drunken snack" to your list of popcorn functions πŸ˜‰

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        April 02, 2015 at 10:37 am

        OMG...how could I forget drunken snack? I've taken down a whole bag in one sitting. EASY.

        Reply
    13. Erin @ The Almond Eater says

      April 02, 2015 at 6:23 am

      You said it yourself... popcorn AND cacao AND almonds AAAAAND chia seeds?!! I can't. Or can I?

      Reply

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