Chocolate Hazelnut Energy Balls with Lion’s Mane and Chaga Mushrooms

The incredible health benefits of edible mushrooms
Fungus has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. Lion’s mane mushroom is best known for their benefits of improved cognitive health and reduced inflammation. It’s great for supporting short-term and visual recognition memory.  Chaga is known for boosting the immune system, being a potent antioxidant, and lowering cholesterol. It contains melanin, which helps fights radiation and tumors. Chaga is also good at helping the body adapt and respond to stress.

Chocolate Hazelnut Energy Balls with Lion’s Mane and Chaga Mushrooms
Makes 20-24

1 cup hazelnut meal (ground fresh hazelnuts or purchase as a meal)
1 ½ cup medjool date, pits removed
1/3 cup cocoa powder
½ cup shredded coconut flakes
4 tbs coconut oil, melted
3 tbs protein powder
2 tbs powdered lion’s mane mushroom
1 tbs powdered chaga mushroom
1 tsp vanilla
½ tsp salt

Powdered mushrooms
I find the best way to get powdered mushrooms is to purchase them in their dehydrated state and pulse into a powder using a spice grinder. You can usually find dehydrated lion’s mane and chaga mushrooms at your local Asian supermarket.

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until the batter comes together and sticks. If you find the batter is still loose, add a tablespoon of water and pulse. Form the batter into small balls. If you wanted to be extra fancy, you could coat the energy balls in some melted chocolate and sprinkle with some fun toppings. I like to use bee pollen, pistachios, wild rose petals, coconut flakes, or some falvoured salt like raspberry.