Cook | Easy and delicious snacks from local chefs

Berry Energy Balls

by Rustic Cup

This quick and customisable energy ball recipe from Whitley Bay’s Rustic Cup is vegan-friendly and gluten-free. It also happens to involve no baking whatsoever — a win-win. We’ve been adding protein powder to ours and snacking them post-workout.Ingredients1 cup of each – oats, almonds, pitted dates1 cup of fresh or frozen berries (leave frozen berries to defrost and pat dry before use)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract1 tsp lemon zest

 Optional extras – 

1/2 tsp honey

1 tsp of chia seeds

1 tsp protein powder

Optional decoration –

Beetroot powder

Shredded coconut

Almond flour

Method

• Mix dry ingredients in a food processor until they reach a flour-like consistency. 
• Blend in the rest of the ingredients until you have a sticky dough (add some drops of water or lemon juice if it’s too dry).
• Shape the mixture into balls with your hands or a small ice cream scoop.
• Chill in the freezer before serving (try to wait three hours, if you can).
• Store in an airtight container placed in the refrigerator for up to one week, or up to one month in the freezer.

Nutella Cookie Bars

By R Place

Newcastle-based coffee and donut shop R Place shared this super-indulgent recipe with us. Inspired by Nutella and cookies, it’s a perfect weekend treat for families, or perhaps just for yourself…

Ingredients

280g plain flour1 tsp bicarbonate of soda1/2 tsp salt100g unsalted butter50g granulated sugar120g light brown sugar1 large egg2 tsp vanilla80g chocolate spread180g white chocolate

Method

• Preheat your oven to 180C and line a 9×9 inch square tin with baking paper.
• Whisk the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt together, and leave to one side.
• In a separate bowl, melt the butter (you can do this in the microwave – two rounds of 30 seconds will work).
• Next, add the sugar to the melted butter and whisk for three minutes at high speed.
• When it’s combined, add in the egg and vanilla, and whisk again.
• Take your dry ingredients from earlier and mix them in by hand using a ‘squishing motion’ until a thick dough is formed.
• Push your dough into the tin, spreading it evenly into the corners.
• Bake in the oven for 19 minutes (20 minutes if you like them a bit more crispy), then leave them to rest for 30 minutes before popping them onto a cooling rack.
• To finish, melt the chocolate spread and white chocolate in the microwave for 30 seconds each (stirring between intervals) 
• Swirl over the cookie bars and cut into servings, and then, most importantly – enjoy!