I am a snacker. I always find myself reaching for the fridge door, peering inside, and reaching for something to munch on. I also have a sweet tooth. This could be a dangerous combination. Luckily, I started making these energy bites that satisfy all my cravings and are packed with good-for-you foods. Tucked away in my fridge, they are a lifesaver.
The base of these bites are dates. I used to hate dates with a fiery passion when I was younger, but now I cannot get enough of them. Whenever we were in Palm Springs visiting family, my mom would get a date milkshake. I’d try it, stick out my tongue and push it away…and then reach for my chocolate shake, obviously. But things changed. Dates are sweet and can be stuffed with wonderful things (like peanut butter or goat cheese and walnuts). The dates help the balls stick together, plus they naturally sweeten the energy bites.
The recipe for these energy bites is pretty flexible. The important things are dates, nuts/seeds, cocoa powder, and a little oil. The choice of nuts/seeds is up to you and your pantry. I am trying to use up my food in my NYC apartment before I move back to Seattle for the summer, so I made these the other day and dumped in every possible nut and seed in my apartment: flax seeds, chia seeds, almonds, walnuts, and pepitas, along with the cacao nibs.
I have proof that these bites have earned the name “energy bites”: they fueled my friend and I on a long hike up a mountain overlooking the Hudson River. I made them the night before the hike, threw four of them in the freezer, and grabbed them in the morning. Freezing them helped them maintain their shape for a couple hours. They provided enough energy for us to power up the mountain!
Grab these yummy little morsels whenever you need a little boost!
- 12 dates, pits removed
- 3 Tbsp. cocoa powder
- 1 Tbsp. peanut butter
- 2 Tbsp. flax seeds
- 1 Tbsp. chia seeds
- 2 Tbsp. silvered almonds
- 2 Tbsp. cacao nibs
- 2 Tbsp. coconut oil
- Add all ingredients in a food processor.
- Blend until well combined (mixture may start to make a ball in the food processor, or may stay loose).
- Form into 1 inch balls
- [Optional: roll the balls in cocoa powder, chia seeds, or coconut flakes.]
- Store in the refrigerator up to 1 week.
- This recipe can be modified based on what ingredients you have. You can replace the flax seeds, chia seeds, almonds, and cacao nibs with whatever seeds/nuts you have available - aim for 1/3 to 1/2 cup of assorted nuts/seeds.