Energy bites have become my favourite, guilt-free snack recently. They’re naturally sweetened, full of fibre and protein, and made from all raw ingredients that are great for you! So much better than the energy bars we buy from the store, which are full of tons of sugar (some even more than candy bars!)
My favourite part? These are SO easy to make, and quick too. All you need to do is throw a bunch of ingredients into a food processor and that’s pretty much it. Who doesn’t like quick and easy?
I love the combination of dark chocolate and orange, which inspired this recipe. The chocolate makes these energy bites truly indulgent, while the orange zest adds a fragrant freshness to it. What’s great about these little power house snack balls is that you can customise any or all of the ingredients to create something you love! Don’t love chocolate (really?)? Skip it, or add a nut butter of your choice. Use whichever nuts you have on hand, add flax seeds if you prefer. Substitute orange zest for any dried fruit (think apricots, goji berries, figs), or if you can’t stand fruit, omit it altogether.
You can munch on them before a workout, or keep them in the fridge and pop them in your purse for a snack on the go. These are great snacks to make ahead and carry with you even when you’re traveling.
I like to make a batch of these and store them in the refrigerator for an anytime snack/dessert/pick-me-up.
- 1 and ½ cups pitted Medjool dates
- ⅔ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- ⅓ cup chopped dark chocolate
- ⅓ cup pistachios, roughly chopped
- ½ cup almonds, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- A teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- ½ teaspoon orange zest
- Cacao powder, to roll the balls in (optional)
- Add the pitted dates to a food processor or high-speed blender and process for a few minutes, until it comes together in a ball with a dough-like consistency.
- Add the rolled oats, dark chocolate, pistachios, almonds, chia seeds, vanilla extract, coconut oil, and orange zest to the dates and process again, for 3-5 minutes until you have a sticky mixture. You might need to check on it in the middle to scrape the sides.
- Remove the mixture on to a tray. Lightly knead it to ensure it is well combined.
- Use a tablespoon sized scoop and gently roll the mixture in your palms to form into balls. Roll them in cacao powder if desired.
- Pop them in the refrigerator for 15 minutes before you eat! You can store them in an airtight container in the fridge upto a week or 10 days.
*Cacao powder is unsweetened, raw cocoa powder. You can very well substitute it for regular cocoa powder or skip it altogether.
Did you make this recipe?
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