Almond Butter Energy Bites {Video}

These almond butter energy bites taste more like a dessert than a healthy protein bite. They are sweet, chewy, tender, and take minutes to throw together. They are also vegan (dairy-free, egg-free), grain-free (gluten-free), soy-free, and refined sugar-free.

Energy bites are really just a variation of energy bars (protein bars, snack bars, nutrition bars … so many names for pretty much the same thing).

What makes energy bites (and energy bars) so great is that they typically contain higher levels of protein, vitamins and minerals than regular granola bars. Energy bars may contain 15 to 20 g of protein per bar whereas granola bars contain approximately 1 g of protein per bar. This is a big deal if you’re trying to refuel after a workout, build muscle, or improve physical performance.

When I buy protein bars in the store, I look for ones with:

• Plant-based sprouted protein blend. Some of the best sources of plant-based protein include hemp, pea, brown rice, quinoa, amaranth, pumpkin seeds, or chia seeds. The best type of protein is sprouted because sprouting reduces the amount of carbohydrates, heightens the amount of protein, and increases the nutritional profile, making more nutrients bio-available to the body. A good energy bar should contain at least 15 g of protein per serving.
• Natural sugars. If you read nutrition labels, or at least glance at them on occasion, you may have noticed a couple new lines appearing on more and more products. Food manufacturers are now required to list “total sugars” and “added sugars” under “total carbohydrate”. Naturally occurring sugars are inherently in the food, for example in fruit or some vegetables. Added sugars, on the other hand, are the kinds created or put in during the manufacturing process. I always go for energy bars with natural sugars (e.g. from dates or dried apples) or natural extracts (e.g. monk fruit or stevia, which drastically lower the sugar content). 
• Only a handful of (real food) ingredients. The fewer and more wholesome the ingredients, the better. Of course, the only way to control the ingredients is to make your own energy bars or energy bites. 

Tips for Making Almond Butter Energy Bites

Ingredients

Energy bites are one of those recipes that are very customizable. To make these almond butter energy bites, you will need to following ingredients:

• Medjool dates: the majority of energy bites are made with dates. Medjool dates are sticky and naturally sweet, so they act as both a binder and a sweetener. If you don’t have access to Medjool dates, you can substitute them for any other dried fruit, such as figs or apricots. Just keep in mind that Medjool dates are a fresh fruit. So, depending on the dried fruit you use, you might need to soak it in warm water first, so it softens up and is easy to blend.
• Almonds and almond butter: using both almonds and almond butter in this recipe will yield the most textural variety. I really like almonds because they have a naturally mild, sweet, nutty taste and pair well with fruit. However, any nuts (and nut butter) works in this recipe.
• Cocoa powder: chocolate and cocoa powder pair well with so many ingredients! One of of those are almonds, hence the cocoa powder. If you don’t like chocolate flavor (really?!), you can leave the cocoa powder out.
• Sprouted protein powder (optional): not all energy bites are high in protein. In fact, carbohydrates are the most important source of energy. But if you want to boost the protein content, protein powder is a great way to do that. Alternatively, you could also add hemp seeds or pumpkin seeds.

How to Make Almond Butter Energy Bites

I have made countless energy ball recipes that require just stirring all the ingredients together and rolling them into balls. This recipe requires a few more steps, but it is quick and easy nonetheless.

1. Process the almonds. Add the almonds into a food processor fitted with an S blade and pulse until the almonds are crumbly. Be careful not to over-process the almonds; they should retain some texture. 
2. Process the rest of the ingredients. Add the dates, almond butter, cocoa powder, and protein powder (if using) into the food processor with the chopped almonds, and pulse until all the ingredients are well combined. The mixture should be tender and slightly crumbly at first, but it should be sticky enough to hold together when you press it between your fingers. If the mixture it too dry, pulse it a little bit more or add a tablespoon or so of coconut oil to help bind everything together.
3. Roll the mixture into balls. Using a cookie scoop or a spoon, scoop out about a tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into a 1-inch/2.5-cm ball. Place on a serving platter. Repeat until all the mixture is used up. 
4. Chill. To set, chill the almond butter energy bites in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes. 

Energy Bites Variations

To introduce some variety into the almond butter energy bites, you can add chia seeds, hemp seeds, chopped nuts, shredded coconut, cranberries, mini chocolate chips, cocoa powder, maca powder, protein powder, spices, extracts, etc. I typically use mix-ins that are high in protein for slow-releasing, long-lasting source of energy. After all, these almond butter energy balls are called energy bites. Just make sure that you maintain the ratios in the original recipe and chop any mix-ins to a small size so that the energy bites still hold together.

Other than mix-ins, you can also press the mixture into a parchment paper-lined 8 x 8 inch/20 x 20 cm baking dish and then cut into bars (instead of rolling the mixture into energy balls).

Tools You’ll Need

1. Food Processor (Breville Sous Chef) | 2. Measuring Cups (Set of 6, Bellemain, Stainless Steel) | 3. Measuring Spoons (Set of 6, 1Easylife, Stainless Steel) 

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Almond Butter Energy Bites

Prep Time

10 mins

 

These almond butter energy bites taste more like a dessert than a healthy protein bite. They are sweet, chewy, tender, and take minutes to throw together. They are also vegan (dairy-free, egg-free), grain-free (gluten-free), soy-free, and refined sugar-free.

Servings: 12 (1-inch) balls

Calories: 139 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups Medjool dates , pitted
• 1 cup almonds
• 3 Tbsp. cocoa powder
• 2 Tbsp. natural almond butter , smooth
• 1 Tbsp. protein powder (optional)*

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Process the almonds. Add the almonds into a food processor fitted with an S blade and pulse until the almonds are coarsely ground. Be careful not to over-process the almonds.

2. Process the rest of the ingredients. Add the dates, almond butter, cocoa powder, and protein powder (if you using) into the food processor with the almonds, and pulse until all the ingredients are well combined. The mixture should be tender and slightly crumbly at first, but it should be sticky enough to hold together when you press it between your fingers. If the mixture is too dry, pulse it a little bit more or add a tablespoon or so of coconut oil to help bind everything together.

3. Roll the mixture into balls. Using a cookie scoop or a spoon, scoop out about a tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into a 1-inch/2.5-cm ball. Place on a serving platter. Repeat until all the mixture is used up.

4. Chill. To set, chill the almond butter energy bites in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes. 

5. Store. Leftover energy bites keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. For longer term storage, freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 month.

Recipe Notes

*If you use protein powder, decrease the amount of almonds to 3/4 cups.
**Nutrition information is approximate and may contain errors. Please, feel free to make your own calculations.
**Nutrition information is calculated without optional ingredients.

Nutrition Facts

Almond Butter Energy Bites

Amount Per Serving (1 of 12)

Calories 139 Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Carbohydrates 17g6%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 11g12%

Protein 5g10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.