Energy bites….date balls….bliss balls…call them what you want..It doesn’t change the fact that they are the easiest healthy sweet snack out there! Start off with your base of dates, oats and coconut flakes, and get creative with additions for flavor….using nut or seed butters, superfood powders, spices and flavorings.
I made these nut-free for a change using sunflower seed butter. You can make your own sunflower seed butter by roasting the seeds for 9-12 mins in a preheated 325F (160C) oven. And then blending in a food processor until creamy, scraping down the sides from time to time – it will take about 10-12 mins for the seeds to release their oils and turn into butter. Roasting is an important step as it helps release the oils. If you can’t get hold of sunflower seed butter and don’t want to make it yourself, go ahead and use any nut butter you have at home.
I love the addition of cocoa nibs as they are quite bitter and therefore cuts the sweetness of the dates. Cocoa nibs are pure crushed up cocoa beans and like pure cocoa a wonderful source of minerals such as iron, zinc and sulfur, as well as being one of the highest sources of magnesium. However you can totally leave them out if you don’t have any on hand. I also added the maca powder for some extra energy…maca is made from the Peruvian maca root, and helps to keep us energized thanks to it’s high level of phytonutrients in addition to vitamins, amino acids, and minerals. However, they would sill taste awesome without the maca.
For a kid-friendly version leave out the cocoa nibs and maybe even refrain from rolling it in the sesame seeds.
Nut-Free Energy Bites
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Cook Time: 0min
|prep Time: 0min
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Ingredients:
3/4 cup soft pitted dates
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup coconut flakes (or shredded)
2 tablespoons sunflower seed butter
1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
1/2 tsp vanilla extract or paste
2 tablespoons cocoa nibs (optional)
1 tsp maca powder (optional)
Sesame seeds
Instructions:
In a food processor combine dates with the oats and coconut and process until ground.
Add the remaining ingredients (except for the sesame seeds) and process until mixed well and the mixture comes together.
Pinch off a level tablespoon amount of the mixture and roll into balls, making about 12. Roll into the sesame seeds.
Store in the fridge. Enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea….or a matcha latte YUM!
Khulood MD | 3rd Oct 17
I have tried this 🙂
Yum yum yum
Thank you Arwa
Zahra | 8th Mar 18
Sweetie what can i replace the sun butter with.. any options?
Arwa | 9th Mar 18
Hi Zahra! Any nut butter should work. Or you can try tahini if you want to keep it nut-free.