Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites
Do you ever feel like you need a little “pick me up” or like you’re really hangry but you’ve got too many little people with needs that seem more important than your hunger? Or maybe you want something to satisfy a sweet tooth but also want it to be a nutritious snack? I can think of a million reasons why I want THESE Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites to be in my fridge!
When creating these little balls of joy I had just bought a Costco size bag of dried Cherries (thank you for that, Reed Elam - he picked them out) and I had a friend that had just had a her third baby. Having just gone through that phase of life I knew that she not only need a meal delivered (which I usually do when all the relatives and “help” leave), but she needed quick things to gobble up when she didn’t have hands to feed herself. She just needed energy… bite-size, chocolate and cherry speckled FUEL!
Can you get fuel from a cookie… yes! And cookies are a wonderful and necessary fuel for a new mom, too. But these little guys have almost 3 grams of fiber (to keep things moving!), almost 4 grams of protein, and 7 grams of healthy fat per ball (perfect for milk making!). Eating a delicious morsel with nutrient dense foods like chia, flax, peanut butter, cherries, and oats just makes you feel like you’re doing your body a favor, like you are serving it as well as it’s serving you!
Cherry Chocolate Energy Bites are perfect for new or busy moms, athletes, and hungry kids and teens…. anyone really. I’d gladly serve them to my kids for breakfast, a snack, or even as a lunch-box treat and I eat them before long runs or when I’m running on E. I’ve also been known to pop one in my mouth while I make my family lunch - because I’m hungry and they are WAY better than PB&J crusts!
Enjoy!
Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup dried cherries, chopped
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1/4 cup ground flax seed
- 3/4 cup natural peanut butter
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl (the oats through flax seed).
- In a smaller bowl, mix the peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla until well incorporated and smooth.
- Add the peanut butter mixture to the oat mixture. Stir and fold together until well incorporated (I usually have to get my hands involved).
- Scoop 1 to 2 tablespoons of the mixture into your hands. Roll and press into balls. Place them onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Freeze the bites for about 1 hour to set, then store them in the fridge for 2-3 weeks or the freezer for up to 6 months.