January 14, 2023

Choco Cherry Almond Bites

Chewy and chocolatey, with surprising bursts of cherry flavor, these Choco Cherry Almond Bites will soon become your new favorite snack! Not only are these little bites of energy absolutely delicious, but they are also full of whole grains, healthy fats and protein to help power you through the day.

I feel like healthy snacks are hard to come by. Many granola bars are advertised as healthy, yet when you look at the ingredients list, more often than not they’re full of sugar and strange ingredients that are hard to pronounce. Because of all the added sugar, these “healthy” bars curb your hunger for only a short amount of time, leaving you hangry 30 minutes later. So, in an attempt to fix this healthy snack dilemma, I decided to make homemade energy bites. As opposed to many processed snacks, these energy bites literally live up to their title: they give you energy and satiate your hunger for hours!

You may be wondering: What exactly are energy bites? Essentially they are granola bars, but in bite size form (which makes them extra cute!). What I love about this recipe is that you can make a batch and keep them in the fridge for a healthy snack or breakfast option all week long. Another plus is that these bites of energy are made with only 7 ingredients that you can pronounce and feel good about feeding your body. Convenient, delicious and healthy: it’s a win-win right?!

Ingredients

Rolled Oats~ Oats are a great source of fiber, leaving your hunger satiated for an extended period of time. For this recipe, I prefer to use quick oats because they are easier to combine with the other ingredients. If you only have old-fashioned oats, pulse them a few times in a food-processor so that they are broken down slightly like quick oats.

Almond Butter~ This is where all those healthy fats and protein come in, giving you a burst of energy! Although I used plain, unsalted almond butter, any kind will work. You can also try different nut butters or an allergy friendly substitute instead if you prefer. Any nut butter works, but for the strongest almond flavor, almond butter is the best choice.

Honey~ Honey is the “glue” that sticks together the energy bites, so it’s important not to omit it. I imagine maple syrup would work as a substitute, however I have not personally experimented with that ingredient so I cannot vouch for those results.

Unsweetened Cocoa Powder & Salt ~I love dutch-processed cocoa for an even deeper chocolate flavor! And salt is super important for accentuating that flavor too.

Dried Cherries~ I love how the dried cherries add splashes of tartness to the chocolate energy bites. Chocolate and cherry is such a lovely combination, however you can definitely substitute dried cranberries instead. Be sure to give your cherries a rough chop before adding them to your dough.

Almonds~ I opted for sliced raw almonds, but slivered would work too. You could also buy whole almonds and chop them yourself, or even substitute a different nut instead. Or, if you have a nut allergy, skip them altogether and add more dried fruit or chocolate chips.

Chocolate Chips (optional)~ For double the chocolate, add a handful of chocolate chips. Dark chocolate is my personal favorite.

The Dance

These energy bites are so easy and there’s no baking required! Just stir together the dry ingredients and then add the wet ingredients. Keep stirring until a thick dough forms. Measure about a tablespoon of dough and roll it into ball before repeating with the remaining dough. And enjoy! How simple is that?

These little bites of energy may be small, but they’re mighty! I encourage you to give these a shot and see how they compare to boxed granola bars. Chances are, you won’t be buying those boxes again… 😉