Little bites of chocolatey goodness on the go with these no-bake Chocolate Cashew Energy Bites. The perfect snack on the go that’s also gluten-free and vegan!
At the gym last weekend my fitness instructor paused the class (while everyone was holding planks no less) to ask everyone to do her a favor. She didn’t want each of us to make a fitness resolution for the year, instead it was to make one small change it week. For that moment it was holding your plank longer than usual while she was chatting with us. Maybe it would be try a new class at the gym or try a new machine in the weight room. Whatever worked for you, just implement one small change each week and see the difference that it made.
I really liked this thought. It’s an attainable fitness goal that doesn’t seem so overwhelming and one you can really put towards every aspect in your life.
Want to eat a little healthier? Easy – sub fruit for dessert after dinner one night instead of ice cream. Add an extra vegetable to your dinner plate or maybe skip the chips when you need a snack and go for these energy bites instead.
I 100% fully admit I was skeptical of the energy bites trend for a really long time. I didn’t completely get it but then I did Whole30 again last October and I needed some energy snack to get me through the day while I was out.
This was not it.
Wasn’t the answer you were expecting was it?
No, I went the pre-purchased energy bar route. I liked it but sometimes I felt like it was a little too much at one time. It did the trick for sure when I was fulfilling bake shop orders or working one of the markets but at home sometimes you just want a little bit. . a little pick me up in the afternoon.
That’s exactly where these chocolate cashew energy bites come in. They are small, two bite snacks that take no effort at all to make. They happen to be vegan, gluten free, paleo and Whole30 friendly and you do not have to follow any of those diets to enjoy one for yourself! They totally hit that spot when you’re craving something sweet or a little bit of chocolate without reaching for a chocolate bar too. The best part, it’s comprised of three simple ingredients.
Dates
Cashews
Cocoa Powder
Seems too good to be true isn’t it?
Guess you’ll need to make a batch for yourself to find out!
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Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1 cup pitted medjool dates (about 20 dates)
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- pinch of kosher salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted roasted cashews chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Place the raw cashews in a small bowl and cover with cold water. Let soak for about 15 minutes. Drain the cashews, reserving about 1/4 cup of the water for later.
- Add the dates, soaked cashews, cocoa powder and salt in your food processor. Pulse until the cashews and dates are broken up and then add the reserved 1/4 cup of water. Continue to pulse until it forms a paste.
- Transfer to a mixing bowl and if desired add in the chopped cashews for extra texture and a crunchy bite.
- Refrigerate for about 10-15 minutes to firm up.
- Line a sheet pan with wax or parchment paper and then either using a spoon or cookie scoop, scoop out about 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoon sized balls. Wet your hands to roll them, washing after about ever 3-4 energy bites.
- Place back in the refrigerate to chill completely for at least 1 hour before transferring to a ziptop bag or airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freezer for 1-2 months.
