Looking for a quick and easy, satisfying sweet treat for an afternoon snack? These Cinnamon Swirl Energy Bites are the perfect option!
Some have referred to me as the queen of energy bites, and honestly 1) they aren’t wrong and 2) I don’t hate it. Energy bites have saved me on many occasions — you know those times where you are SO STARVING but you might not be around somewhere where you can get your hands on a full meal, or it might just not be feasible at that point in time? Or you know, those times you just want something with a little sweetness, but don’t really want the dreaded sugar crash that usually comes with it?
Yeah. That’s where energy bites come in HANDY!! Packed with a mix of complex carbs, fat and fiber, unlike traditional snack foods, these energy bites actually leave you full, satisfied and energized — not reaching for another sugar-laden snack 30 minutes later. Let’s make ’em!
Ingredients in Cinnamon Swirl Energy Bites
The list of ingredients in these energy bites is super simple, and pretty dang short!
- medjool dates — these are softer than the other variety, you just have to remove the pit! These are a great way to naturally sweeten the energy bites, and also provide a fair amount of copper
- oats — either old-fashioned or instant will work. Oats lend fiber and filling complex carbs to make these a satisfying snack option.
- flaxseed — I purchase them whole, then grind them up just before using to retain freshness. Flaxseed is a great source of fiber and omega 3 healthy fats (which many Americans are deficient in!)
- pumpkin seeds — I also purchase these whole. Pumpkin seeds are a great source of magnesium, a mineral that most of us are deficient it; yet it plays a role in over 300 processes in the body!
- nut butter — peanut butter, almond butter or cashew butter would all work! You could also use sunflower seed butter.
- ground cinnamon — load it up, baby!
- vanilla extract — mmm, good.
How to Make Cinnamon Swirl Energy Bites
Making these energy bites is seriously easy. And honestly, I usually just roughly measure the ingredients (for better or for worse). I like to start off by soaking the pitted dates in super hot water for 5-10 min to let them soften. This allows them to blend up into a paste smoothly. I add them to a food processor with a splash of water and blend!
I then blend up the oats in the food processor until it forms a flour-like consistency, and the same with the flaxseed and pumpkin seeds. I buy both seeds in the whole form and grind them up just before using to preserve their freshness and decrease the chance of oxidation (going bad). These seeds are often used together in something called “seed cycling”, which can help naturally balance hormones (especially estrogen) during a woman’s menstrual cycle. I don’t personally practice seed cycling, but if I did, these energy bites would be the perfect way to incorporate both in my daily diet!
Once all ingredients are together in the bowl, I like using a rubber spatula to mix everything together. Sometimes I need to add a little more liquid, so I’ll do a splash of water. I like to let the mixture hang out in the freezer for 20ish minutes to harden up — this makes it less messy to roll into balls.
Speaking of rolling them into balls, you can really make them however big or small you want!! I tend to make them about the size of a ping-pong ball, maybe a little smaller. I’ll usually have anywhere from 1-3 at a time, depending on my hunger.
Cinnamon Swirl Energy Bites
Ingredients
- 5 medjool dates, pitted
- 1 cup oats old-fashioned or instant
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
- 1/4 cup ground pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 cup nut butter of choice peanut, almond, cashew
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Remove pit from dates, then soak dates in hot water for 5-10 min to soften. Transfer to a food processor with a couple tablespoons of water and blend into a paste. Add to a large mixing bowl.
- Pulse oats into a flour-like consistency in a food processor. Add to the bowl with dates, then add all other ingredients.
- Use a rubber spatula to mix everything together; if mixture is too dry, add in additional water a tablespoon at a time until mixture is easy to combine. If too wet, add additional oats.
- Use hands to roll into 1" balls. For easier rolling, allow mixture to sit in the freezer for 15-20 min to harden. Store balls in the fridge for up to 2 weeks! Makes ~18-24 balls depending on size.
