These homemade double chocolate energy bites are an easy (and deliciously satisfying…) way to level up your healthy snacking game. With a little pre-planning and preparation, you can have a big batch of these stored up in your fridge (or freezer) for a convenient and fast snack, making it a little bit easier to stick with healthy eating habits rather than be tempted by the very tasty and very easy to overeat snack foods like cookies, chips, and crackers that usually leave you feeling even more fatigued and sluggish than before you ate them.
When I talk with my own nutrition clients, snacking is a often one of the biggest hang-ups. We reach snack time and are hangry, or simply don’t have healthy options planned and easily available. Both easily lead us to vegging out on highly processed snack foods that taste good in the moment, but usually leave us feeling sluggish and in need of a nap (or another sweet treat) shortly after.
What’s the remedy? I believe, and have seen from experience, that a little prior intentional planning makes a big difference in our snack choices.
Why You Should Prioritize Planning and Prepping Snacks
Specifically, planning and prepping snack options that are easy to grab, require little prep or thought in the moment, and are a mix of carbs and protein. This is the perfect combination for a healthy, filling snack.
And these double chocolate energy bites check off all three boxes. They’re easy to grab and go, they require no prep in the moment, and they contain both carbs and protein for blood sugar stabilization + satiety.
In terms of the pre-prep and planning, these take just about 10 minutes of hands-on time (roughly 30 minutes total), and then you’ve got quick snacks on hand for the whole week! THAT’S working smarter, not harder.
Setting aside time each week to plan and prep meals and/or snacks for the week ahead is one of the biggest tips I have for making healthy eating easier, and for making it something you do more consistently. It doesn’t have to take up a full day, nor does it have to be fully and completely planned out. But if you know that snacking is a hang up for you, then how can you set yourself up for success? Nothing changes if nothing changes, so I encourage looking at the time of planning and prepping as an investment in yourself and your families health. Schedule it in weekly just like you would any other appointment, and invite others into the process so you still get to spend time with the ones you love!
How to Make Double Chocolate Energy Bites
These double chocolate energy bites are honestly so easy to make!
I start off by soaking medjool dates (pitted!) in a bowl of piping hot water to soften. Remove them from the water and add to a large mixing bowl with a couple splashes of the soaking water, then mash it all up into a paste. These are a natural sweetener and provide some copper and potassium. We always have them in the pantry, but you could also sub in some maple syrup or honey…I’d say about 1/4 cup!
Next, add in all the other ingredients and mix it alllll together. I prefer using a rubber spatula as I find it works best.
I like using quick cooking oats and then pulsing them in the food processor into a flour-like consistency, but you can easily use the oats as-is.
As for the cacao powder, you can use that, cocoa powder, or your favorite chocolate protein or collagen peptides. I love using raw cacao because it’s a great source of magnesium, but I also love using the chocolate collagen from Further Food. You can use code CLARA15 for 15% off your first order, and if you’re not sure what collagen is and want to learn more, check out my post HERE!
The recipe calls for cacao nibs, but you could use chopped up chocolate bar or small chocolate chips. The recipe is flexible and forgiving, so don’t be afraid to exercise some creativity! Same with the cashew butter — feel free to use almond, sunflower, or peanut butter.
Once everything is mixed together nicely, I like to pop it into the fridge to harden up a bit for 20ish minutes. This step is optional, but I find it makes rolling the bites easier and less of a sticky mess. You can also pop them in the freezer…either works. Once they’ve slightly hardened up, I just pinch off a small handful and use my hands to roll into ~1″ bites.
Finish off by storing them in the fridge for 1-2 weeks, or in the freezer for a couple months.
I usually have 2-3 as a mid-morning or afternoon snack, but they also make great pre-workout bites as well as satisfying sweet treats any time of day.
Enjoy the recipe for these double chocolate energy bites! Looking for more flavor combos? Try out THESE cinnamon raisin energy bites, THESE cinnamon swirl energy bites, or THESE chocolate peanut butter pumpkin energy bites.
Double Chocolate Energy Bites
Ingredients
- 3 medjool dates, pitted
- 1 cup quick cooking oats Option to pulse in a food processor to turn into a flour
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/4 cup cacao or cocoa powder I also love using chocolate collagen peptides for more protein
- 1/3 cup cashew butter You can use any nut or seed butter
- 2 tbsp cacao nibs
- 2-4 tbsp water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Soak dates in a small bowl of very hot water for about 10 minutes to soften. Remove from water and add to a large mixing bowl, along with about 2 tablespoons of the soaking water, then use a fork to mash into a paste.
- Add all remaining ingredients to the mixing bowl and use a rubber spatula to mix everything together until well incorporated. If mixture is too wet, add in more oats; if it's too dry, add in more water 1-2 tablespoons at a time.
- Store batter in the fridge for 15-20 minutes to slightly harden (this is optional, but makes it easier/cleaner to roll into balls), then remove from fridge and use hands to roll into ~1" bites.
- Store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
