I often think of blog posts when I’m lying in bed trying to fall asleep. Sometimes my mind is just so clear late at night. Plus, I’ve learned you have to embrace creativity when it’s here and ride it out when it’s not. Some days it strikes at 1:30pm and others it’s 1:30am.
Tonight, the clock reads 11:58pm and ideas are flooding into my mind. Hours before, I sat at the computer drawing a complete blank, so I welcome this wave of inspiration. I now have that awkward decision of whether I’m inspired enough to drag myself out of bed and down the hall to the office. This time I do and Eric murmurs something to me as I leave. The computer screen comes on and I’m blinded for a good minute, squinting my eyes until they adjust.
I type out my recipe ideas into my Google Drive document (yes, I finally got rid of my paper notebook!) and then I start writing a post. When I feel like I’ve dumped everything out of my mind, I turn off the computer and head to bed. It doesn’t take very long until I’m fast asleep for the night.
Many moons ago, I promised you a nut-free energy bite recipe. Today, I’m making good on my word and I believe this is the only nut-free energy bite recipe on my blog to date. Now, you know I love my nuts (there is just no good way to write that), but I’m a big fan of adding seeds into my daily diet too. If you follow me on Instagram you might have witnessed my recent obsession with adding hulled hemp seeds in smoothies. I just can’t get enough of these omega-3 and protein rich seeds. I’m not sure if I’ll ever go back to protein powder again!
Hulled hemp seeds do have a strong flavour – sometimes too strong if used with abandon – so in an effort not to allow their earthy flavour to take over a sweet treat, I decided that a chocolate flavour would work nicely to balance it out. Obviously, chocolate is the solution to every problem. Every time.
Into the food processor go pitted medjool dates and equal portions of sesame, chia, hemp, and cocoa powder. I added a bit of sea salt, vanilla, and cinnamon for flavour enhancing and a scoop of cacao nibs for some awesome crunch. Raw cacao nibs are quite bitter on their own, but in these bites they work well adding antioxidants, fibre, magnesium, and more. Feel free to use mini dark chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate if you prefer. Leftovers are ready in the freezer for any snack attack and they are great when you’re running out the door in the morning!
PS- Thanks to my partner in crime for his crazy stacking skills!
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Super Seed Chocolate Protein Bites
Yield
16 bites
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Chill time
20
Total time
Nut-free chocolate energy bites featuring hemp, sesame, and chia seeds!
Ingredients
- 1 cup packed pitted Medjool dates (12-13 large)
- 1/4 cup hulled hemp seed
- 1/4 cup chia seed
- 1/4 cup sesame seed
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt, or to taste
- 1/4 cup raw cacao nibs (or mini dark chocolate chips)
Directions
- Add dates into processor and process until a chunky paste forms.
- Add in the hemp, chia, sesame, cocoa, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Process until thoroughly combined. Pulse in the cacao nibs. The dough should be sticky when pressed between your fingers. If it’s not sticky enough to shape into balls, add a small amount of water (a teaspoon at a time) and process until it comes together.
- Shape dough into small balls (about 16) and freeze for 20 minutes or so until firm. Store leftovers in the freezer until your next snack attack hits.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
Hope you have an energetic start to your week!
Protein bites are probably one of my most favorite snacks! They’re super easy to make and they are perfect for on-the-go. These sound delicious!
Great! I’ve been looking for a way to incorporate more hemp. Do you ever make your own hemp milk?
Funny you ask – that’s on the agenda this week! I’ve heard you don’t have to strain it, so I’m excited to try it out. :)
They say you can strain it, but I didn’t. Since I use it mostly in smoothies! But it’s quick and easy; you don’t have to soak!
That’s why I asked! I guess with a high-speed blender it’s the easiest milk to make
I’m still new to the blogging world, but I’ve learned inspiration truly does strike at the most random times. I use Evernote on my phone and I just jot down ideas when they come to to me throughout the day. It’s fun to see how people come up with their own blog ideas!
I’ve been meaning to check out Evernote…sounds very helpful for when you are away from a PC!
Can wait to make these, they look AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS!!
I carry a very small Sony dictation recorder, which has a built-in USB plug to transfer the files over to the PC. This little gadget is a real marvel. I can dictate my thoughts and ideas even as I am driving my LandCruiser with the windows down!!
Yes, inspiration strikes at odd moments, and needs to be captured quickly. This little recorder has been fantastic.
Cheers!!
I love Evernote and totally recommend it!
I’m stocking my freezer with stuff since I head back to work next week and I recently made bars that are pretty similar to these. So perfect to grab right out of the freezer. I’m going to be making some apple-cinnamon ones later today too, I think.
I’m new to the blogging world too. Inspiration can be hard to come by, but when it strikes, I’m usually in the shower, at yoga class, or in other situations where writing isn’t practicable :)
Brb going to make these. They look amazing! And I have some travel coming up… hellooo, travel snacks!
(also am always looking for new and exciting healthy chocolate recipes for my non-vegan boyfriend… ever since I stopped buying process sugar, he’s gotten way fewer surprise desserts from me!)
Many vegan recipes similar to this, and raw desserts, call for Medjool dates. I have always wondered if prunes could be used as a substitute for dates?
Hey Stephanie, I must say I have never used prunes in a recipe before! I’m sure they would work similar to dates, but I’m not sure how the flavour would change. I love dates b/c they have a caramel-like flavour. Let me know if you try it out!
Ihave made these seeded bites several times using the dates. This last time no dates in the house I used prunes. They work the same as for texture, and are sweet enough but the prunes have a aftertaste that is somewhat acidic. The taste is not off putting but I like the mellowness of the dates. I also did not have sesame seed so I used ground flax seed.I got tired of waiting for the bites to not be so cold out of the freezer , I tried something different. I did not put the nibs or cho chips in the shaped balls but ground them up into a powder and rolled the bites in the powder. They came out like a powdered truffle. I can keep them in the fridge and eat them faster.these little jewels are a good source of fiber for us senior citizens. Good eating everyone!
This reminds me of the delicious protein bar recipe my midwife gave me – it’s packed with ground seeds, almonds, coconut oil, etc. – lots of good protein and fat for baby! It’s in bars, though, which I like because I’m too lazy to roll it into balls – and the chocolate is melted with some coconut oil and poured in a layer over the top. I might have to try this (in bar form, let’s be honest) as a variation on it!
Would love the recipe your midwife gave you Mandy
Perfect! I have been searching for a new protein ball recipe for some days now and this one sounds just like what I would love for a snack at the moment. Will make them as soon as I bought some hemp seeds.
These look great! They remind me on the superfood bites from Navitas Naturals…which I love! So I am happy to see I can make a homemade version!
Love these! As a momma to a 10 month old, I’m always looking for easy to grab power snacks!
YUM! I just bought some flax seed so will try that in place of the sesame seeds. Thanks for the inspiration, Angela! :)
I was JUST thinking about making protein bars or bites this morning – I’m so glad that I found this recipe, they look amazing! <3
These look absolutely amazing- both the ingredients as well as the wonderfully-stacked finished product :) It sounds crazy, but I’m generally not a huge chocolate person, but when I crave it, it’s always in some hearty, not-too-sweet form. Needless to say, these sound perfect!
Also, quick gushy moment- I recently entered into a place in life where I’m really wanting to detox my life, both physically and emotionally. When I woke up this morning and craved inspiration, this was the first place I came to! Your story is so inspiring, and I love your posts with their combination of humor, personality, and heart. I guess it’s kind of No-Chicken Soup for the Soul (remember those?).
So, thanks :)
Sarah
Sarah, you are so sweet – thank you for the lovely words! I just checked out your blog and it’s fantastic. All the best with your changes :)
…and not a moment too soon. When my PMS-ing ways threaten to sabotage my healthy lifestyle, you’ve sent these chocolate bites to the rescue. Thank you! Thank you!
Oh these look delicious! I have a recipe similar to this one and i am obsessed! But i will for sure be trying this one :)
I love hemp seeds! Can’t wait to try this one out :) Kudos to Eric for those mad stacking skills!
I do something very similar to these, but I use agave and coconut oil instead of dates. I love the flavor and texture, and they’re perfect when I’m craving sweetness!
You must had read my mind because I was JUST about to look for a good date recipe today. (No, honestly, I have the dates sitting on my counter staring at me!) These look fabulous and just what I need to send off with Tyler on his long work days ;)
These are welcome addition, thank you! We love nuts but school/day camp don’t allow them in lunchboxes so I was very hapy to see this recipe! I know hemp seeds are the point of the post – but I didn’t have any and have to wait until next paycheck to pick some up at Coston :) I substituted 1/4 cup of pepitas and it turned out delicious.
Good call on the pepitas! So glad you enjoyed them.
These look delicious. Just wondering if the chia seeds swell too much (or at all) if water is added?
Hi Terry, I didn’t need to add any water, but I doubt they would be impacted with such a small amount of water. enjoy!
YUM! I have been trying to ease off the nuts, its easy to over do it. These look perfect, and chocolate you cant go wrong with chocolate.
>ease off the nuts