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!
Featuring all new, protein-packed salads, hearty toppers, flavour boosters, and dressings you'll want to drink, my new cookbook will transform the way you think about salads. Oh, and be sure to flip to the back for a surprise dessert chapter!
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!
These look super yummy! Perfect breakfast on the run! Do you have the calorie information by chance???
Hey Maria, Yes I do – there’s a link at the bottom of the directions. Hope this helps!
1. Those stacking skills are amazing!! 2. I totally hear you on this one, I often get inspiration when I’m driving or in the middle of a conversation or meeting, I have to scribble it down before it escapes!
These look great but my partner can’t eat dates.Do you have any suggestion for substitutions?
Thanks!
hmm, that’s tricky. What about prunes or raisins? I can’t vouch for how it would taste though. good luck!
I love hemp seeds! I agree they are great in smoothies. These sound perfect for summer snacking at work. It can be tricky packing snacks when I work out of my car :)
I recently made something just like these. I love chocolate and dates together, so I don’t really need an excuse to eat them, but I love the addition of all the wonderful seeds, and especially the nibs!
these look so delicious…and the stacking made for an awesome pic!
Ok, these need to be made into a brownie bar right now! Maybe with some avocado icing?
My only complaint, the recipe doesn’t make more. Don’t judge me for cleaning out the bowl with a spoon….
I was thinking the same thing about putting a frosting on them and calling it dessert :) great minds think alike. Silly me couldnt stop eating them long enough to try it out though.
Mmm – I’ve had protein bites/bars on the mind for a few weeks now… definitely about time I make a batch! I tend to dump as many seeds into my smoothies and protein bars as I can manage, so these sound just perfect. Will have to give them a try! Nom!
Well Yee-Haw!!! I have all of these ingredients in my fridge and cupboard.
love when that happens :)
Those look amazing! Definitely going to make them this week. I have shared with your sister that I am a wee bit obsessed with your blog. I have recently gone Vegan with the odd source of lean meat as protein and I am feeling great! Thanks for all your creative and tasty ideas!
Hey Laura! I need to start paying that sister of mine for promotion! heheh. Thanks for your kind words. Did we happen to meet a couple years ago at the gym by chance?
Why yes, we did meet at the gym a few years back. Thanks for all your hard work and yummy recipes! Can’t wait for the book to come out!
Thanks Laura :) Hope to see you next time I’m visiting!
I hate to say it, but I’ve never used whole hemp seeds. I see them all the time and have never had a good reason to try them (until now). This super seed combo sounds amazing together.
The pyramid is so cool — those ARE some crazy stacking skills! :)
Angela- once again an amazing recipe and photos! You are such inspiration for my blog.
Hi girl! I’m posting a very, very similar recipe tomorrow. I promise I didn’t copy! I made my version to take along for a hike I did this weekend. I’ll chalk it up to “great minds think alike.” :)
hahah oh don’t you hate when that happens? Story of the life of a food blogger. It’s so easy to come up with similar recipes, esp. when they are simple ones. :) anyway, I would never think twice about it!
Pinned!! Love these Angela! The seeds, grain-free, the dates (love!), the cocoa – nibs and powder,they’re no bake, and there’s no nuts. Although I do love cashews in raw/vegan unbaking desserts and treats many times, it’s nice to see recipes without them because they can get a little heavy at times and these are so clever. Yum!
These look awesome! I love dates in desserts and energy bars. Hard to believe I wouldn’t have even thought to use them in recipes a year ago. Now that I’m trying to eat raw more often, I use them often!
I was never a big date consumer until fairly recently too! They are sooo good.
Wow, those ARE some crazy good stacking skills! Tell Eric he should moonlight as a food stylist lol! I totally know what you mean with the recipe inspiration coming at crazy times. I often think about recipes as I’m falling asleep (or rather, the thinking keeps me awake), and if it weren’t for it being dark outside, I’d probably get out of bed and make them!
Angela! So funny that we posted almost the same recipe on the same day! Wow! Great minds think alike ;) I like that yours has hemp seeds. I need to pick up some of those at Sprouts!
Ahh, yes. Chocolate is indeed the solution to every problem. ;)
I think it was a great idea to get up and write a post. Sometimes you just have to get it out in order to relax.
I just bought hemp seeds to add to roasted sweet potatoes as you suggested and I may have to use some of them for this recipe because they look great! And we’re going hiking next weekend so I’ll need something for a quick snack!
I’ve been loving hemp seeds lately – especially since I can get them from Costco for a good price! And combined with chocolate? Even better!
I definitely need to try these! Love!