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!
Such a cute photo – do like making these once in a while – great travel snacks. Thanks so much for providing nutritional information.
Thank you for the nut free snack!!
Just wanted to let you know that a vegan with a nut allergy is reading your blog and appreciating your nut-free post =)
I’ve learned very quickly to sub seeds in for recipes that call for nuts, but it’s always nice to come across a recipe that I can try in it’s original form =)
Thank you!!!
These look SO great! Thanks for the recipe! :)
P.S. If I had a dollar for everytime my husband helped me with food styling, I’d have $0. Go Eric for helping stack the bites :)
Oh my goodness! I think i’m going to be making these first thing in the morning!
I have all the ingredients on hand and they look absolutely delicious!
Thanks for this recipe, I needed a healthy snack that is easy to make. I also like that it has a lot of protein, perfect treat for after my workout meal.
Delicious!!! Thank you so much :-)
I love these! I purchased some hemp hearts for the first time last week and I’m totally obsessed. They seem to go with just about everything and that slightly sweet flavour is amazing. Sometimes they can even seem salty on salads. I bet they’re wonderful in these energy bites!
That is exactly how my brain operates so I can definitely relate. I will scribble down ideas in random places and often lose them but have started typing them in the notes section on my iPhone.
sounds like a fab recipe but do you have an idea what I could substitute for the hemps seeds as they are illegal where I live (New Zealand). I can buy an animal feed ( that is fit for human consumption) made of the left over hemps seeds after the have been pressed for oil do you think this would work?
Hmm, I haven’t seen that type of hemp before. It could work. I would suggest using sunflower seeds if you can get your hands on some.
Yummy! I love to have chocolate protein balls in my freezer for instant dessert. Definitely have to try these nut-free version. Just need to get some more cacao powder…
Way to go Angela, these look delicious, easy and nutritious!
I always like to try new bliss ball combos, so thank you :) xx
MMMmmmmm how yummy looking!
Look delicious, what can I use in place of hemp seeds as having trouble finding them? Thanks
Hi Lisa, I would try raw sunflower seeds :)
Wow..yum! Your website is an inspiration :) I also love the pretty design and font on the first photo, how did u do that?
Thank you Carole, I used Photoshop to write the text.
These look amazing. Was super keen to try them, and coincidentally had everything in the cupboard, except the hemp seeds. I’ve seen them mentioned in a couple of blogs, on twitter/instagram, so this gave me the push to go out and get some. Living in Western Australia, it can sometimes be hard to find particular health foods, especially ‘newer’ ones, so I hit up the internets to try to find a local stockist. Unfortunately I had very little success, as it turns out hemp (in all its forms) is not legal for consumption in Australia. Most upsetting. What would you suggest as a sub? Could I just up the amounts of chia & sesame to compensate? Or would flax work?
Hey Piper, I would suggest trying sunflower seeds if you can get them, if not other seeds should work fine. Enjoy!
THANK you! You may very well have solved my problem of how to get any kind of little omega-3 seeds into my husband. Not in smoothies, not in cereal, not in anything I can easily do (with gluten issues). He does love any kind of date/chocolate ball. Why didn’t I think of hiding chia in it? :D Thank you, again!!
These look amazing! I’ve been wanting to try hemp seeds but haven’t been sure what to do with them… until now. Will definitely be making these this week.
Side note: your photography is so, so lovely. I’ve been following your blog for the past couple of years and it just gets better and better, and truly inspires me to work on my photography skills. Can I ask: what did you use to get such a crisp white background in the stacking photos? I’ve tried white foam board, and it always ends up looking like foam board in my pictures — not exactly the look I’m going for!
Anything you would add in place of the sesame seeds? I’m allergic. Maybe just increase the proportions of the other seeds?
Yes I would increase the others or try sunflower seeds :) enjoy!
Oh, the only ingredient I’m missing are the dates! Well, I’m off on a quick shopping trip so I can try those as soon as possible. My son just saw the word “chocolate” and insisted I made them as soon as possible! :D
xx
I made these and they are delicious. I didn’t have hemp seeds or sesame seeds so I used hemp protein powder and sunflower seeds. They came out delicious and I know I will be making them again. They’re perfect for when you need a little pick-me-up. Thanks for the great recipe!
PS: I made a parfait with them the other day. I made a banana pudding my blending bananas, rice milk and a bit of vanilla extract in my blender till it was thick and smooth. Then I alternated between layering the energy bites and some fresh blueberries in a tall glass with the pudding. It was delicious.