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 great! I love making protein truffles, or what I like to call “globes”. I actually have a recipe similar to these ones, thanks for sharing your variation :)
mmm we love adding hemp seeds to morning smoothies too. They are so filling :) Love making energy ball variations each week for snacks. Going to have to try cacao nibs. These look delish!
I’m loving hemp seeds at the moment and obviously chocolate makes everything better :) I bet the cacao nibs add a really nice crunch to these nutrient-packed treats.
These look amazing! I love dark chocolate, but have always found the raw cacao nibs too bitter for my liking. I’m excited to have a recipe to throw them into!!
Oh wow- GENUIS!
Do you think I could make this with nutiva hemp protein in place of the hemp seeds?
Hey Krissy, Is that hemp protein powder? I think powder could dry these out, so I’m not sure. I would add a very small amount at a time.
I’ve had hemp seeds in the pantry for months, and this recipe inspired me to open the package. The bites are great! I think they could be good with prunes and will let you know when I try that. Thanks!
I just made a batch and they were delicious. I am so appreciative that you made them nut-free. Due to my allergies I’m always substituting other ingredients for the nuts but this made it a lot simpler and I finally got to taste the recipe as is! Yum!
Thank you so much for a nut free energy snack!!! These look amazing–I will definitely be making them this weekend :D
GREAT recipe – I love all the things in those.
I always keep a stash of bliss balls in the fridge at work for something sweet after work, and these will be making an appearance.
I love them, I eating them from 2 days now!
I bought hemp seeds a few weeks ago and I haven’t cracked them open yet.. I guess I couldn’t think of how to use them (and I kinda forgot I had them in the cupboard). Thanks for posting this – I’m going to try it out!
AH these look fantastic! I’ve been looking for a snack bite recipe that doesn’t include loads of peanut butter or sweetener. Thanks for sharing :)
I love your blog! I eat one of your oatmeal recipes everyday for breakfast I’m hooked.
I would love to try this recipe. Unfortunately I’m severely intolerant to chocolate. Do you have a substitution I could use.
Thanks :)
Happy
p.s. I read about you in the metro today :)
Hey Julie, Carob powder might work in place of the cocoa powder. I would add a little at a time since it has a strong flavour.
Hi Julie I substitute carob powder in any recipe that calls for chocolate for the same reason. It always works and no one knows I have used carob.
OMG!!! These bites are SOOOOO good!!!! Wasn’t sure where to find hemp seeds in Buenos Aires -and couldn’t wait to try it, they seemed so delicious and easy to make- so I replaced them for coconut… Excellent! Looooooove them. Like everything else I’ve tried from your recipes, they are fantastic and your instructions and photos always make things super easy to follow! I am so grateful for the day I came across your blog, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!
Hey Angela! I want to make these but am having difficulties splurging on hemp seeds-they are so expensive! Any advice on a brand or alternative?-or should I just take the plunge?
These were very good. Even my grandparents liked them. :-)
Awesome! I love the idea of a nut-free snack ball. And packed with some nutritious power houses!
And inspiration most definitely never hits anytime after 7pm for me haha ;p
As someone who used to love to cook, then got waaaay to busy with a crazy job, thank you for re-awakening my love of preparing fresh, delicious food. I made these this morning and right away, made another batch as I could tell from tasting-as-I-prepared them, that these are a hit. I’m pretty sure even my carnivore husband will love them. Thanks for the inspiration and the great recipes!
Just finished making these … hope I can wait until the 20 freezer minutes are up. Really good.