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Chewy, fudgy, vegan and GF energy bites with almonds, pecans and dates

Date and Nut Energy Bites

Chewy, fudgy, vegan and GF energy bites with almonds, pecans and dates
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Makes: 10 energy bites
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Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup raw, unsalted nuts (I used a mix of almonds and pecans, walnuts or hazelnuts are great too)
  • 8 dates, deseeded
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1 tbsp cocoa powder (optional)
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 to 3 tbsps honey or maple syrup
  • 2 to 3 tbsps peanut butter or any other nut butter (Best to use the natural, runny kind)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 175 C. Spread the nuts out in a single layer on an un-greased baking tray. Bake for 5 to 8 minutes until fragrant and very slightly darkened. Set aside to cool for a few minutes. Meanwhile, soak the dates in hot water for about 10 minutes.
  • Now, in a food processor fitted with a sharp blade, add the oats, cocoa and salt. Blitz until coarsely powdered (see photos below). I like a little texture from the oats but you can process them longer if you prefer them more finely powdered.
  • Add the soaked dates and vanilla. Then add in the cooled roasted nuts. Blitz again until the nuts are very finely chopped and there are no big pieces of dates left. Scrape down the bowl as needed with a spatula.
  • Now add the honey/maple syrup along with the peanut butter. Blitz again till the mixture is completely moistened and clumps together when pressed between your fingers. Taste and add more honey if needed. If it's still a bit dry and crumbly, add more nut butter.
  • Form 10 to 12 equal sized bites (I used a 1.5 tbsp cookie scoop to get even portions) by moulding each one in your palm. Avoid using both hands to mould them as I found they broke that way. The oils from the nuts and nut butter will help shape them.
  • You can eat them right away or refrigerate for 20 minutes for a fudgier texture. Store them in the fridge in an airtight tin for 10 days. Happy eating! In the previous version of this recipe (with only honey, no dates), I dipped the bites in chocolate and refrigerated them to let the chocolate set for a truffle-like snack!

Notes

*If using a larger variety of dates like Medjool, you may need just about 6 of them.
*Instant oats are ok instead of rolled oats too, I just prefer the texture of rolled oats.
*This recipe is easily doubled or tripled as needed.