I love dates.
I'm not talking about the kind of date where you hire a babysitter, change out of your yoga pants, and trade in your diaper bag for high heels and a real purse. Although, I love those too!
I'm talking about the kind of dates with soft, wrinkly brown, sticky flesh. The kind with a sweet honey like flavor. Specifically, the king of the dates, Medjool.
Medjool dates are softer than other varieties, making them perfect to add chewiness and moisture to a recipe. They have a ton of health benefits too! They contain fiber, potassium, and protein. That means they curb your cravings, give you energy, regulate your blood sugar, and keep you full!
Dates are awesome for granola bars, smoothies, and peanut butter honey energy bites!
These are SO simple to make. Seriously, 9 ingredients and 1 bowl. No baking. They can be whipped together in 5 minutes. They are loaded with nutrient dense ingredients like nuts, rolled oats, flax seed, and of course, Medjool dates! They are fantastic for breakfasts and snacks on the go. They can also be a substitute when you don't have time to make cherry apricot granola bars.
Time Saving Tips and Tricks:
Prep: Why bother, they only take 5 minutes!
Make Ahead: Honey peanut butter energy bites will keep in the fridge for up to a week.
Freeze Em - Double the recipe and freeze half for later. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place energy bites on the cookie sheet and place in freezer for 2 hours. Remove from cookie sheet and place in an airtight heavy duty Ziplock bag that has been labeled and dated. When you are ready to eat them, remove and allow them to thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
PrintPeanut Butter Honey Energy Bites
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 20 1x
Ingredients
- ½ cup peanuts
- ¼ cup walnuts
- 1 cup Medjool dates
- ¼ cup mini dark chocolate chips (optional)
- 2 TBS honey
- 1 TBS ground flax seed
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp vanilla
Instructions
- In a food processor fitted with a steel blade, process peanuts and walnuts until they are in small pieces.
- Add remaining ingredients. Pulse until combined. Do not over process.
- Roll mixture into 1 inch balls.
- Store in the refrigerator until ready to eat.
Helpful Tips:
- There are no less than 10 varieties of flax in the bulk bin aisle of my local grocery store. It can be confusing. Make sure you buy ground flax, unless you want to grind the seeds yourself.
- Mini dark chocolate chips can be hard to find. I find it easier to buy a dark chocolate bar and break it into very tiny pieces. Lay a piece of parchment paper over the chocolate bar and use a hammer to crush. It's kinda fun.
- Steaming the dates will make them softer and easier to work with. Just place a strainer containing the dates over a pot of boiling water until the dates are softened. Doesn't take long!
- Store energy bites in snack sized Ziplock bags in the refrigerator for an easy grab and go breakfast or snack.
Dora Collins says
Love the naturalness and how wholesome your recipes are...
I also love the convenience of them which makes them user friendly ...
I have had a version of the peanut butter balls and they are not only delicious .,. But a high energy ..,,healthy snack ...!!
Life is too short not to eat good food !!!
Simply Sissom says
Thanks Dora!