Ultimate no-bake brownie batter energy bites
Craving something sweet but want to stick to your health goals? Meet your new favorite snack—Brownie Batter Energy Bites. Packed with wholesome ingredients like medjool dates, almond butter, and cocoa powder, these little bites are a delicious and nutritious way to satisfy your chocolate cravings without refined sugar. Perfect as an afternoon snack or a mid-day energy boost, they’re easy to make and even easier to love. I came across these brownie bites in the Dole.com recipe center and have been making them regularly to satisfy my after dinner chocolate craving.
Don’t you just love when you find a treat that works with your health goals?
Why Brownie Batter Energy Bites?
These chocolate brownie energy balls are a fantastic alternative to traditional sweets. They offer the rich, fudgy decadent brownie flavor you adore without sacrificing your commitment to healthy eating. Plus, with ingredients like gluten-free oat flour and walnuts, you’re not only treating your taste buds but also nurturing your mind with healthy fats.
Health Benefits
- Healthy Fats: Thanks to almond butter and walnuts, these bites help to keep your energy level steady throughout the day.
- Natural Sweetness: Medjool dates and maple syrup provide a natural sweetness, avoiding sugar alcohols.
- Fiber and Protein: The inclusion of oats and walnuts makes these bites a balanced source of macros which help maintain energy levels.
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
- Low Sodium
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1 cup pitted dates
- 1 Banana, peeled
- ½ cup gluten free oat flour
- ⅓ cup chopped walnuts
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 tablespoons almond butter
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ⅛ teaspoon coarse sea salt
Step-by-Step Preparation
- Blend the Base: Start by lining a rimmed baking pan with parchment paper. Pulse the pitted dates in a food processor until small pieces remain. Add the banana, oat flour, walnuts, cocoa powder, almond butter, and maple syrup. Pulse until smooth, occasionally scraping down the bowl. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl and freeze for 20 minutes until firm.
- Shape the Bites: Using two small spoons, scoop the mixture into 16 (1¾-inch) mounds on the prepared pan. Roll into balls and sprinkle with sea salt. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.
Creative Variations
Feel free to experiment with this recipe! Swap out almond butter for cashew butter or try adding a tablespoon of chia seeds for an extra nutritional boost. For a touch of indulgence, consider mixing in dark chocolate chips or rolling the energy balls in coconut flakes for a bit of texture. If you want to add richness with a boost of energy, try adding 1 tsp espresso powder to your coco powder before the dough forms.
I tend to make these with a mini cookie scoop at half size, so I can have more than one as a tasty treat.
Storage Tips
Store your brownie batter energy bites in an airtight container or stasher bags to keep them fresh. These energy bites freeze well too, making them perfect for batch prep and quick go snacks throughout the week.
Let me know if you try this healthy treat! I hope you do.
Brownie Batter Energy Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted dates
- 1 Banana peeled
- ½ cup gluten free oat flour
- ⅓ cup chopped walnuts
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 tablespoons almond butter
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ⅛ teaspoon coarse sea salt
Instructions
- Line a rimmed baking pan with parchment paper. Pulse dates in a food processor until small pieces remain. Add banana, flour, walnuts, cocoa powder, almond butter and syrup; pulse until smooth, scraping down bowl occasionally. Transfer date mixture to a medium bowl; freeze 20 minutes or until firm. Makes about 2 cups.
- Using 2 small spoons, drop date mixture into 16 (1¾-inch) mounds on prepared pan; roll mounds into balls. Sprinkle balls with salt; refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Makes 16 energy bites.