Protein energy bites can be a delicious way to get a quick, energizing snack, that’s not only packed full of healthy fats and protein, but also feels like a dessert! This recipe was created in a way to optimize the good stuff and keep sugar low—only 1.4 g sugar per bite! It is naturally gluten-free, but if you are particularly sensitive (i.e. celiac) make sure you opt for oats that specify gluten-free since they are known to be highly contaminated with gluten.
Ingredients
| Flaxseeds | 1/3 cup |
| Chocolate protein powder – i.e. Pure Pea or Phytotein Chocolate by Designs for Health | 1.5 scoops (or about 30 g protein depending on powder used) |
| Collagen powder – i.e. Whole Body Collagen by Designs for Health | 2 scoops (or about 20 g protein) |
| Oats | ½ cup |
| Sunflower seeds | ½ cup |
| Hemp Hearts | ½ cup |
| Pecans | ½ cup |
| 85% dark chocolate chips | ½ cup |
| Peanut butter | 4 tbsp |
| Almond butter (fresh ground or Artisana for example) | 4 tbsp |
| Honey | 2 tsp |
| Silk Cashew Almond Milk | ½ cup |
Directions
- Flaxseed is ideally freshly ground so you not only have access to the fats (which you won’t get much of with the whole seed), but it also doesn’t go rancid which is a risk for pre-ground flaxseed. If you have ground flaxseed already, go ahead and use that. If you have whole flaxseed, grind it in a coffee/spice grinder.
- In a food processor, roughly grind the oats, pecans, sunflower seeds, and chocolate chips.
- Mix all dry ingredients together in a bowl before adding almond butter, peanut butter, honey, and ¼ cup nut milk. Add more nut milk if needed, but it’s easier to add a little at a time than to have to add more dry ingredients if they become too sticky.
- Form into spheres, approximately 1 inch in diameter. For me, this recipe made 23 bites.
- Store in the refrigerator and enjoy!
If made as is, the basic nutrition facts per bite are:
- 153 calories
- 1.4 g sugar
- 7.2 g protein
- 7.9 g carbs
- 10.9 g fat
Though the nutrition facts will change some (or a lot) with your own adjustments, I encourage you to tweak it to your liking – add cinnamon and other warming spices for a fall-inspired treat, swap the peanut butter for all almond butter if peanuts are a problem, or try vanilla protein powder for example.
Enjoy!
