Good things come in small packages, and these No-Bake Tahini Date Energy Bites are no exception! Made from a blend of nuts, seeds, and dates, each bite gives you the just energy boost you need. Gluten-free, naturally sweetened, and vegan– what more could you ask for?
While driving to Philly for the weekend, I turned to my friend and started shooting off recipe ideas. Every single one led me to the same conclusion– wouldn’t this be great dipped in chocolate?? She looked at me askance for a second, but let’s be real, everything is better with chocolate.
Especially midday snacks. Or post-dinner treats. Whenever you have them, I’m sure they’re great, because it’s what gives you that extra energy boost to get over the hump. Although maybe that’s just me? There’s got to be at least one other person who can relate. Whoever you are, this one’s for you!
Back when I did Whole30, snacking was kept to a minimum. Wave goodbye to all the good munchies, say hello to filling up on your standard breakfast-lunch-dinner combo. I spent the first week trying to figure out how to avoid the hunger cramps that came as a bitter reminder that I still didn’t get the hang of eating enough at a meal. Frankly, at the end of the 30 days I had a better idea, but it wasn’t perfect. The experiment taught me another valuable lesson, which, in a nutshell, is the importance of energy bites. Perhaps you’ve seen them on the interwebs already. For those of you who are staring blankly at the screen, they look like cake pops without the stick. And sans the standard sugary cake center.
Instead, you can have a ready-to-go stock of just the right amount of healthy fats and complex carbohydrates to tide you over when that afternoon slump hits or as a pre- or post-workout reboot. You know life can’t help but look up when these chocolate-dipped energy bites are part of it.
Lately, probably due to finals, my snack game has been less than on par, looking something like crackers and peanut butter. When I’m hungry, I don’t want to preheat the oven and then wait while vegetables roast or cookies bake. Well, the days of impatiently checking the clock every minute are over. Welcome to a new era, my good friends, where no-bake energy bites are the name of the game! Who’s ready to play?
We start with medjool dates, the perfect way to sweeten and bind the other ingredients. Although they are high in natural sugars, the high content of vitamins and minerals tips the scales in favor of including the fruit (in moderation) in your diet. The B vitamins regulate your metabolism, copper improves iron absorption, and manganese plays a major role in hormone production. Next up on the roster are a mixture of tahini, nuts, and seeds for unsaturated fats, the most energy-dense of all the nutrients. The chia, hemp, and pumpkin seeds also add fiber, that crucial component of a happy gut. Most people don’t get enough fiber, so it’s important to find easy ways of incorporating more in your daily diet.
Ahem, I’m looking at you, Tahini Date Energy Bites.
Here comes the fun part. After the food processor works its magic, it’s your turn to play! Rolling the dough into balls kind of reminded me of Play-Doh, except this time there’s no question if it’s edible. For the finishing touch, give each bite a dip in a dark chocolate pool, or artfully drizzle it on with a flick of the wrist. Either way, don’t skip out on that final sea salt sprinkle. It takes these bites to next-level greatness.
Want more recipes like this? Check out my 7 Ingredient Tahini Pumpkin Cookies and Green Tahini Lentil Soup!
If you try this recipe, I’d love your feedback. Leave a comment below, save it on Pinterest, or tag #lensesandlentils on Instagram to share!
- 1 cup medjool dates, soaked in hot water
- ½ cup raw almonds
- ¼ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- ¼ cup hemp seeds
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- ¾ tsp coarse sea salt
- ¼ cup tahini
- 2 oz dark chocolate, 70% cacao or higher
- Combine the first 6 ingredients in a food processor or high-powered blender and process about 5 - 7 minutes, scraping the sides as needed.
- Next, add in the tahini and continue processing for another few minutes, until a ball forms.
- Roll the dough into 12 balls and chill for 10 minutes.
- Melt the chocolate in the microwave at 30-second intervals or in a double-boiler, until smooth. Dip half the balls in the chocolate, and drizzle it over the other half. Then, sprinkle each with a little coarse sea salt.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
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