Quick bites of protein that almost feel like a dessert- carob and almond energy bites are exactly that!
Sometimes you just need a pick-me-up to get you through the day. That little bit of goodness that makes you feel like saner and like you aren’t going to rip anyone’s head off.
Or wait, is that only me…?
I don’t know about you but I am a protein gal. Hangry is a legitimate thing in my world. (Blaming hypoglycemia here.) If something happens and I miss a meal or I have to wait for a while my internal world is in turmoil and trouble functioning will kick in at some point or another.
Any other hands going up?
If you aren’t the hangry type maybe you have kids that won’t stop asking what’s for dinner when it’s only 4:00 pm.
You need some carob and almond energy bites in your life. They are making life better right now, seriously.
These little protein bites have the feel of Lara Bars but in two bite servings that you can whip up at from scratch in 20 minutes.
Long before the days of Lara Bars and other nut and date filled treats there were these “candies” that my mom would buy at the local health food store. They were thin little sticks made of almonds, dates, and coconut and covered in what I thought was chocolate…
I loved them!!
Doesn’t my mom rock? We seriously thought we were eating candy. She was cloth diapering, making natural treats, and using mason jars back before it was cool.
As a kid growing up in the early 90s my mom tried to do the “healthy thing” and switch from chocolate to carob. We protested the change. Uck, there was nothing about it that we liked.
For the past 25 years or so I have been vehemently opposed to carob. That is until recently.
As I pulled jars off of my pantry shelves to make a batch of protein balls I decided to reach for a bag of carob that was looming on the self at me.
In the carob went with the almonds, dates, and coconut, what do you know? It tasted like those little candies I ate as a kid. I’m pretty sure they were covered in carob, not chocolate… 😉
You might even be able to convince your kids that these are truffles. Oh, the power of a mom!
Now I get why I wasn’t a fan of carob growing up. Quality ingredients make all the difference. The carob in this recipe is Uncommon Carob that Azure Standard carries.<—– My go-to source for so many things. Are you a customer yet? If not you should definitely check them out!
Let me tell you, it is seriously uncommon! They use carob from trees grown in Australia, specially selected for their sweet taste, non-hydrogenated palm oil, and coconut sugar (in their sweetened varieties).
Those are all ingredients that I would be happy to have or already have in my pantry. Even though I could make my own from scratch, it’s nice to know that I don’t have to.
4 Ingredient Carob and Almond Energy Bites
Now you could make these carob and almond energy bites with chocolate chips if that is all you have on hand but honestly, I love how the flavor of the carob shines through.
If not having carob on hand is the only thing keeping you from making these little gems then, by all means, use chocolate this time and get your hands on some carob so that you can try it out next time, and that is coming from a gal that eats a square of dark chocolate every day.
You’ll be surprised by how much you like it!
These little bites are perfect to eat for a quick bit of energy or to add to a lunch box for a “dessert”.
Carob and Almond Energy Bites
Prep
Total
Yield 18 energy bites
Quick bites of protein that almost feel like a dessert- carob and almond energy bites are exactly that!
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw almonds
- 1 1/2 cups whole dates
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 1/2 + 1/4 cup unsweetened carob buttons
- Carob or cocoa powder (optional)
- Additional shredded coconut (optional)
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a food processor. Puls a few times, then continue to process until the mixture is crumbly. Continue to pulse until all the ingredients are uniform in size.
- Shape into small balls, (I prefer 1-inch in circumference), pressing together firmly with your hands to be sure the bites stay together.
- If desired rolls the bites in carob/cocoa powder or shredded coconut.
- Place all the bites on a small cookie sheet and freeze for at least 30 minutes. Remove from the sheet and store in a container or resealable freezer bag. The will last for at least two weeks in the fridge and several months in the freezer.
Courses Snack
Cuisine American
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