Double Chocolate Protein Bites

Hi there! I don’t know about you all, but I’m glad it’s Thursday (aka, Friday Eve). I’m more than ready for my vacation to begin, especially after hustling all week to tie up loose ends and finish all my work before I’m out for so many days.

Perhaps it’s my recent obsession with sweets and chocolate that has fueled my energy this week. For most of my pregnancy to date, I’ve been all about the savory snacks, but the last couple of weeks, I haven’t been able to get enough sugar!

Earlier this week I made a batch of these (but with blueberry preserves), and in an effort to find a healthy, chocolaty snack to wake me up in the afternoons, I’ve created another snack bite.

By using dates and the tiny nutritional powerhouse known as the hemp seed, I think these are a winner. Hopefully if I snack on these instead of cookies, candy, etc., I can pass my glucose test with flying colors!

Double Chocolate Protein Bites

makes 16-18 balls

Ingredients

1 cup pitted medjool dates*
½ cup shelled hemp seeds
½ cup raw pumpkin seeds
¼ cup almond flour
2 Tbsp dark cocoa powder
pinch salt
2 Tbsp mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

Add hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, and almond flour into the bowl of a food processor and process until coarsely ground
To this mixture, add the dates, sat, and cocoa powder, and process until a sticky dough begins to form
Add the chocolate chips, and pulse a few times just to incorporate the chips
With your hands, roll the mixture into 1-inch diameter balls.
Put the bites into an air-tight container, and allow to firm up in the refrigerator.**

*If your dates are dry and hard, allow them to soak in water for 30 minutes. Make sure to fully drain the dates before adding to the processor.

**Bites should be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. I’d estimate they’ll last about a week in the fridge and up to a month in the freezer.

Although not the most attractive of snack bites, these taste like an Oreo cookie without the cream (which, I know, is arguably the best part, but sometimes you just want chocolate) with the consistency of a Lärabar. They’re easy to whip up and just one or two will keep you satisfied between meals.