Can you believe it’s already February? January just flew by! When I think of February I think of chocolate, strawberries and that little thing called Valentine’s Day. Over the next week and a half I’ll be sharing lots recipes for both sweet and savory dishes you can impress your loved one with. Before we dive into all the fancy stuff lets remember that we are still eating healthy and before you grab that chocolate bar, try one of these healthy Dark Chocolate and Cherry Energy Bites!
These Dark Chocolate and Cherry Energy Bites are going to blow your mind! Next to my Cinnamon Apple Energy Bites I think they may be my new favorite. Unlike the energy bites I’ve made in the past, these ones are not only vegan and gluten free, but sugar free and Paleo as well.
The Dark Chocolate and Cherry Energy Bites are made with minimal ingredients yet they taste just like eating a ball of brownie batter with some cherries added in. To make the energy bites I used a combination of raw almonds and cashews, medjool dates, dark unsweetened cocoa powder, a pinch of salt, vanilla extract, and dried cherries. I soaked the dates in hot water for about 15 minutes to soften them up so they would combine into the other ingredients easily.
Using a high speed blender to make energy bites is by far the easiest way to go. However you could use a food processor, just keep in mind that the texture may not be the same and that it may not grind up the ingredients as finely as the blender would. Once the dates have soaked go ahead and add the nuts, cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt to the blender and blend until they are finely ground. Add the dates and dried cherries into the blender in several batches along with a couple tablespoons of the water that the dates were soaking in. After a couple minutes everything should come together and you will have something that looks like the consistency of thick brownie batter.
With wet hands, form the mixture into tablespoon size balls. Making sure your hands are slightly wet will prevent the energy bite mixture from sticking to your hands. The final step is optional, but does make for a nicer presentation. Roll the Dark Chocolate and Cherry Energy Bites in some of the unsweetened cocoa powder. By doing this you hide any imperfections and they look more along the lines of a truffle. The next time that chocolate craving hits or you find yourself headed for the candy dish at work, grab one of these totally healthy Dark Chocolate Energy Bites instead!
Dark Chocolate and Cherry Energy Bites
Vegan, paleo, and gluten free energy bites that taste just like brownie batter!
Ingredients
- 8 pitted medjool dates, chopped and soaked in hot water for 15 minutes.
- 2-3 tablespoons water
- 1/3 cup dried cherries
- 3/4 cup raw almonds
- 1/2 cup raw cashews
- 1/3 cup dark unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add the almonds, cashews, cocoa powder, salt, and vanilla to a high speed blender or food processor.
- Blend everything together until it is finally ground.
- Blend the dates, cherries, and water into the nut mixture in several batches scraping down the sides of the blender after each batch.
- Once the mixture comes together and resembles thick brownie batter, scoop a tablespoon of the mixture out and roll it into a ball with wet hands.
- Roll the energy bites in dark cocoa powder if desired.
- Store the energy bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer.
More Energy Bite Recipes:
You managed to make something that looks so decadent with only the healthiest ingredients. I can’t tell you how much I love this idea!
Yum! I’m such a fan of energy balls like these – I’ve never thought of adding salt though. I may need to experiment with that! Your cinnamon apple bites look incredible too :)
Thank Natalie! I always add a pinch of salt to balance out all the sweetness.
Hi, thank you for the delicious recipe. Do you think we can use frozen cherries instead of dried cherries?
Thanks
Hi, I haven’t made these with frozen or fresh cherries so I’m not sure how they’d turn out. I’d be a little concerned with the amount of moisture, but you may be able to work it out by adjusting the amounts of the other wet and dry ingredients.
I make energy balls with dates, but I’ve never added cherries. Which is the best idea ever. These must taste amazing, with all the nuts and chocolate. Yum!!
They are so good Sherri! You must try adding cherries, adds a nice sweet tart flavor!
Energy balls are my guilty pleasure. I always need to have a batch in the house, and like trying different combinations. Yours look great!
Thanks Laura, they’re one of my guilty pleasures as well!
No, I cannot believe it is February!! Time is FLYING by! These energy bites look so delicious, love the chocolate/cherry combo. I need these in my purse for my 4pm hunger pangs!
Haha right there with you Denise! 4:00 PM is about the time my hunger hits too!
Love the combo! i am sharing a dark chocolate, cherry oatmeal cookie on my blog this week “)
Thanks Jenna! Your oatmeal cookie sounds wonderful, can’t wait to check it out!
These sound delicious! How long do they last?
Thanks Stephanie! If you keep them in an airtight container in the freezer they should be good for about a month, although it’s never taken me that long to eat all of them! ;-)