Cacao Almond Energy Bites.

Cacao Almond Energy Bites.

I call these little bundles.. energy bliss. They are packed full of goodness for you health and energy, and who doesn’t like a little guiltless chocolate indulgence?

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup pitted dates (I LOVE medjool)
• 1.5 cups raw crushed almonds (the almond slivers work really well)
• 1/2 cup cacao powder  
• 5 tbsp hemp seeds
• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 4 tbsp almond butter (or other nut or seed butter)
• 1 tbsp coconut oil (this is optional, I use it as a back up to manipulate consistency)

Instructions:

1. Pulse dates in a processor (I use a vitamix for almost everything) until small gooeyball forms. Scoop out and toss in a mixing bowl.
2. Pulse chia, hemp, salt, and cacao for finer texture in the food processor. **This is optional if you want a chunkier energy bite. 
3. Add your ingredients to that mixing bowl. (if the almonds need a little more breaking up, put in processor and pulse a few times. Don’t over do it because you don’t want almond flour! Keep it a little chunky for texture and cohesion for your bites.  
4. Get manual working all the ingredients together into a moist, doughy mixture. If too wet, add a bit more cacao powder or hemp seeds. If too dry, add a little coconut oil at at time.
5. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Then press the mix into a pan lined with baking paper with them being about 2 in thick. I used a cookie sheet that has raised sides.  Cut out. You can  coat with a little more cacao and hemp seeds if you prefer a less gooey outside. For a quicker, method: just simply roll into balls and coat.  VIOLA. 

You can store them sealed in the fridge for about a week. If you make a big batch, store in the freezer for up to three weeks. This recipe makes about 15 bites.