Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Tasty Snack Tuesday - No-Bake Energy Bites


 Since I gave you a deliciously indulgent recipe yesterday, I thought we should balance that out with something on the healthier side.  I am always on the lookout for tasty, healthy snacks, not just for myself, but also for Chris and our little monster guy.  I have a relentless sweet tooth and am not the type who can quit sweets.  Its just not going to happen.  What would life be without sweets?  I stumbled upon these while browsing Pinterest one day, and have made them twice now, and Chris and I agree that they are delicious.  The great thing is that you can really play with what goes into them.  Here is my slightly adapted version:

No-Bake Energy Bites

1 cup dry oatmeal
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup ground flaxseed (I subbed chocolate peanut butter protein powder on another batch)
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup honey (or liquid sweetener of your choice, I have used maple syrup as well)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix all ingredients until they are thoroughly combined.  I found that bars were much easier to deal with, so I pressed the mixture into an 8x8 pan that I lined with parchment paper.  Pop that into the refrigerator until its set, then remove and cut into 16 squares.  Store in an airtight container for up to a week, but they probably won't last that long.

When I thought I could tempt my picky 21-month-old with such a healthy treat, I made the batch with flaxseed and maple syrup (since kids shouldn't have protein powder, and honey is still a no-no until age 2).  He tried one, but was soon onto my game.  But, Chris really liked these, and I do too.  They are perfect for a light snack, especially before or after a workout.  I think they would also be really good with raisins or dried cranberries (really any dried fruit), coconut (which the original recipe called for, but Chris doesn't like the texture).  If you make these and choose to throw in additional ingredients, you made need to add a bit more liquid, but just add it a tiny bit at a time until everything comes together.  These will probably become a staple in our house.

Original recipe from Gimme Some Oven, as adapted from Smashed Peas and Carrots

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