These chocolate orange energy bites are fudgy, healthy, and make for the perfect bite-sized snack! Made with all natural and wholesome ingredients, this is a recipe everyone can enjoy! The rich flavors of cacao with hints of orange pair beautifully in this simple and delicious no-bake recipe.
These healthy holiday-themed energy bites are the perfect afternoon pick-me-up! Perfect for those days when you feel extra hungry (or hangry) in between meals and are looking for a healthy and energizing snack to get you through that mid-day slump.
With ingredients like almond butter, dates, walnuts, and hemp seeds, you can be sure that you are getting a good dose of healthy fats and plant-based protein!
You’re going to love the rich consistency of these energy bites with hints of orange zest for a light and refreshing feel.
A Chocolate Lover’s Dream
I don’t know about you guys but I crave chocolate just about 24 hours a day. I mean who doesn’t love chocolate, right?!
It isn’t hard to fall in love with these perfect bite-sized energy bites that taste like you’re biting into a smooth piece of chocolate fudge… except wait. They’re actually healthy too! That’s a win win in my book.
As a kid I used to walk up and down the boardwalk in Ocean City, NJ during the summers and find the fudge shop where they always gave out samples. The fudge was so good that my sisters and I always wanted to go back for seconds. I remember feeling too embarrassed to go back up for a second piece of fudge (because let’s be real, the point of a sample is to try it once) but I somehow managed to find my way around that.
“Can I have a second piece of fudge? This one’s for my sister. She’s over there and asked me to get her one.” Of course, as soon as I turned around you better bet I popped that little piece of fudge in my mouth. Oops!
So the lesson learned here is definitely that you should always lie for a second sample of fudge right? haha.
But why wait for fudge when you can make a healthier version you can have whenever you want? That’s where my chocolate orange energy bites come in handy; when your sweet tooth hits and you just want a little something to satisfy it.
The Ingredients
All you need are 9 ingredients and 15 minutes of your time to make these chocolate orange energy bites packed with nutritious ingredients!!
- Medjool Dates: Nature’s candy! This ingredient is the natural sugar in these energy bites giving them just the right amount of sweetness.
- Walnuts: Provide heart healthy omega-3’s and serving as the perfect binding agent in this recipe.
- Almond Butter: The key to a fudgy and smooth consistency!
- Hemp Seeds: This superfood is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and is a great source of plant-based protein! Hemp seeds are so nutrient dense that I chose to use them 2 ways: inside the mixture and to coat for an added boost of energy.
- Vanilla Extract: You can’t go wrong with a hint of vanilla, especially paired with chocolate.
- Pinch of salt: Adds just the right amount of balance to this sweet treat.
- Cacao powder: The ingredient that gives these energy bites their rich and irresistible chocolate flavor.
- Orange Zest: The bright and tangy addition to these dense and rich energy bites.
- Orange Juice: For even more orange flavor! Orange juice adds a touch of acidity to offset the sweetness.
As you can see, these energy bites are made with heart-healthy fats and protein: the perfect balance of nutrients to keep you fueled throughout your day.
How to Make Energy Bites
This recipe takes only 15 minutes to make and all you need is a food processor and the 9 ingredients listed above! Let’s get started
1) First, we add 1 cup (packed) of medjool dates to a food processor and pulse until the dates begin to combine into a sticky ball.
2) Add in the walnuts and pulse until the walnuts are incorporated with the dates. The dough should be a sticky ball.
3) To the food processor, add the almond butter, 1 tbsp hemp seeds, vanilla extract, cacao powder, and orange juice. Using a microplane grater, grate the zest of 1 orange and add that in.
4) Pulse this mixture together until it is combined and appears uniform. If it is having a hard time coming together, take the dough out of the the food processor and put it into a bowl to mix with a spoon.
5) Once the dough is in a ball, portion the dough into 1 inch balls using your hands to shape the energy bites. The recipe should make for about 18 energy bites.
6) Roll each energy bite lightly in a bowl with 2 tablespoons of hemp seeds and place them on a plate. Feel free to switch up the toppings! You can also add a drizzle of chocolate or roll the energy bites in coconut flakes!
7) Refrigerate the energy bites for 15 minutes to firm up and enjoy! They keep well in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Want to try another energy bite recipe? Check out my recipe for healthy coconut lemon energy bites!
Perfect for the Holidays
These energy bites would make a great addition to a holiday dessert platter. They are festive, cheery, and look stunning on a serving plate!
I can’t wait to eat these alongside a warm cup of tea in the afternoon or as an after-dinner treat during the holidays!
So excited for you guys to try these! If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and rating on this post:) and as always, tag me on Instagram @sipandscone so that I can see all of your re-makes!
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Sip & Scone
Healthy Chocolate Orange Energy Bites
Equipment
- food processor
Ingredients
- 1 cup Medjool dates packed
- 1 1/4 cup walnuts
- 2 tbsp almond butter
- 1 tbsp hemp seeds
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 4 tbsp cacao powder
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1 tbsp orange juice
Topping
- 2 tbsp hemp seeds
Instructions
- First, we add 1 cup (packed) of medjool dates to a food processor and pulse until the dates begin to combine into a sticky ball.
- Add in the walnuts and pulse until the walnuts are incorporated with the dates. The dough should be a sticky ball.
- To the food processor, add the almond butter, 1 tbsp hemp seeds, vanilla extract, cacao powder, and orange juice. Using a microplane grater, grate the zest of 1 orange and add that in.
- Pulse this mixture together until it is combined and appears uniform. If it is having a hard time coming together, take the dough out of the the food processor and put it into a bowl to mix with a spoon.
- Once the dough is in a ball, portion the dough into 1 inch balls using your hands to shape the energy bites. The recipe should make for about 18 energy bites.
- Roll each energy bite lightly in a bowl with 2 tablespoons of hemp seeds and place them on a plate. Feel free to switch up the toppings! You can also add a drizzle of chocolate or roll the energy bites in coconut flakes!
- Refrigerate the energy bites for 15 minutes to firm up and enjoy! They keep well in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Liked this recipe?
Check out some of my latest snack recipes! From muffins to loaves and more, you’re gonna love these simple and nutritious recipes:)
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