Rolled oats, soaked dates, almond butter, cocoa, finely ground coffee, vanilla, and pea protein.

WHAT’S GOING  ON HERE:

Pea Protein: Pea protein is a plant-based protein source derived from peas. It comes in a fine unsweetened powder that can be blended into juices and smoothies. I use it to bump up the protein content in my bites skip if you don’t have it on hand. It can be substituted for unflavored whey isolate.

Rolled Oats: Rolled are a pantry staple as well as a granola staple. Oats are great for bulking up your recipe and giving everything something to bind to. Rolled oats are nutritious and easy to digest.

Almond Butter: Use any nut butter you prefer. Cashew, tahini, peanut, and sunflower all work great in this recipe.

Dates: Dates are used as a sweetener for this recipe. They are easier to incorporate once softened so be sure to soak them prior to use. Pit the date before adding them to the food processor.

Cocoa: Cocoa is a great antioxidant. It lends a deep rich dark color to the cocoa balls.

Coffee: Run your coffee through a grinder to make it extra fine or use a fine press coffee or instant for the best burst of coffee flavor.

Salt: A little salt goes a long way. Salt helps all the deep flavors amplify so don’t skip it.

TIPS & TRICKS FOR THE BEST COFFEE & COCOA PROTEIN BITES:

dry ingredients first: adding the ingredients in the correct order will make your life and clean up easier. make sure to run the dry ingredients prior to adding the wet. adding in all the ingredients at once will cause the food processor to jam. once the oats get wet there is no moving them so make sure the oats are at your desired consistency before the wet stuff.

no food processor?: this recipe can be made without a food processor. although it may be a little more rustic. all you need to do is finely mince the dates. from there toss everything into a big bowl and stir. once the mix is nice and sticky press it into a pan or rolls it into balls.

sweeter? my recipe here is not sweet. it’s all about personal preference. when i do make a sweet batch i usually go halfsies on the water and replace the remaining 1/2c with agave. liquid sweeteners like agave and honey work best and aid in adding moisture.

rolling the balls: your balls should be sticky enough to roll on their own. lightly coat your hands in zero-calorie spray or water to make for a smoother roll.

SIMILAR INGREDIENTS TO:

1. DARK CHOCOLATE BANANA OAT MUFFINS
2. BLUEBERRY AND ALMOND OATMEAL MUFFINS
3. DARK CHOCOLATE AND CHERRY MUFFINS

ENJOY THIS RECIPE WITH:

1. PINEAPPLE DARJEELING SMOOTHIE
2. KETO: CHOCOLATE AND PEPPERMINT SMOOTHIE
3. HOMEMADE CHEX GRANOLA PARFAIT