5 Ingredient Healthy Brownie Bite Recipe
Have you found yourself in a bit of a quarantine coma? With more time at home it would seem that there’d be ample time to cook and eat healthy. But if with your boredom has come an increased desire to snack on junk food, you’re not alone.
When we’re stressed, our bodies tend to crave carbs, fat and sugar. According to WebMD carbs, fat and sugar lower our cortisol levels by producing more serotonin in the brain. So, next time you find yourself wanting to eat an entire pizza washed down with a tub of ice cream, it doesn’t mean you aren’t disciplined. These may cause us to calm down in the short term, but it’s only a temporary fix. That’s not to say we should never honor our cravings, but having healthy snacks prepped on hand is an easy way to make health the convenient choice.
Enter these Brownie Bite Energy Balls! These take less than 10 minutes to make, require one bowl and a food processor and will give your brain and body the fuel it needs. They are loaded with antioxidants from cacao powder, healthy fats from nuts, potassium and natural sugar from dates and protein from optional protein powder. It’s the perfect pre or post workout snack. They also make a great snack break during your Netflix binge. Don’t worry, we don’t judge. So get up off your couch and try them!
Brownie Bite Energy Balls: Makes approx. 15
Ingredients:
1 cup nut of choice (we suggest walnuts or sunflower seeds, but what you have on hand will work)
1/4 cup cacao or cocoa powder *Cacao powder is a raw form of ground cocoa beans, but cocoa powder would work here, as well.
1 cup dates: roughly 10 dates
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional: add protein powder, adjust date/liquid ratio if needed; roll in coconut flakes
Instructions:
Place nuts in food processor and pulse until coarse.
Remove nuts and add 10 dates with pits removed. Pulse until they form a paste. Optional: Soak dates in hot water for up to 10 minutes to soften.
Combine nut powder and dates in processor. Add cacao powder and pulse food again. Add coconut oil and vanilla and pulse. Pause to scrape sides as needed until texture becomes like wet sand. Add more liquid or dry ingredients as needed if the mixture is too thin or too powdery.
Remove mixture from processor and roll into 1 inch balls. Place in fridge in an airtight container for up to 7 days and enjoy!