Raw Cacao Energy Bites

This basic recipe can be used as a base to create an imaginative assortment of energy bites with your favorite add-ins. It’s literally three ingredients: Dates, Nuts and Cacao! You can mix it up by adding the optional ingredients below and if it doesn’t make sense with the combinations you pick, leave the cacao out and maybe add in the vanilla extract. Eat these as a snack on the go (I like to carry them in my purse and in my backpack when I mountain bike!), or they can be a healthy dessert. So here we go:

Raw Cacao Energy Bites

Serves: 14 bites
Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
– 1 cup walnuts or pecans
– 1 cup pitted Medjool dates
– 2 Tbs. raw, cacao

Optional Ingredients (Get Creative!)
– Pistachios
– Coconut flakes
– Goji Berries
– Cacao nibs
– Oats
– Almond Butter
– Dried Cranberries
– Spices like cinnamon, garam masala, pumpkin pie spice
– Chia seeds
– Pumpkin seeds
– Hemp seeds
– Dried cherries
– Dried blueberries
– Vanilla extract
– Mint extract
– Dried plantains
– Dried ginger
– Dried apple
– Matcha green tea powder
– Golden raisins

Instructions:
1. Place the nuts in a food processor until there is a crumbly mixture
2. Add in the dates and cacao and blend until a thick mixture is formed
3. Form balls in your hand.
4. You can eat them immediately, store in the refrigerator or in an air tight container at room temperature.