Nut Free Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites (Gluten Free, Vegan, Paleo, Whole30)
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Nut Free Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites – These rich, fudgy energy bites are made from just a handful of healthy ingredients. Try some of the variations for a change of pace! (Gluten free, vegan, paleo, Whole30)
Energy bites, I just can’t quit you.
It’s tough to beat the convenience–make a snack one time (these take me less than 10 minutes start-to-finish), and enjoy it all week long. Plus, when that snack only has a handful of ingredients and practically tastes like a treat? I’m totally in.
These no-bake, (nut free!) chocolate cherry energy bites are my latest snack choice. I love how fudgy and rich the flavors are. Plus, since they’re nut-free, we can pack them in school lunches and take them with us for on-the-go snacks!
These follow a similar formula as some of my other energy bites (like these Nut Free Coconut Lime Energy Bites). About 2 cups of fruit to about 1 cup of nuts or seeds + a few add-ins. The brightness of the cherries keep these feeling light, while the cocoa powder gives them a hint of chocolatey richness. YUM!
And I’m always looking for ways to make recipes nut free, since so many families deal with allergies these days. These sprouted raw pumpkin seeds are my favorite (I get them from Costco, Thrive, or Amazon). I’ve also used traditional shelled pumpkin seeds with great results. Use what you can find!
I love the “classic” chocolate cherry energy bites recipe as it’s written, and mixing in some variations (see below!) means it’s a recipe I can come back to again and again. They’re a perfect example of why I love making a few things each week to help me along. Instead of rummaging through the cupboards when I’m hungry, I can go straight to the fridge where these are prepped and waiting for me!
It’s *almost* as good as having a snack fairy.
Notes on these Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites
Let’s Talk Tools –Â I make my energy bites using a food processor. Some people make theirs in a high speed blender. I’ve tried both, but I really think the food processor is the easiest. This is the one I have. It’s worked for 9 years and it’s still going strong!
Variations – My kids love when I mix in a few tablespoons of chocolate chips before rolling them out (you can see I did a few that way in the photos). I’ve also made these with almonds and a 1/4 tsp of almond extract for a cherry almond feel (obviously no longer nut free). Lastly, you can use raw cacao or unsweetened cocoa powder.
Troubleshooting – Sometimes people tell me their energy bites aren’t coming together. In most cases for me, it’s because I simply need to blend a bit longer. Don’t give up before you’ve blended them 1-2 minutes (take a break in the middle if you need t0). If you’ve blended that long, and they’re still not coming together, try adding 1 tsp water at a time and blend.
Whole30 Notes – These are 100% compliant so long as you use unsweetened cherries and don’t add chocolate chips or vanilla. I find unsweetened at Nuts.com, Walmart, Amazon, Trader Joe’s, etc. Whether you feel like they’re in the spirit of Whole30 is up to you.
Digging these Energy Bites? Some of my other favorites…
- Nutella Energy Bites  (Gluten Free, Paleo, Vegan, Whole30)
- Nut Free Coconut Lime Energy Bites (Gluten Free, Paleo, Vegan, Whole30)
- Sweet & Salty Peanut Butter Pretzel Energy Bites (Gluten Free, Vegan)
Nut Free Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites
- Yield: 20 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted Medjool dates
- 1 cup dried cherries (preferably unsweetened)
- 1 cup pumpkin seeds (I like sprouted ones)
- 3–4 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- pinch salt (optional)
Instructions
Place all ingredients in a food processor. Pulse or blend until mixture comes together in a big ball. This usually takes me 1-1 1/2 minutes. If yours isn’t coming together, make sure you’ve given it enough time. If it’s still not coming together, you can add 1 tsp of water at a time to the mixture and blend until it comes together.
Roll mixture out into small balls (I usually get about 20 per recipe). Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container up to 1 week.
Notes
VARIATIONS:
Chocolate Chip: Mix in a few tablespoons of chocolate chips once the dough has come together in a ball.
Almond: Try swapping in almonds for the pumpkin seeds and use almond extract instead of vanilla
Caca: To keep these raw, use raw cacao powder instead of unsweetened cocoa powder
Nutrition
- Calories: 96kcal
- Sugar: 13g
- Sodium: 2mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0
We have peanut AND tree nut allergies over here, so I love when you post nut free snacks! I will have to try these đŸ™‚
Oh hooray! I hope you love them!
I replaced the dried cherries with dried cranberries (that’s all I had), and used 1/2 pumpkin seeds 1/2 sunflower seeds. They turned out great! Thanks!
Ooh, yum! That sounds delicious. I’ll have to try it sometime!
We also have nut allergies so appreciate these nut-free healthy recipes!!!
I’m so glad they’re helpful Steph!