These Double Chocolate Pumpkin Seed Power Bites are dense, chocolatey, and delicious, full of protein and healthy fat, and free of added sugar. Does it get much better for an easy snack? I didn’t think so.
The hardest part of 85% of things is getting started. Are there things that challenge you all throughout? Yes. And some things really start to feel hard somewhere along the line. But most things? They feel a lot less daunting once you start.
For example, as much as I love yoga, it takes a lot for me to get up, change into yoga-doing clothes, and get to class. Almost as soon as I get there, I can’t believe I almost didn’t go. But I “almost don’t go” well over half of the time. And that’s with something I adore.
The same is true with baking. Baking gives me both a sense of satisfaction and delicious snacks. It also involves some clean-up, and there’s always a chance I’ll mess something up and it’ll be a waste of time and ingredients. Consequently, I bake a lot less often than I actually want to.
And then there are things I don’t love as much. You know that essay I was going to write over the weekend? Um… I baked a batch of cookies and a pan of brownies (and ate some of those) instead. I also did laundry, finished my poli sci reading, caught up on my yoga journal, watched football, and talked to my roommates. And then I wrote the introduction. It took all of those other things to write the freaking introduction and figure out what I’m going to argue.
Then, I got sleepy and decided that since I did so much of the stuff I would usually put off until Monday, I would just try to write a significant amount of the essay then instead. Wish me luck (again).
These power bites? They’re not so different from all those other things.
I love having snacks on hand. I love chocolate. I love creating things. I just have a hard time deciding to use my food processor, since I don’t relish the thought of cleaning it.
Guys. Cleaning my food processor is no harder than cleaning a pot or something. It took approximately one minute. I am ridiculous.
Starting is the hardest part. But this healthy, chocolatey snack is easy. #FitFluential #SweatPink Share on X
And so are these! But in a good way. Like in a sweet and tasty and totally healthy way. They’re fudgy and chocolatey and, though they’re only sweetened with dates, they don’t have a strong date flavor. I wish I had a good way to segue into telling you about the time I was asked on a date (with a guy) via dates (the fruit), but I don’t. Next time I post a recipe with dates. I promise.
Anyway. Make these and let them power you through the crazy-busy holiday season. And your crazy-awesome life.
- 1 c. pitted dates
- 1/2 c. roasted pumpkin seeds*
- 1/4 c. almond butter
- 2 T. unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 scoops chocolate protein powder**
- 2 scoops collagen peptides
- 1 t. vanilla extract
- 2 T. water***
- Add dates to the bowl of a food processor. Process until chopped, about a minute. If your dates are particularly sticky, they might start to form a paste. That's totally fine!
- To the chopped dates, add roasted pumpkin seeds, almond butter, cocoa powder, collagen peptides, and vanilla. Process to combine as much as possible.
- At this point, the mixture will likely look crumbly and not stick together. Add water, 1 T. at a time, until the mixture comes together into a dough-like substance. Process after adding each tablespoon of water.
- Once dough is formed, roll balls of desired size. I got 23 tablespoon-sized balls. I like to store mine in the freezer, but they're perfectly good at room temperature for about 4 days and also from the fridge.
- *My pumpkin seeds were salted. If yours aren't, you might want to add salt to taste.
- **I used Nuzest Rich Chocolate. Want to try it? Go to nuzest-usa.com and use the code EVERYDAY for 15% off all your purchases. Don't like protein powder? Add an extra tablespoon of cocoa powder, sweeten to taste, and use almond flour to bind your bites if they're too sticky.
- ***I used about 2 T. water. You might need more or less depending on the stickiness of your dates.
Click to view nutrition facts for Double Chocolate Pumpkin Seed Power Bites
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Your turn:
What are you having a hard time starting?
How was your weekend?
So much yes to your yoga comment. It took me four years to get started on a practice. But I finally did.
YES. Hooray for beginnings!
Ridiculous as charged. My life is a testament to not wanting to start and then waiting waiting waiting!
OMG. yes.
I get ya.
meal planning! i’m awful at it and as a result most nights i’m scrambling for what to make for dinner!
I used to be good about it, but I’m the same way these days 😛
I’m the same way. Even with the things I love, it takes some (read: a lot) of effort to get going. I tend to start, stop, brainstorm, start, stop and then go. Ha sounds crazy writing it out.
Same! Honestly, sometimes it takes a lot of effort for me to decide to go to bed. Even though I love sleep. Ugh.
I’m having a really hard time starting a new blog post. I’m fully stuck for ideas. In the middle of exams, all I want to do is write and then the moment I actually have free time…I can’t think of a single thing to write. So frustrating!
Glad to see you crushed that writer’s block!
Right now baking is the only thing I’m having trouble starting! I’m so busy that my spare time always seems to be spent doing anything other than cooking!
You’re doing so many cool things, girl!
Great post! I love it.
Thank you! Let me know if you try the recipe 🙂
I LIVE on my bliss balls when I’m slammed with busy days at college. Love the pumpkin seed and chocolate combo.
You certainly know busy! Thanks, Casey 🙂