Easy + Delicious Energy Bites

Hi everyone!  Today I'm so excited to share my first recipe on GretchRuns.  I know that I promised a recipe for egg cups, but I'm still working on that and just had to share this easy and delicious snack.  The eggs will be coming next week, swear!  This one is so great that I just couldn't hold off on sharing!
 
DIY Luna Bar Bites

I've been loving Lara Bars during the Whole30 for a quick snack, but they're pretty expensive for having such a simple ingredient list.  I played around with some recipes that I found online and experimented with my own flavors, and made my own!  I decided to make them into balls, because I think they're more fun that way and easier to grab and go.  Today I'll be sharing two varieties, but I'm working on developing more since these are so fun to experiment with!


2 Ingredient Energy Bites

Two Ingredient Energy Bites

Ingredients:

1 part dates
1 part salted cashews


Directions:

Blend dates until they are a thick paste, and move to a bowl

Blend cashews until they are in small pieces, but still have a bit of texture.  If you're using unsalted cashews, throw in a dash of salt.  Add to bowl.

Mix these two into a paste, and roll into balls.

Refrigerate and enjoy!


For my recipe, I used a half cup of both cashews and dates, and ended up with six large balls, or 12 bite-sized balls.  It's easy to adjust the amounts to make more or less, and it only takes about 3 minutes from start to finish!




I also have a bonus recipe that I like to call "A Bite of the Tropics".  It's so cold and dreary out lately, but eating these tropical flavors transports me to a warm and sunny place.  I love these!


4 Ingredient Energy Bites

DIY Luna Bars

Ingredients :

1 lime, juiced and zested
1/2 cup dates
1/2 cup salted cashews
1 tablespoon coconut flakes


Directions:

Blend dates, juice and zest until they are a thick paste, and move to a bowl.

Blend cashews and coconut until they are in small pieces, but still have a bit of texture.  If you're using unsalted cashews, throw in a dash of salt.  Add to bowl.

Mix these two into a paste, and roll into balls.

Refrigerate and enjoy!


This recipe is also easy to adjust to make more balls.  Make sure you add more lime so that flavor really comes through!  If you're not as much of a fan of lime, you don't have to add the juice.  I love how the zest adds a bit of green color, and the coconut is very subtle but delicious.  These are so refreshing!


What's your favorite on-the-go snack?
Do you have any favorite flavor combos?
Who else loves Lara Bars??

Comments

  1. LOVE the lime addition! Such a great flavor combo!

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  2. YUM! These look so good and I love anything with just 4 ingreidents! I've never put lime juice in anything with dates, but I'm the world's biggest fan of the lime/coconut combo so I know I'll love it! I must add that cashews are my favorite nut so yes, this was made for me!

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  3. thanks for these! i love something easy but that has a great taste to it. i need to pick up some dates, but i've got everything else!

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    Replies
    1. Yay! Dates are so delicious..I've been missing out :)

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  4. I love dates but have never actually tried making anything with them myself. I never turn them down when they're being served wrapped in bacon or stuffed in cheese...or both! I'm sure that's not Whole 30 friendly, but these sound tasty and and healthy!
    Gina || On the Daily Express

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    Replies
    1. Can you believe I've never had one before the Whole30? Now I'm obsessed! I might have to try them wrapped in prosciutto or something for a compliant appetizer..thanks for the suggestions!

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  5. Omg, lime is such a good idea!! I love lime anything.

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  6. I used to make things like this when I did my raw food diet a few years ago. I actually broke my food processor using it so much and I haven't yet bought a replacement. :(

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    Replies
    1. Oh no!! I use mine so much so I hope it doesn't break on me!

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  7. Yes only 4 ingredients!!! These look so tasty :)

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  8. I've never had dates before (woops) but these look so good! I love Luna Bars and recently have been liking Lara bars too!

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    Replies
    1. I never had them before whole30! Now I'm obsessed :)

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  9. Yummm I love both dates and cashews! These look great for packable snacks for running or hiking.

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  10. YESSS!! I never think to add lime to my energy bites - that has to change!!

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  11. I used to LOVE Luna bars, the chocolate coconut was my go-to snack before going to Zumba, but they started giving me terrible stomach cramps! once so bad, that I couldn't stay in zumba. Now my go to snack is a multigrain bagel with hazelnut cream cheese. It's much easier on my stomach.

    Will have to give this recipe a try!

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  12. love this! i like luna bars sometimes, but they aren't filling enough to justify the cost, though i love the small ingredients list. i've made something similar to this before - dates, coconut flakes and peanut butter i think. they lasted less than 24 hours... KC loves PB haha.

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    Replies
    1. That sounds so great :) Dan doesn't really like chunky stuff like this so he won't eat them luckily!

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  13. Lime?!?! Oh girl, I am all in with these energy bites! I just started adding dates into my energy balls and I totally love them in my energy bites now.

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  14. Put the lime in the coconut and...eat it all up :) GREAT first recipe!! So simple, yet delicious.

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  15. Yay!! Congrats on your first recipe! :) This sounds DELICIOUS, and I love that you added lime and coconut to it!

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  16. I love Larabars! Chocolate chip cookie dough is my fav. Great idea to make your own version! I have never bought or eaten dates other than in Larabars. I'm kind of scared of them LOL

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  17. Gretchen you know I love Larabars! I'm going to make your recipe for run fuel since I'll need it for marathon training now :)

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  18. Great salty sweet combo, sounds simply delicious!

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  19. I have an unhealthy addiction to Luna's. I should try this recipe!

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