Cacao + Almond Butter Oat Bites
My secret is about to be out. I haven’t shared this recipe with anyone and while I’m sure you can find similar protein bite recipes online – I’ve finally perfected these little nuggets and I’m sharing it all with you.
Shortly after a client asked me for some sort of protein bites, I asked my personal chef friends for some ideas BUT ultimately had to change up a few recipes to make them truely my own.
Consistency, taste and texture were my main goals. I know oat filled protein bites aren’t for everyone – but these are gluten free and are a mix of old fashion and quick cooking which I think works the best. Almond butter and coconut oil bring them together. With a bit of vanilla extract, cacao and sea salt – that’s it.
2 things you must know.
This recipe only has 7 ingredients.
- Almond Butter
- Vanilla Extract
- Coconut Oil
- Honey
- Cacao
- Sea Salt
- Gluten Free Oats
Second, they are time consuming to make. Now, that’s not a secret. Heating the ingredients together is key. Then mixing everything together to ensure all the oats are coated and then letting the mixture sit and set up is important. The coconut oil will bring everything together so that it’s easier to make the bites. But this takes time – 30 minutes to 1 hour. Yikes I know. And then you have to make them into bites – yes, it takes time.
I usually triple the recipe. Store them in glass jars in the freezer until needed. They last a long time frozen, plus grabbing them straight from the freezer to bite into is perfection.
Grab these instead of those.
You can find a protein bar at any grocery store. They are everywhere. When I’m on the go, working or forget to eat (yes, it happens) – grabbing a quick bar is the easiest, fastest and a great way to get some protein in my body.
BUT the one ingredient that gets me is the amount of sugar in all the store bought ones. Wow. Be sure to check out the labels before you bite into a favorite of yours.
In these there is only honey to sweeten things up.
Recipes I love to double the recipe.
Cacao + Almond Butter Oat Bites
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups coconut oil
- 3 cups almond butter (high quality + creamy)
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 1 1/2 cups honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 heaping tablespoons cacao powder (unsweetened)
- 5 cups quick cooking gluten free oats
- 3–4 cups old fashion gluten free oats
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, melt together the coconut oil, almond butter, sea salt, honey, vanilla extract and cacao powder together over medium loow heat. Stir together with a rubber spatula until fully combined. Don’t let it sit or bubble up too much – it will burn on the bottom of the pan.
- In a very large bowl, add in the oats. Pour the coconut oil and almond butter mixture over the oats. Using a rubber spatula, mix everything together very well. Make sure to keep tossing the oats around until they are fully coated.
- Place the bowl in a refrigerator or cool place for 30 minutes, covered loosely with a kitchen towel. After 30 minutes, check to see if you can still stir is around with the spatula. If it is harder, you are getting close. Toss around from the bottom to the top as much as you can. Let chill for 20-30 more minutes.
- When you grab about 1-2 tablespoons of mixture in one hand and close your hand (like into a fist), and the mixture forms together – you are ready to make them. I like using a small ice cream or cookie scoop to help make them more uniform and similar sizes.
- Whatever method helps you, scoop about 1 heaping tablespoon of mixture in between your hands. While rolling them, press the mixture together to form a ball. Place on a cookie sheet tray. Repeat until all the mixture is rolled. Place in a ziploc bag or glass jar with a lid and put in your freezer. These are best kept frozen or in your refrigerator.
Notes
There is a fine line to when the perfect time is to roll the mixture into balls. You want it chilled enough so that the coconut oil has hardened and warms up slightly in your hands to form the balls. If it isn’t chilled enough, then it will stick to your hands and break apart easily. On the other hand, if it is chilled too much, it will be too hard to form into balls. This really is trial and error.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: varies
- Category: snacks
- Method: raw
- Cuisine: snack
Did you make this recipe? Take a picture and tag me @whitesparrowfoodco or #whitesparrowfoodco I’d love to hear what you thought of the recipe!
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