Foodie Friday: Carrot Cake Energy Bites {Recipe Redux}

Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes yesterday! It was a great [an delicious] day and I’m excited to continue the celebrations this weekend! To kick it off, I have a tasty treat for you. I’m sure by now you all know how I feel about my protein bites. I’ve made peanut butter powerballs, dark chocolate powerballs, blueberry lemon cookie dough bites, apple pie protein bites, dark chocolate berry protein bites.. I think you catch my drift. So I was really excited when I saw this month’s Recipe ReDux topic:

Bars & Bites for Brown Bags

Whether you pack your lunch in a bento box, a brown bag or a retro cartoon character lunch box, don’t forget the bars and bites. Small squares or round bites can pack nutrition into a sweet or savory taste. Show us your favorite way to jazz up any type of lunch box.

A reason to make another flavor of bites? Done!

Carrot Cake Energy Bites

Makes 48 bites

 

Ingredients
– 2 cups shredded carrots
– 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
– 3 tbsp almond meal [I used Bob’s Red Mill]
– 3 tbsp coconut flour
– 1 scoop protein powder [I used Vega Sport Vanilla]
– 1/3 cup nut butter [I used Peanut Butter & Co. Old-Fashioned Crunchy]
– 1/4 cup maple syrup
– 2 tsp cinnamon
– 1/2 tsp salt

Directions
Place carrots and coconut flakes in a food processor and pulse until chunky. Add the pulsed carrots, coconut, and the rest of the ingredients into a medium bowl. Mix everything until combined thoroughly. Using a 1/2 tbsp measuring spoon, measure out and roll your bites. Store in the fridge or freezer.

Nutritional Information
Per 1/2 tbsp bite

27 Calories  /  1g Fat  /  3g Carbs  /  2g Sugar  /  1g Fiber  /  1g Protein

I love using the chunky peanut butter in these.. it’s like a 2-for-1 rather than adding the nuts separately. Plus, the Old-Fashioned Crunchy is one of my favorites from PB & Co. because the only ingredients are peanuts and salt. These bites are not only great for a little pre-workout treat, they’re great to pack up and take with you on the go or in a lunch bag. They’re slightly sweet and the almond flour gives them an extra nuttiness. All this to say you should definitely make these bad boys!

If you really want to kick them up a notch, add some raisins and roll the bites in shredded coconut. Yum!

An InLinkz Link-up

Food for Thought

What’s your favorite dessert?