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    Home » Food

    Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites {Just 5 Ingredients!}

    July 10, 2017 by Chrissy Carroll 25 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This summer, I’ve been taking quite a bit of time skimming through all my old blog posts – identifying recipes that need to be re-photographed, posts that need some SEO optimization, etc.  The other day I was working on my old dark chocolate cherry brownies post, and that flavor combo totally inspired today’s new recipe!  These chocolate cherry energy bites are a new favorite around here.

    Side note – if you’re a fellow blogger, isn’t it crazy how much you learn in just a few years?!  I’m looking back at these old posts that have no good keyword, crappy cell phone images, short word counts… If only I knew then what I know now about doing this successfully (or at least trying to!) 😉

    Anyway – back to these chocolate cherry energy bites.  I am obsessed with these as a snack/dessert.  One or two of these energy bites is enough to satisfy a sweet treat craving.  But it contains healthy ingredients that you can feel good about eating every day!

    There are only 5 ingredients in these bad boys.  Oats, walnuts, dates, cherries, and dark chocolate.  That’s it!

    [Tweet “These chocolate cherry energy bites are a healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth!”]

    These chocolate cherry energy bites are perfect for satisfying a sweet craving! A healthy snack made with just 5 ingredients - plus they’re vegan friendly and gluten free.

    These chocolate cherry energy bites are perfect for satisfying a sweet craving! A healthy snack made with just 5 ingredients - plus they’re vegan friendly and gluten free.

    That chocolate and cherry combo is a quintessential summertime pairing to me.  Fresh sweet cherries are only in season for such a short time up here that I like to take advantage of them while I can.  Our local farm even has cherry picking going on right now.  And nothing goes better with them than chocolate.

    Using dark chocolate means you give your body a boost of polyphenols – plant-based compounds that have beneficial effects in your body.  Research is still relatively new, but there have been positive effects on anything from cardiovascular health to the gut microbiome to inflammation.  Yes, dark chocolate is totally good for you to include in your diet.  {PS – If you like science, check out this research study for a great review of the data.}

    These chocolate cherry energy bites are perfect for satisfying a sweet craving! A healthy snack made with just 5 ingredients - plus they’re vegan friendly and gluten free.

    And for my runners and triathletes out there?  These are a bomb snack option.  They’ve got carbs to fuel your muscles and healthy fats to keep you full longer.  I love these for quelling hunger between meals. 

    If you want, you could even add a protein powder to them to boost the protein content – you’d probably just need a few more cherries to balance out the moisture content so the recipe works.

    If you’re a hiker or ultra runner, these types of energy bites could even be used out on the trail or course (depending on your tolerance to real foods and fats, of course).  The chocolate in this recipe probably would get a little melty, but you could check out my apple peanut butter energy bites or my Hungarian cookie energy bites for other options.

    Lastly – what active mama doesn’t love snacks that the whole family can get into?!  My son definitely loves these as much as I do.  They’re a great dessert option for him.  {Now if only I could get him to hold still and smile for a photo with ’em at the same time, lol.}

    Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites

    Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites Kid

    Give ‘em a try and let me know what you think!

    These chocolate cherry energy bites are perfect for satisfying a sweet craving! A healthy snack made with just 5 ingredients - plus they’re vegan friendly and gluten free.

    Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites

    Snacking in Sneakers
    Made with just 5 nutritious ingredients, chocolate cherry energy bites make a healthy sweet treat snack!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Dessert, Snack
    Servings 12
    Calories 120 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Ingredients:

    • 1 cup rolled oats (if gluten free, look for certified GF oats)
    • 1/2 cup walnuts (whole shelled)
    • 1/2 cup dates, pitted and chopped in half
    • 1/2 cup cherries, pitted
    • 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (Enjoy Life brand is dairy free)

    Instructions
     

    Directions:

    • Add all ingredients to a food processor. Pulse several times until everything is well combined. Roll mixture into 12 balls and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to several days.

    Notes

    Nutrition analysis (approximate for 1 energy bite):
    120 calories, 5 g fat, 18 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 11 g sugar, 2 grams protein, Vitamin A: 0%, Vitamin C: 1%, Calcium: 2%, Iron: 7%

    Nutrition

    Calories: 120kcal
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Share with me:  Have you ever tried chocolate cherry energy bites?  What’s your favorite energy bite flavor combo?

    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Chrissy Carroll
    Chrissy Carroll
    Chrissy Carroll is a Registered Dietitian and USAT Level I Triathlon Coach. She specializes in sharing nutrition and fitness tips, as well as recipes, for runners, triathletes, and active women.Chrissy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition, a Masters Degree in Public Health, and is also an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer.
    Chrissy Carroll
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    Comments

    1. Abbey Sharp

      July 10, 2017 at 11:28 am

      Chocolate and cherries is a match made in heaven. These look awesome.

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        July 16, 2017 at 4:51 pm

        Right?! One of the classic summer flavor combos!

        Reply
    2. Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner

      July 10, 2017 at 12:16 pm

      All of my favorite ingredients in one place and super easy too

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        July 16, 2017 at 4:51 pm

        Yes! Hope you get a chance to make them my friend 🙂

        Reply
    3. Fiona @ Get Fit Fiona

      July 10, 2017 at 5:34 pm

      These look like the perfect on the go snack to have ready. And I totally agree with you, the cherry and chocolate combination is always delicious.

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        July 16, 2017 at 4:52 pm

        They are definitely perfect for grabbing one out of the fridge quick when you need something to tide you over. I love making a big batch and storing them to snack on over the next few days!

        Reply
    4. Paul

      July 10, 2017 at 5:51 pm

      I love all things cherry!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        July 16, 2017 at 4:52 pm

        Me too Paul!

        Reply
    5. Liz @ I Heart Vegetables

      July 10, 2017 at 7:40 pm

      5 stars
      My bestie loves the chocolate + cherry combo so I might have to make these for her the next time she visits! Yum!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        July 16, 2017 at 4:52 pm

        Yay! I hope you get a chance to surprise her with them!

        Reply
    6. Mikki

      July 10, 2017 at 10:21 pm

      These look so delicious and simple to make.. and your little one is adorable.

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        July 16, 2017 at 4:53 pm

        Thank you for the compliments on the recipe – and my son! 😉

        Reply
    7. Natalie

      July 11, 2017 at 9:12 am

      5 stars
      Hahah It’s TOTALLY crazy how much we evolve in just one year, I now 😀 I’m in process of going through my old posts and optimizing too. Like, what’s that.. bloggers summer mode?! hahah Anyway, I’m glad you pulled out this chocolate cherry brownies out and did this raw version because I’m absolutely crazy about that cherry-choco combo. These bites are perfect for summer 🙂 Yumm!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        July 16, 2017 at 4:54 pm

        YES. I’m looking back at things from two years ago that have no keyword, no good photos, no pin image. I have like 200 posts to optimize, lol.

        Reply
    8. Ilka

      July 11, 2017 at 7:57 pm

      Energy balls ae my favorite snack ever! Made with cherries and chocolate is super yummy!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        July 16, 2017 at 4:54 pm

        Me too! I love making all different flavor combos!

        Reply
        • Leigh

          October 24, 2019 at 11:20 am

          Can I use frozen cherries on this recipe?

          Reply
          • Chrissy Carroll

            October 28, 2019 at 7:46 pm

            Sure! I prefer them with fresh but you can use frozen and just toss ’em in the food processor with everything else. 🙂 Depending on the strength of your food processor, you may want to let the cherries thaw for a few minutes on the counter before using them.

            Reply
    9. Kim Kremer

      July 11, 2017 at 9:53 pm

      I am constantly amazed at how adorable your kid is. <3

      I've read enough to convince me of the physical benefit of eating dark chocolate. I've never needed convincing as to the emotional benefit. My current favorite is Endangered Species 88% – just the right balance of bitter and sweet.

      I'm not crazy about fresh cherries. It may be the hangover from eating my weight in them every summer. (We had a massive cherry tree in our back yard. What we didn't throw at each other, we ate.) We have a grafted sweet cherry for The Hubs and a tart cherry for me (some day, I'll have enough cherries to make my own juice; until then, I make pies). This year, we lost ALL of our cherries to Western Cherry Fly. I am a failure as an organic farmer – next year, we bomb the backyard. 😉

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        July 16, 2017 at 4:50 pm

        Aww, thank you! I think he’s adorable too but I’m obviously biased, lol.

        I LOVE the endgangered species variety. It’s either them or green and black that has an amazing dark chocolate with espresso chips in it. SOOOO good.

        Oh no, sorry to hear about the loss of cherries! I would be so sad!

        Reply
    10. Christina Bauer

      July 17, 2017 at 3:41 pm

      I have exactly this many cherries in my fridge right now – these look like the perfect use for them!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        July 18, 2017 at 7:55 am

        Yay, hope you enjoy the energy bites!

        Reply

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    Chrissy Carroll is a Registered Dietitian and USAT Level I Triathlon Coach. She specializes in sharing nutrition and fitness tips, as well as recipes, for runners, triathletes, and active women.Chrissy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition, a Masters Degree in Public Health, and is also an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer.
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    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Chrissy Carroll
    Chrissy Carroll
    Chrissy Carroll is a Registered Dietitian and USAT Level I Triathlon Coach. She specializes in sharing nutrition and fitness tips, as well as recipes, for runners, triathletes, and active women.Chrissy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition, a Masters Degree in Public Health, and is also an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer.
    Chrissy Carroll
    Latest posts by Chrissy Carroll (see all)
    • Greek Yogurt Macaroni Salad (Gluten Free) - May 25, 2023
    • Track Interval Pace Calculator - May 23, 2023
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