Cherry Vanilla Energy Bites are a delicious and energizing mid-morning or early-afternoon snack.
We all have a favorite snack that we reach for over and over again when hunger strikes between meals. I like to pair protein and healthy fat for longer-lasting satisfaction, and sometimes I just need a sweet treat.I make a lot of dried fruit and nut energy ball-type things because they’re a real favorite of mine. It started out with my Coconut Walnut Date Bites, which have a pretty classic flavor profile (but they’re also delicious if you switch things up a little and add about ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon!). My fudgy Vegan No-Bake Chocolate Brownie Bite Truffles are perfect if you’re craving chocolate, but still want to eat clean. The great things about these treats is that you can whip up a batch and stash it in the fridge for anytime you need a quick bite.
There is something so enticing about the cherry + vanilla flavor pairing, and that’s what shines through in this recipe. I used walnuts as my nut base because they’re delicious with cherries and full of healthy fats; pecans would also be a good choice.
What’s your favorite snack to help you power through mid-meal hunger?
- 1 cup (120 g) dried tart cherries
- ½ cup (slightly packed) pitted Medjool dates (about 6 Medjool dates/120 g)
- 1 cup (120 g) raw, unsalted walnuts
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 pinch ground mahlab (optional, but recommended)
- 1 small pinch sea salt
- 3 tablespoons shredded unsweetened coconut
- If the cherries and/or dates are very dry and hard, soak them before making this recipe. To do so, put the cherries and/or dates in a bowl, cover with boiling water by ½ inch, let them soak for 3 minutes, and then drain well.
- Add all ingredients except the coconut to a food processor, pulse a few times to help break everything up, and then puree until the mixture forms a sticky ball of “dough”.
- Use a 1 tablespoon-sized measuring scoop to scoop out the dough and roll it into balls (I get about 16 to 18 1-tablespoon-sized bites). If you find the dough is too sticky to work with immediately after processing, you can refrigerate it so it’s slightly chilled, but I don’t usually have a problem working with the dough immediately.
- Roll each ball in coconut, and store the bites covered in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Wanda Lopez
I love snacking on anything that has chocolate. I am a chocolate lover all the way. Now, this cherry vanilla energy bites are calling my name. I haven't used mahlab before, where can I find it? I will love to try this recipe, maybe would swap the coconut with something else, like chocolate shavings. YUM! Ok, now I am so making them.
faith
Wanda, I am such a chocolate girl too! I love the cherry-vanilla flavor combo as well though, and I love your idea of coating these bites with chocolate shavings!
Mahlab is a spice that’s commonly used as a flavoring in Middle Eastern cooking; it’s the seed kernel that comes from the center of St Lucie cherry pits. Mahlab has a lovely aroma, and tastes like a cross between almonds and cherries. You can usually find mahlab ground or whole at Middle Eastern grocery stores or at specialty spice shops; if it’s whole, just grind it in a spice grinder or using a mortar and pestle. Let me know if you can't find it because I would be happy to share!