As the holidays approach, cravings for sweet treats can take hold! Try these nutritious bite-sized goodies incorporating nuts for healthy fat, protein, and fiber.
1. Hot Cocoa Protein Bites
These are like a cup of hot cocoa in a protein-packed portable form! Very easy to make and perfect for holiday snacks and parties.
Ingredients:
¾ cup creamy or crunchy unsalted natural almond butter
6 tablespoons low sugar hot chocolate mix or 2 individual sized packets
½ cup of protein powder, preferably unflavored
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
¼ cup mini chocolate chips
¼ cup mini marshmallows
Directions:
In a medium sized bowl, combine the almond butter, hot chocolate mix, salt, and mix well. Stir in protein powder, chocolate chips, and marshmallows and mix some more. Roll into 14 balls. Store in the fridge. They also freeze well!
Makes 14 bites
Serving size: 1 bite Calories 94 Protein 6 g Carb 7 g Fiber 0.5 g Sugars 5 g Fat 6 g Saturated fat < 1g Sodium 55 mg
2. Chewy Chocolate Cookies
These cookies combine simple ingredients with an almond butter base for an easy guilt -free SUPER delicious treat. You can customize them with your own mix-ins besides chocolate chips.
Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted almond butter
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon honey
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ cup mini chocolate chips (I used mini M&Ms)
Parchment paper or cooking spray
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper (or coat with cooking spray.). In a medium sized bowl, combine the almond butter, honey, egg, baking soda, salt, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips until well mixed. Drop tablespoon sized dough using a spoon or scooper and bake for 8-10 minutes, until the tops are set but still soft.
Makes about 26 cookies
Serving size: 1 cookie Calories 88 Protein 3 g Carb 6 g Fiber 1 g Sugar 6 g Fat 6 g Saturated Fat
3. Peanut Butter and Jelly Thumbprints
These no bake PB and J flavored treats are a healthy dessert that are filling and delicious and ready in no time! Perfect to satisfy a sweet tooth after a meal or as a yummy snack with a glass of milk.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter, (pre-stirred type is best)
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
½ cup of finely shredded unsweetened coconut, plus extra for rolling
1 tablespoon raspberry jam
Wax or parchment paper
Directions:
In a medium sized bowl, combine the peanut butter, honey, vanilla, salt and coconut and mix well. Chill the dough in the fridge for at least an hour. Roll into 12 balls, coat in extra coconut while rolling. Press a small indentation in the middle of each and fill with a small amount of jam. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
4. Makes 12 cookies
Serving size: 1 cookie Calories 92 Protein 3 g Carb 7 g Fiber 2 g Sugars 5 g Fat 6 g Saturated fat < 1g Sodium 78 mg
Date Cream Cheese Walnut Bites
A recipe that incorporates a few common ingredients and is customizable with nutritious toppings to roll them in!
Ingredients:
12-14 pitted dates
¼ cup whipped cream cheese
¾ cup chopped walnuts
(a dash of salt, optional)
toppings to roll in- chopped chocolate/raisins/cranberries/nuts, finely shredded coconut
Directions:
Combine the dates, cream cheese, walnuts and salt in a food processor and blend for 5-10 minutes until mostly smooth., Form into 12 balls and roll in desired toppings.
Makes 12 bites, 12 servings
Serving size: 1 bite (not including toppings) Calories 110 Protein 2 g Carb 17 g Fiber 2 g Sugars 14 g Fat 6 g Saturated fat 1 g Sodium 15 mg
5. Almond Cranberry White Chocolate Oat Bars
Crunchy almonds and creamy white chocolate combine with sprinkles of chewy cranberries to create these bars that are a filling and nutritious treat.
Ingredients:
1 cup old fashioned oats
½ cup creamy or crunchy unsalted natural almond butter
¼ cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons white chocolate chips
2 tablespoons dried cranberries
½ teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons shredded unsweetened coconut (optional)
Wax or parchment paper
Directions:
In a medium sized bowl, combine the maple syrup, vanilla and almond butter and mix well. Stir in the oats, white chocolate chips and cranberries and mix some more. Press mixture into an 8 by 8– inch pan. (Lining the pan with a large rectangular piece of parchment paper, placing the mixture on one side and then folding the paper over to press down works nicely since the dough is so sticky.) Chill in the fridge for an hour or more and cut into squares and serve. Store in the fridge.
Makes 16 squares
Serving size: 1/16th of recipe Calories 95 Protein 3 g Carb 10 g Fiber 1 g Sugars 5 g Fat 6 g Saturated fat 1 g Sodium 24 mg