Bean-Powered Energy Bites

Bean energy bites are one of the most delicious, quick, protein-packed treats. These are perfect to have on hand in the fridge for easy breakfasts, or on-the-go!

You can find date-and-nut energy bars and bites just about everywhere these days—grocery stores, gyms, yoga studios, you name it. I’d been buying them for years before eventually starting to make my own at home. Somewhere along the way, I had a thought: what if I made a protein version with beans?

I was already eating these energy bites constantly, so transforming them into something even more satisfying and protein and fiber-packed felt like a no-brainer. I’m not a huge fan of protein powders, so adding beans just made sense.

And the result…was bean magic.

Bean energy bites quickly became one of my all-time favorite snacks. I now make a batch weekly to enjoy throughout the week as an on-the-go breakfast, afternoon snack, or dessert. You would never know there’s beans in here!

I love getting creative and experimenting with different combinations of beans, nuts, seeds, nut butters, and superfoods.

From matcha pistachio, to cacao almond, to vanilla poppyseed—every variation is a hit, and they’re great to have on hand throughout the week.

Why You’ll Love (Bean)ergy Bites

1. The perfect meal-prep snack — they’re quick and easy to make and will save for the week in the fridge.

2. They’re a great, healthy option for a protein-rich pre-workout snack.

3. Great to share at parties or potlucks (Everyone is always shocked to find out the secret ingredient!)

You really can’t go wrong here with the type of nut, seed, and bean that you use. I typically use almonds and cashews, but you could also use walnuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, etc. My favorite bean for these is Aduki Beans—these red beans from Japan that commonly used in desserts. They have a mild sweetness and blend easily. Black beans are another great option. The only beans I would avoid using are chickpeas and kidney beans because of their firmness and strong flavor.

The recipe makes about 12 balls, and I would recommend rolling them in shredded coconut or cacao powder!

Protein-Packed Bean Energy Bites

Prep Time: 10 minutes / Yields: Approx. 12 balls

Ingredients:

• 1 15-oz can of aduki or black beans, drained and rinsed

• 1/2 cup almonds

• 1/2 cup cashews

• 1 tbsp chia seeds

• 2 tsp cinnamon

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 10 dates

• 1 tbsp maple syrup (optional for added sweetness)

• 1 tbsp cacao powder (optional for chocolate variation)

• 1/4 cup shredded coconut (for rolling)

Instructions:

1. Add almonds, cashews, and chia seeds to a food processor and process until finely chopped.

2. Add beans, cinnamon, vanilla, and optional maple syrup and cacao powder.

3. As the mixture is processing, add dates one at a time.

4. Process until the mixture holds together into a sticky dough.

5. Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop the mixture, then use your hands to roll it into balls. Roll each ball in shredded coconut.

6. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week!

Notes:

• Depending on the ingredients you have on hand, you can customize as you’d like! Almonds and cashews can be substituted for any nut or seed you have on hand. Just make sure that the ratio adds up to one cup.

NUTRITION INFORMATION (per ball):
Calories: 160 kcal, Carbohydrates: 20 g, Protein: 5 g, Fat: 7 g, Fiber: 5 g Sugars: 11 g