Raw Cashew Cacao Goji Protein Snacks

My first National Nutrition Month 2016 creation is um…. YUM! After spending a zillion dollars on Whole Foods delicious raw cacao goji energy bites I thought I should probably just make my own! While they didn’t come out quite as dense as the ones in Whole Foods bulk section, I kind of liked the texture of these better! As you can see, they can be made into bars or balls easily, whichever your heart desires. I am a huge coconut fan so I rolled the balls in coconut for some extra flavor, texture, and to elevate the eye candy effect.

What I think I love most about these is the zero added sugar! Nope, not even a drop of maple syrup or honey and you definitely won’t miss it.  Since it is National Nutrition Month, it is a perfect time to curb those sugar cravings.

You can definitely enjoy this antioxidant packed snack any time of day but, I found it especially delicious and energizing before my workout earlier today. The benefit here though is the added pea protein. While it doesn’t make the bar/ball a high source of the nutrient, it is better than none and can help keep you a little more satiated than a typical fruit & nut bar.

Raw Cashew Cacao Goji Protein Snacks {V DF GF}

Ingredients:

1 C dates and raw cashews
1/4 C raw cacao
1/4 C soaked goji berries
1/2 C pea protein
2 tbsp chia seeds
1/2 tbsp vanilla
Dash salt

Directions:

Add dried goji berries to a 1/4 C measuring cup and cover with water.
While they are soaking, measure out other ingredients and add to a food processor or high quality blender.
After about 5 minutes add the goji berries, including the water in the measuring cup.
Pulse until all ingredients are well blended and a ball forms in the machine.
For bars:
Dump the mixture onto wax paper.
Fold the wax paper over the mixture and then roll with a rolling pin so that it doesn’t stick. (See picture below)
Roll to desired thickness. I prefer 1/2-3/4 inch high. 
Cut into bars of equal size. Place in a storage container and keep refrigerated.
For balls:
Roll equal pieces of the mixture in your hands. If desired, roll on unsweetened shredded coconut.
Notes: I individually wrap the bars in the wax paper so I can easily grab them as snacks to-go throughout the week. For this batch, I cut the excess from the sides to form a perfect rectangle for the bars, and what was removed, I rolled into balls instead of re-rolling etc.


Want to try another homemade energy bar recipe? See my other posts:
Peanut Cacao Energy Bars (tree nut free)
Cashew Cookie Hemp Energy Bars
Date and Nut Bar