One thing that I have been lacking lately is energy. While a lack of sleep and stress is part of my problem, another issue is eating out for too many meals and snacks. Eating out usually isn’t an issue for me since I prefer cooking my own meals, but our recent schedules haven’t allowed much time for me to be in the kitchen 🙂
So in attempt to combat my urge to grab something quick from a grocery store or restaurant, I made these little bites for an easy and quick snack for the times I am running around at work. I keep them in our walk-in at the yogurt store and they are ready to eat at a moment’s notice when a hunger pang comes along. The combination of healthy fats from the coconut butter, the staying power from the protein powder and the quick energy from the fruits help hold me over until my next meal 🙂
While very delicious in this first attempt, I plan to increase the amount of berries next time for flavor and color. I’d like to try these with different fruits as well and nut butters for a little variety. I also learned to keep all ingredients (except the melted coconut butter) at room temperature for a more uniform consistency…the cold berries I used in this batch hardened the coconut butter more quickly than expected but it doesn’t affect the flavor!
Tropical Berry Energy Bites (inspired by my Chocolate Covered Cherry Bars and Carob Covered Coconut Protein Bars)
Ingredients
2/3 cup coconut butter, melted
1 large banana (I used a nearly-ripe banana but a well-ripened one would increase the sweetness and the banana flavor)*
1/3 cup fresh, chopped strawberries (cherries or mango would be also be yummy)
2 scoops of unsweetened plain or vanilla protein powder (could probably omit if needed)
pinch of sea salt
pinch of pure stevia powder OR 2 Tbsp honey or agave (optional for sweeter fudge)
1/4 tsp coconut extract and/or 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Directions
1. In the bowl of a food processor, add the banana and strawberries and blend until combined. Add remaining ingredients and pulse or blend until well combined.
2. Divide mixture into a mini muffin silicone mold/pan (or you could use a parchment lined loaf pan) and freeze until hardened. Pop out the individual bites and enjoy!
Makes about one dozen mini muffin-size bites
*If bananas aren’t your thing, you can substitute 1/4 cup of nut butter in it’s place – cashew butter or macadamia nut butter would pair well in this tropical theme! Or simply increase the amount of coconut butter to 1 cup.
Recipe Notes: I used cold, refrigerated strawberries which caused the coconut butter to immediately freeze and clump. For a more uniform look, use room temperature berries and banana. Next time I will also increase the amount of strawberries to get more of a berry flavor 🙂
Natural Noshing 
Ok. I am totally intrigued by these… but you eat them cold/frozen/room temp?
This looks so good..and it looks great for kids as well.
Thank you Julie! Little hand-held treats for the kiddos 🙂
Love this!
Hopefully things start to tame down a bit for you guys…but so excited to hear that things are still going so well at the store! xo
These look yummy! Very creative and pretty! 🙂
Thanks Shira! Pretty in pink 🙂
Can’t wait to make these!!!!
Hope you enjoy Chris! 🙂
These look interesting, I’ve never used or tasted coconut butter before but I’m curious to try
Coconut butter is some fabulous stuff (in my opinion at least!). I used to hate coconut but ever since a couple years ago, I’m loving it 🙂 Do you have a large food processor so you could make your own? Or if you live near a health food store, sometimes the Artisana brand has single serving packets for you to try before buying a whole jar. If you make your own though, it’s much more affordable!
I put coconut butter on all sorts of recipes – oatmeal, cookies, cakes, glazes, smoothies, homemade healthy bark/chocolate and in these little energy bites 🙂
Yeah making your own anything is usually so much more affordable, I’ll probably search for a single packet of it first though to try. Maybe Whole Foods?
I’d definitely try Whole Foods, I am sure they will have it! 🙂 We don’t have WF in Montana…I sooooo miss that store…
Where did you live before Montana?
Denver and before that it was Houston 🙂 I keep migrating North hehe
Oooh, I love these. I can’t get enough of coconut butter and the banana and strawberry sound so good 😀
Isn’t coconut butter the best? I need to make more since I use the stuff up so quickly 🙂
Oh my gosh, these are so cute! I know what you mean about lack of energy due to eating out. I rarely do it, but there’s been a lot of events at work, so I’ve been tagging along. Just yesterday we went out and I ordered a salad with grilled portabella mushroom and a bunch of veggies… 1 hour later I felt like DEATH. Dizzy, tired, not right. Must have been in the dressing. Even a salad can make you feel gross? So silly!
Great idea… I am obsessed with coconut butter. Too good!
Me too!!!! The stuff is SO good!
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I hate bananas…any substitute suggestions??
Applesauce and a tad bit of sweetener like honey or agave would work! Adjust the amount to your liking since the bananas would be used to sweeten the mixture. Date paste could work too!