Cacao Protein Bites

The other day I wanted something chocolatey but not too sweet. I also wanted something that had a little bit of protein! These cacao protein bites were the perfect combination! Unlike other protein bites that use dates as the base, these use nuts so they aren’t as sweet.

Cacao is the key component here. Cacao is the natural, raw, unprocessed form of the cacao bean. It’s packed with 40x the amount of antioxidants in blueberries, a high source of plant-based iron, bursting with magnesium and more calcium than cow’s milk. Cacao is also a natural anti-depressant! Its a win-win all around with this guy! I can usually find cacao powder a TJ MAXX for very cheap or you can buy it online.

All the ingredients are REAL. No artificial ingredients here. MAKE THESE PLEASE.

Cacao Protein Bites {Makes 30 bite-sized balls}

1 cup salted cashews
1 cup salted almonds
4 TBSP cacao powder (or cocoa, but you won’t get the same nutrients!)
4 TBSP cacao nibs
1 tsp cinnamon
1 scoop collagen peptides (optional)
2 scoops plant based protein powder (I like Vega One!)
2 TBSP pure maple syrup
1 TBSP vanilla extract
3 TBSP unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or canned coconut milk)

Add nuts to a food processor or high quality blender. Pulse until a flour like consistency forms. Add remaining ingredients. Roll into 30 bite-sized balls. Top with 1 almond if you wish. Keep in the fridge for best consistency!

Adapted from: Balance with B