These sweet little power bites come from my mom’s kitchen. She made a ton of these as Christmas gifts one year and sent them out in seasonal tins to family all across the nation. I was pregnant at the time and couldn’t get enough of them. Since then, I like to have these on hand as a quick after school snack or emergency chocolate fix. Because they only have four ingredients, and because they require no cooking, and because they’re delicious, I’m sure you and your family will fall in love with them too.

Besides being super easy and tasty, these energy bites are also packed with nutrients. Salted cashews offer a plant based protein punch; cherries and dates are loaded with fiber and vitamins; and dark chocolate is high in antioxidants. Additionally, there’s even some research that shows dates can be beneficial for reducing labor time for expecting mothers (1). Whether you’re pregnant or not, the ingredients in this recipe are all healthful and friendly for most diets: vegan, gluten free, dairy free, or otherwise.

Equipment:

• Food Processor

• Cookie sheet

Ingredients:

• 2 cups roasted, salted cashews

• 20 medjool dates, pitted and roughly chopped

• 1/2 cup dried tart cherries

• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Method:

1. Grind the cashews in the food processor until they reach a flour consistency.

2. Add the chopped dates to the food processor and process until a dough ball forms.

3. Add the cherries and pulse several times to chop and evenly distribute them.

4. Add the chocolate chips and pulse a few more times until they are distributed.

5. Line the cookie sheet with parchment paper. Use an ice cream scoop or large spoon to scoop out the dough. Roll the dough into large rounded balls and place them on the cookie sheet. Chill the energy bites in the freezer for 20 minutes. Remove them from the cookie sheet, and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

1. Healthline Parenthood