Fitness / January 7, 2024

Almond Joy Energy Bites

Get a burst of energy from every bite—Almond Joy Energy Bites, that is. They’re packed with almonds, oats, nut butter, and chocolate drops to give you a convenient boost with a taste you drool over.

Almond Joy Energy Bites featured image front view shot

Table of Contents

Toggle

Life can get busy. Like, really busy. To the point you don’t have time to sit down, eat your Cap’n Crunch and read the back of the cereal box (Just me? OK then….) In any case, I feel you. Between getting the kids ready for school and getting yourself ready for work (and whatever your partner requires of your time), there is so little time for a decent breakfast that it is usually the element of your morning routine that gets axed. (I mean, you can step out the door having forgone breakfast but you can’t really go outside without getting dressed, right?)

That’s why the universe has created energy bites. They grew in popularity in the last decade or so and are a godsend for those of us responsible for spouses, kids, pets, bills, coworkers, and everything else under the sun. But it’s not enough that they be convenient, bite-sized balls of energy; they also have to taste good.

That’s why I’ve developed this recipe based on one of my favorite candy bars. It packs in almonds, almond butter, maple syrup, and chocolate drops to make sure you not only get your fuel pumpin’, you get to enjoy it, too. It’s similar to my Chai Energy Balls and Almond Energy Balls With Cranberry, Maple And Vanilla but with an emphasis on the almonds. If you like your Almond Joys and you like your energy, this is the makeshift meal for you.

Are Almond Joy Energy Bites Healthy?

Yes, they are. Aside from being yummy and convenient, Almond Joy Energy Bites contain natural ingredients. The oats contain fiber and carbs, the almonds and almond butter contain protein and fat, the chia seeds contain calcium and fiber, and the chocolate drops contain antioxidants. These energy balls are suitable for vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free (ensure the chocolate is dairy-free), and paleo (provided you adhere to a less stringent definition of this type of diet) diets. To adhere to a low-carb/keto diet, replace the maple syrup with erythritol, stevia, or monk-fruit sweetener; doing so, however, may affect the consistency of the balls.

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups almonds
¼ cup oats
½ cup almond butter
¼ cup chia seeds
½ tsp almond essence
2 tbsp maple syrup
¼ cup dark chocolate drops
½ tsp salt

INSTRUCTIONS

Blend

Pour the almond and oats into the food processor and blend until it forms a coarse crumb.

Add

Add the almond butter, chia seeds, almond essence, maple syrup, chocolate drops, and salt and blend well.

Roll

Break off about a tablespoon full of dough and roll it into a ball, squeezing as you go. Repeat until all the dough has been used.

DEVOUR!

Tips & Tricks to Making Perfect Almond Joy Energy Bites

Let the dough chill for 30 minutes before rolling. This will make the task easier and let the flavors meld.
Use quality ingredients. You may think you won’t notice the odd old and stale ingredients but trust me, you will.
Stir your almond butter before adding it to the mix. If the oil has separated, stir it up.
Experiment with texture. Blend the ingredients to varying degrees and make coarse or fine energy balls.
Use an ice cream scooper to ensure consistent sizing of your energy balls.

FAQs

what is almond essence?

Almond extract and almond essence are essentially the same thing. They’re both made from the oils of bitter almonds. Because of their concentrated flavoring, both used in a lot of baking recipes when regular almonds just don’t cut it (or you want the taste without the texture). Almond extract is more concentrated than essence, so if you’re going to substitute one for the other, bear this in mind when measuring out what you’ll need.

can i make this without a food processor?

Sure, a regular blender will work, though you may need to work it a bit longer to attain the desired consistency. You can also do it by hand by finely chopping the almonds with a knife. Then mix the ingredients as laid out in the recipe. You may want to microwave the almond butter to make it more pliable and easier to mix.

what can i use instead of maple syrup?

Other sweet options include honey, agave nectar, or a sugar-free alternative like stevia or erythritol.

what other ingredients can i add?

Cranberries, chopped pecans and walnuts, protein powder, cocoa powder, shredded coconut, and hemp seeds would fit right in.

Almond Joy Energy Bites side focused view

Serving Suggestions

The beauty of energy balls is that they are a one-stop shop in terms of packing in everything you need to get your day started. BUT if you had time to, say, chase your energy ball with a beverage, might I suggest a Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Shake? And, should you have the opportunity to sit down for five minutes, what about High Protein French Toast With Chocolate And Peanut Butter? Or what about Easy Protein Waffles? And if you need something as equally compact as the energy balls, a Microwaved Hard-Boiled Egg is just the ticket.

Make Ahead and Storage

Your energy balls can be stored at room temperature for 3 days or in an airtight container for 5 days. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. Let them thaw overnight before biting into one though, or you may be in for a very expensive dentist bill.