Chocolate Coconut Energy Bites are vegan snack-sized energy balls made with shredded coconut, raw cacao powder and agave syrup. This easy recipe requires only five ingredients, which make these bites perfect as post work-out snack or a healthier treat.
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Easy Chocolate Coconut Energy Bites
These easy energy chocolate coconut snacks are perfect back to school grab-and-go snack with excellent nutrition, fiber and calories without any guilt of eating something sweet every day! They are raw, vegan and gluten free.
No baking is required to make this perfectly healthy chocolate snack. All you need is a food processor, where you will mix all the ingredients, then form them into balls so that you can enjoy these chocolatey energy bites immediately! Super easy.
Why you'll love this energy snack recipe
Chocolate Coconut Energy Bites is a fairly calorie/protein rich snack that you can easily take with you when you're working on your feet all day. It's also shelf stable for quite a while without getting messy or crumbling to bits. And as a bonus it doesn't have much sweetener except for agave. I personally love to snack on these right after I work out or when I am traveling.
Ingredients to make chocolate coconut energy balls
Shredded coconut - Use shredded or desiccated coconut that is organic and unsulphured. Fresh coconut that is unprocessed is essential to the success of these energy bites. You can buy it at your local grocery store or get it cheaper and bigger on Amazon here.
Agave nectar/syrup - I buy organic one such as this and also use it to sweeten my tea and desserts.
Cacao powder - Raw, less processed than cocoa! Make sure to buy cacao powder to get all the benefits of this amazing nutritious food. You will find the 100% cacao powder sold everywhere now -it's more versatile and chef friendly than cocoa. Cacao is what makes these chocolate energy balls raw!
Vanilla & Salt - You will also need vanilla extract and Himalayan salt (or sea salt or kosher salt) to make these energy balls.
How to make chocolate coconut energy bites
I love organic shredded coconut for these energy balls because it has a finer, smaller texture which is more appealing. Yes you can use whole, old-fashioned oats but I find that the balls tend to not hold together as well when you use the old fashioned oats. So for best results, stick with the quick oats.
- In a medium bowl (or a food processor), combine all ingredients.
- Chill for 20-30 minutes in the refrigerator. Use a spoon or your hands and scoop into rounded tablespoons then rolls into balls.
My tips for this recipe
- If there are coconut allergies in your house then feel free to substitute the coconut with dried fruits or a combination of dried fruits and oats could work too.
- The refrigeration of these chocolate energy balls is not necessary or important! It does help the dough to not be sticky so you can easily shape it into balls, but only about 20 minutes or so of refrigeration time.
- This recipe makes 12 energy balls. They store well in the fridge or at room temperature for several days. I put mine in a quart-sized Ziploc bag or use a Tupperware type container. It's an easy grab & go snack for both kids and adults.
FAQ
Can I use cocoa instead of cacao? Raw cacao is not the same as cocoa - it's less processed than cocoa and a lot more nutritions.
What's the difference between cocoa and cacao? Cocoa is roasted. Cacao is raw.
Are these chocolate energy balls vegan? Yes, fully and entirely vegan!
Is this a gluten free recipe? Yes, no wheat and no gluten.
Substitutions & Variations
Use honey instead of agave syrup - it's perfectly sticky, but not as sweet!
Use sea salt instead Himalayan salt.
Storage instructions
Perfectly safe to store at room temperature for up to 2 weeks due to the saturated fat in coconut serving as a preservative (it doesn't oxidize).
Store in a container in the fridge for up to 2 months and enjoy! Makes 12-16 energy bombs (unless you eat the dough like me!)
More delicious gluten free recipes:
Quinoa Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies
Almond Flour Cookies with Cranberries and Maple Syrup
Buckwheat Flour Double Chocolate Cookies
Quinoa and Chia Bread
Raw Chocolate Coconut Energy Balls
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Ingredients
- 3 cups shredded coconut (organic, unsulphured)
- 6 tablespoon cocoa powder
- ⅓ cup agave syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon himalayan salt (sea salt or kosher salt)
Instructions
- Place coconut, cocoa powder, agave syrup, vanilla extract, salt into a food processor fitted with the blade attachment.
- Blend on high for 1-2 minutes, or until a dough that holds when pressed forms.
- Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
- Use a tablespoon to form balls, and then roll them in the extra coconut.
- Store at room temperature in the air tight container or the refrigerator.
Diane Hall says
Can one substitute Honey for the Agave?
Olya says
Yes! Honey is super sticky and will hold those bites well. I would use the same amount.
Monica says
Hi can you freeze these?
Olya says
Yes, absolutely!
Elle says
These look yummy. But is the servings amount correct - only 8 servings for 3 cups cups of coconut?? That sounds like huge servings. Can you please send me an email to confirm? It doesn't appear you have set up a notification for replies. Thanks.
Olga says
I just reviewed my pictures and I got 12, not 8. Thank you for noticing that, Elle! I just updated the info. These bites that I made are packed and feel heavy and dense. I also made them on a bigger side:).
Ruth says
Made these and they are delicious!! I got way more than 8 out of it too
Olga says
So glad you tried them! I love these.
Gail says
Looks so yummy! Thanks for sharing.