Rich, chocolatey, and nutritious, these chocolate hemp seed energy bites are a great snack or dessert! This tasty snack uses hemp seeds for added protein and omega-3 fatty acids. This is a nut free recipe that kids and adults enjoy.
If you’re dealing with a nut allergy, there might be times when you miss eating nuts. I know sometimes I miss them!
Thankfully, there are good substitutes for nuts and nut spreads. I definitely love my sunbutter! It’s great for making chocolate sunbutter cups or for stirring into banana nice cream.
Although sunflower seeds seem to be the nut substitute that we turn to frequently, there are many great seeds out there. Although I don’t necessarily love snacking on seeds plain, I do like incorporating them into recipes, like these chocolate hemp seed energy bites.
I used both hemp seeds and pumpkin seeds in these chocolate bites, and I love the result. These are delicious and very filling, and perfect for when you’re on the go.
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Ingredient Notes
- Pumpkin seeds – These are a great source of magnesium, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids.
- Hemp hearts – These small seeds are rich in omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, are high in protein, and contain all the essential amino acids.
- Dried Fruit – Dried plums and dried cherries are included in these bites for fiber, vitamin K, and antioxidants.
Allergy Friendly Seeds
If you are looking for seeds that are free of cross contamination, I would suggest SuperSeedz for pumpkin seeds, or Gerb’s for all types of seeds and other products.
Substitutions
- If you prefer to use a different seed, you can! Sunflower seeds or chia seeds would be good additions to this recipe.
- Different dried fruits could also work well here. Try Medjool dates or dried cranberries.
- If you prefer to use another sweetener, you can do that. Honey or agave syrup would work well.
Special Equipment
The best tool for mixing up this dough is a food processor. You need a good food processor to blend the cocoa powder, seeds, dried fruit, and maple syrup together. The dough will be thick and sticky.
Tip
Since this dough is quite sticky, it is helpful to wet your hands when you’re rolling the dough into balls.
Allergy Friendly Snack Recipes
These energy bites are not only full of nutritional benefits, they are also very tasty. These are perfect for a dessert or snack. And I really don’t think you’ll miss the nuts!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Recipe
Chocolate Hemp Seed Energy Bites.
Ingredients
- ½ cup pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
- 1 cup hemp seed hearts
- ½ cup dried plums
- ½ cup dried cherries or dried cranberries
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¾ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup dairy free mini chocolate chips optional
- more hemp hearts and cocoa powder for rolling
Instructions
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Place the hemp seed hearts, pumpkin seeds, dried plums, and dried cherries in the food processor and pulse until finely chopped.
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Add the cocoa powder, maple syrup, and dairy free chocolate chips if using. Pulse until it all comes together – the mixture will be thick.
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Put some cocoa powder and some hemp hearts into two small bowls. Roll the mixture into one inch balls, then roll in either the hemp hearts or the unsweetened cocoa powder.
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Place on a plate and cover with waxed paper. Refrigerate until firm, about two hours, then transfer into an airtight container for storage. These should keep for about a week in the refrigerator.
Recipe Notes
Store these energy bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should stay fresh for about a week.
You can also freeze these if you like. Store in a freezer safe container or bag. They should stay fresh frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition facts are for one energy bite.
Staci Bond
I love all of your recipes but was wondering of the possibility of including nutrition information for each one? This is important info for my family.
Kelly
There are a lot of nutrition calculators online that you could use if necessary! At this time, I don’t have time to do it for every recipe, but it’s something that I will think about for the future! :)
Anjali @ Vegetarian Gastronomy
Love these hemp seed energy bites kelly!
Kelly
Thank you!
ARW
Thanks for the recipe, I miss nuts too and am looking for good snacks that are nut free!
Kristy @ Southern In Law
Yum! This looks like the perfect way to crush a nut craving! I find that flaxseeds have a nuttier taste as well as pumpkin and sunflower seeds so I often use them in nut free recipes
Kelly
Yes, flax seeds are great! Good point! :)
Andrea Wyckoff
Your photos are so beautiful!! And I love the ingredients you used! The perfect superfood recipe!
Kelly
Thank you so much!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven
I am obsessed with these gorgeous little bites! I have an entire jar of hemp seeds I need to use up, so these energy bites are definitely going to have to happen! Love your photos too, Kelly!
Kelly
Thank you so much, Sarah!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
What a great idea to use hemp seeds! Sounds delish!
Kelly
Thank you!