peanut butter - Chicago Jogger

Tag: peanut butter

April 29, 2015

PB&J Energy Bites

PB&J Energy Bites are perfect for a healthy snack before a run, with only four ingredients and no added sugar. This no bake snack recipe has the same flavors as your favorite peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

For runners, it’s crucial to fuel up before and after a workout, especially for long training runs. Healthy snacks that are rich in protein and healthy fats are key, and if they are easy to eat on the go, that’s even better. This recipe for PB&J bites has everything a runner needs for a healthy and nourishing snack before or after a run, and it incorporates flavors that we all know and love — peanut butter and jelly. This particular recipe was inspired by Larabar.

PB&J energy bites are easy to make at home and require no cooking. All you need is a food processor and a few ingredients. For a snack without added sugars, use unsalted dry-roasted peanuts and unsweetened peanut butter.

PB&J Energy Bites

A simple, no bake snack recipe that tastes like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Servings 18 bites

Ingredients

16 dates {pitted}
1 cup dry roasted peanuts
2/3 cup dried cherries
4 tsp unsweetened peanut butter

Instructions

Add dates, cherries and peanuts to a food processor. Depending on the size of your food processor, you may need to process in separate batches.
Process the mixture a few times using the "Pulse" function. Stop the processor and use a spatula to re-combine the ingredients if needed.
Add peanut butter and continue processing for about 20 seconds. Keep processing, using the "pulse" function until the ingredients are evenly combined.
Remove the mixture from the food processor and form into balls. I used a medium-sized cookie scoop to ensure even sizing for each bite.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes before enjoying. Keep refrigerated in a covered container.

You can easily adapt this recipe to include many different flavors. An alternative recipe could include raw almonds, almond butter and dried blueberries, for example.