Peanut Butter, Pretzel, Chocolate Chip Energy Bites

These healthy energy bites are the perfect marriage of sweet and salty flavors and taste like my favorite candy bar!

When the weather is nice, we love going on long weekend drives. I get a giant iced coffee and we set off to explore with no real destination in mind. It seems like the nicer it is outside, the further we drive – it’s easy to lose track of time and before we know it we’re halfway to Canada.

Now that the sun is back out, we’ve started taking drives again. A week or two ago we were deep in the heart of Amish Country with nothing around for miles but farms, when I realized that I was starving! Luckily I remembered that I still had one of these peanut butter, pretzel, and chocolate chip energy bites in my purse from the day before. It was exactly what I needed to hold me over until we got back home and could eat dinner.

These energy bites were inspired by my favorite candy bar – Take 5 – but are a much healthier option. With the exception of a little bit of sugar in the chocolate chips, these energy bites are naturally sweetened with dates. They also have plenty of filling protein and fiber, thanks to peanut butter, oats, and flax meal. Pretzels add crunch and flavor and make these tasty bites extra special.

These are great as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, a healthy dessert, or to hold you over when you realize it’s dinner time and you’re still miles from home.

Peanut Butter, Pretzel, Chocolate Chip Energy Bites

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Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 16

Calories: 78kcal

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Ingredients

• ¼ cup medjool dates pitted
• 1 cup rolled oats
• ½ cup crushed pretzels
• ½ peanut butter or almond butter
• ½ cup flax meal
• ½ cup mini chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 generous pinch kosher salt

Instructions

• Add the dates to a food processor or blender and pulse several times to form a thick paste. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
• Add the remaining ingredients and mix well until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Roll into tablespoon-sized balls. If the mixture is too dry, add another tablespoon of peanut butter; if it's too wet, add another tablespoon of flax meal.
• Refrigerate 30 minutes, or until set.

Notes

These energy bites can be frozen for longer term storage.

Nutrition Facts

Peanut Butter, Pretzel, Chocolate Chip Energy Bites

Amount Per Serving

Calories 78 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g3%

Carbohydrates 14g5%

Protein 3g6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 Welcome to Progressive Eats, our virtual version of a Progressive Dinner Party. This month we’re having a Pretzel Party hosted by Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez, who blogs at All Roads Lead to the Kitchen. Since today is National Pretzel Day, we thought it was the perfect chance to feature all sorts of fabulous homemade pretzel recipes, recipes that feature pretzels (both soft and hard), and pretzels dips/condiments. We have a varied and delicious menu for today that we hope you’ll enjoy!

Pretzel Party!

Pretzels as an Ingredient

• Almond Pretzel Bread Pudding from All Roads Lead to the Kitchen
• Beer & Pretzel Cupcakes from Stetted
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie with Pretzel Crust from Creative Culinary
• Margarita Pie with a Pretzel Crust from The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Peanut Butter, Pretzel, Chocolate Chip Energy Bites from Healthy Delicious
• Pretzel and Mustard-Crusted Fish Fillets from Mother Would Know
• Triple Berry Pretzel Dessert from Miss in the Kitchen

Pretzels from Scratch

• Bread Pretzels with Beer Cheese from Pastry Chef Online
• Gluten Free Pretzel Dogs from The Tomato Tart
• Homemade Philly Style Soft Pretzels from The Food Hunter’s Guide to Cuisine
• Pretzel Bites with Honey Mustard Dip from The Redhead Baker
• Pretzel Rolls from That Skinny Chick Can Bake

If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, a progressive dinner involves going from house to house, enjoying a different course at each location. With Progressive Eats, a theme is chosen each month, members share recipes suitable for a delicious meal or party, and you can hop from blog to blog to check them out.

We have a core group of 12 bloggers, but we will always need substitutes and if there is enough interest would consider additional groups. To see our upcoming themes and how you can participate, please check out the schedule at Creative Culinary or contact Barb for more information.