Haystack Energy Bites

Two posts in a row that involve peanut butter… yep, I’m on a PB kick. But then again, when am I not?
My cousin is getting married in less than two weeks. We just celebrated her bachelorette party in Vegas at the end of May and let me tell you, nothing will encourage you to get in shape faster than being at a Vegas pool party. So in an effort to look a little more fit and toned for her wedding, I’ve been working on a healthier diet and more intense exercise. I’ve got the exercise part down; I love to exercise. Seriously I’m one of those people who enjoys working out and I crossfit because I think it’s fun! However, as a dessert blogger who could live off breads and desserts, I’ve struggled with the eating healthier part. But as the saying goes, I strive for progress not perfection. (I’m not even sure that is a saying or where I got that, but I know I’ve read it somewhere!)
The hardest part of eating healthy is when it comes to around 3 or 4 in the afternoon you really just want some chocolate. Am I the only one who needs a chocolate fix in the afternoon? While perusing Pinterest the other night, a daily occurrence, I saw a recipe for No-Bake, No-Sugar added Energy Bites that had chocolate chips. They were calling my name so I obviously I needed to make them. Could these be the cure for my afternoon fix?!?

The best part about these energy bites is that they are no-bake. Could it get any easier?! And as an added bonus, there is no sugar added! To clarify, when I say no sugar added, I mean that there is no refined sugar (i.e. granulated or brown sugar) added. Now, obviously these aren’t sugar free- peanut butter has a healthy dose of the good stuff- but, honey is a natural sugar and you could even substitute Agave for honey if you have that on hand. Is it weird that I don’t consider the addition of chocolate chips as sugar? Perhaps this is the root as to why I struggle with healthy eating…
What’s great about these is that you can add anything you want to them! The original recipe calls for ground flax seeds but I did not have any in the cupboard so I omitted them. If you have ever had a Haystack, you’ll love these. Which is why I’m calling these Haystack Energy Bites, because they are essentially a healthier Haystack! I made a batch of these and brought them on a rafting trip this past weekend where they were widely approved and all eaten. I plan on making a double batch for when I hike Half Dome this September! Hope you enjoy!

-Kelly

Original recipe from Cooking Classy. 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/3 cup honey, or agave
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 2/3 cup shredded coconut, unsweetened (I use Bob’s Red Mill)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• chocolate chips, as many as desired

Directions:

• Combine peanut butter and honey until well mixed and smooth. Add the remaining ingredients until incorporated.
• Roll into 1″ balls and place on a baking sheet or plate. Keep refrigerated until ready to eat!