Vanilla Chai Protein Bites

I am honestly not sure what I love most about these Vanilla Chai protein bites. Is it:

A) The soft, chewy texture?
B) The short amount of time it takes to make them?
C) The vanilla chai spices that are just so freakin’ yummy?

Whelp, luckily I call the shots around here, so why don’t we just settle with D. ALL OF THE ABOVE.

This is just the first of many recipes for protein bites that you’ll be seeing here, but honestly this particular recipe remains one of my favorites (not only for the flavor, but also for the sentimental value behind it, as it was the first one I posted when I first created my Instagram account @missfingerfoodie). The amount of spice is just right, if I do say so myself, and it’ll leave you craving a vanilla chai latte immediately after. This protein bite recipe has also been Brian (aka my not-so-little brother) approved, which you’ll come to learn means that they’ve been approved by a picky 24 year old.

VANILLA CHAI PROTEIN BITES

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• Author: Blaire
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: N/A
• Total Time: 25 minutes (includes time to soak the dates and chill the dough)
• Yield: 12-14 bites
• Category: Protein bites
• Method: Non-Bake

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Description

With just the right amount of sweetness, not too spicy (can we all agree that sometimes chai flavored treats and drinks can be too spicy…) and a solid amount of protein per bite, they’re the perfect to-go snack post workout, in between classes, or during that infamous 3pm crash at the office.

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Ingredients

• 8 Trader Joe’s Fancy Medjool dates, pit removed
• 3 tablespoons Trader Joe’s  Raw Chunky Almond butter
• 1/4 cup Bob’s Red Mill Hemp Seed Hearts
• 1/3 cup Trader Joe’s Blanched almond flour
• 4 scoops Great Lakes collagen peptides
• 1/2 inch slice fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon cardamom
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• A splash of vanilla (tempted to say “Good Vanilla” as a S/O to my girl Ina Garten), or the seeds from one vanilla bean

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Instructions

MAKE THE DOUGH

Pulse the dates and almond butter in your food processor until a paste forms. Then, add in the hemp seeds, almond flour, collagen (if using), and all spices and continue to pulse it until a dough forms.

CHILL

Place the dough in the freezer for 15 minutes. This makes it easier to scoop out the protein bites.

FORM INTO BALLS

I use a 1.5 inch cookie dough scooper to form the balls, but honestly getting in there and forming them with your fingers (no shame here people) will work just fine.

Notes

1. EQUIPMENT NEEDED – Food processor
2. If you have time, I recommend soaking the pitted dates for 5 minutes in hot water prior to pulsing in your food processor. This ensures for a smoother “paste” when you mix all of the ingredients together.
3. If you do not have collagen on hand, add in 1/4 cup extra almond flour. If you find the dough is too dry, add a little bit of water before chilling. Alternatively, if the dough is too wet, add more almond flour. This will all depend on how well your paste forms (i.e. whether or not you decided to soak the dates).
4. I use a 3.5 cup (i.e. the mini one) Kitchen Aid food processor to make these, hence the smaller batches. Feel free to double (or triple, you’ll want to…trust me) the recipe if you have a bigger one!

Hope you enjoy! XX

B