Recipe: No-Bake Vegan Cowboy Power Bites

According to Menlo Park food blogger and chef Andrea Potischman, the homemade power bite craze started in 2017, the same year she launched Simmer + Sauce. It was a direct response to the overpriced, sugar-loaded commercial protein bars often passed off as healthy. These two-bite, coconut-laced balls are healthy, however. In addition to her granola bar-like Apricot Almond Breakfast Bars, Potischman likes to whip these up for a quick breakfast or last-minute hike. If you don’t keep a dairy-free diet, you can use regular chocolate chips.

No-Bake Cowboy Power Bites

Makes 15 power bites

INGREDIENTS

¾ cup rolled oats

½ cup shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)

1/3 cup dairy-free Enjoy Life chocolate chips (or regular chocolate chips)

1/3 cup roasted pecans, finely chopped

1 tablespoon dark muscovado sugar, like India Tree

½ cup almond flour

1/3 cup, plus 1 tablespoon creamy almond butter

2 tablespoons local honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons chia seeds

Dash of cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, coconut, chocolate chips, pecans, muscovado sugar and almond flour, and mix well to blend.

Add the almond butter, honey, vanilla, chia seeds and cinnamon and mix to incorporate. Place in the refrigerator and allow to chill for 15 minutes.

Remove the mixture from the refrigerator and using your hands, press firmly and form into 1-inch balls. (Note: if the mixture is too dry, add a bit more almond butter.)

Store the power bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The power bites stay fresh for about 1 week.

— Courtesy of Andrea Potischman