Healthy Birthday Cake Energy Bites
Healthy Birthday Cake Energy Bites are a sweet snack that will provide you with a burst of energy, without the sugar crash! Made with whole food ingredients for a great snack to hold you over any day of the year!
Vegan, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Soy Free
A bite of birthday cake wrapped into a tiny ball that’s actually healthy for you?! I’d say that’s a great way to ring in a new year around the sun!
I had a great birthday, even if I did spend some time studying for finals in between the fun. I took one of my favorite dance classes at 305 (despite my rants about working out at home, sometimes it’s still fun to get out!), I had a great New York brunch and then my parents took me out for dinner…and in between everything I got some studying done for finals so I didn’t freak out! Helloooo type A personality…some things just don’t go away with age!
I needed to celebrate the big 2-7 on the blog because this year I managed to let my blogiversary slide by (it was in August FYI!) without proper balloons, confetti and rainbow sprinkles (especially rainbow sprinkles!). Since December babies have the joy of celebrating during finals week (maybe the last time for moi!), I wanted to whip up a quick treat!
But I have a feeling I’ll be making these year-round!
Energy bites are a great on the go snack to prep at the beginning of the week because they’re portable, easy to make, and full of nourishing ingredients. Plus, the flavor combinations are endless.
The only thing you need is a food processor or high-powered blender. Add all the ingredients, process (probably pausing to scrape down the sides so all is well-combined) and enjoy!
It really doesn’t get easier than that!
Simple Swaps…
These nut-free energy bites are absolutely DELICIOUS – they taste just like a little ball of heaven that’s special enough for a birthday, but nutritious enough for everyday snacking.
You can play around with the ingredients if you’re not nut-free and use almond butter or almonds, but I haven’t tried (for obvious reasons).
Dried fruit – Instead of dates, you can use prunes. The batter may be slightly stickier, however, FYI!
Seeds – You can use sunflower seeds, if you’d like. Alternatively, if you’re not allergic to nuts you can use almonds instead of the pumpkin seeds.
Instead of the ground flaxseeds, you can swap in chia seeds.
Sunflower seed butter – Again, if you’re not allergic to nuts, you can swap in any nut butter.
These healthy birthday cake energy bites are…
- Vegan
- Gluten Free (with certified gluten free oats)
- Have no added sugar (less the sprinkles…leave them out if you’re the party pooper!)
- Contain over 3 grams protein each and 2.5 grams fiber!
- Are made with REAL food and REAL ingredients!
- A perfectly portable snack!
Let’s jump right in because I have studying time to make up with all of my celebrations…
PrintHealthy Birthday Cake Energy Bites
Healthy Birthday Cake Energy Bites are a sweet snack that will provide you with a burst of energy, without the sugar crash! Made with whole food ingredients for a great snack to hold you over any day of the year!
- Yield: 12 bites 1x
Ingredients
3/4 cup soft medjool or araya dates*
1/2 cup rolled oats (certified gluten free, if needed)
1/4 cup raw pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds)
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
2 tablespoons nut/seed butter of choice (I used sunflower seed butter)
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Optional: 1 1/2 tablespoons rainbow sprinkles
Instructions
-
- In a food processor or high powered blender, pulse together dates, oats and pepitas, ground flaxseed, nut/seed butter, and vanilla extra until uniform consistency forms and mixture easily sticks together. You may need to pause to scrap down the sides of the processor/blender several times to achieve the desired result.
- Transfer mixture to a bowl and mix in rainbow sprinkles, if desired.
- Roll “dough” into 1-inch balls and place on wax paper. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes. Enjoy!
Notes
*If dates are not soft, soak in water for about 10 minutes prior to making.
Note: If you wanted to add some protein powder that should work, just cut back on the amount of oats by 1 tablespoon, however, I have not tried it.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ball
- Calories: 120
- Fiber: 2.5
- Protein: 3.3
And just like that you have birthday cake in the shape of a ball!
Don’t forget to PIN these Healthy Birthday Cake Energy Bites…
[Tweet “A bite of birthday cake wrapped into a ball that’s actually healthy for you? #winning!”]
Wishing all of my fellow December babies a very happy birthday!
XO
Don’t these look so yummy and festive! I’d love to have a joint bday party with (mine is the 15th) and make a big ol’ tray of these!
This is the perfect recipes to make for kid’s birthdays!
I hope you and your kiddos love them as much as I do!! 🙂
These sound AMAZING… and should probably be eaten for everyone’s birthday, not just your own 😉
100%….or any and every occasion!
I’m a sucker for anything birthday cake-flavored and these look delicious! I’m going to give them a try with some protein powder added in 🙂
Me too!! Let me know how they come out with some protein powder (I usually stay away from it, but I’m totally open and would love to hear!). XO
Happy Birthday! What brand of vegan white chocolate do you use/where do you buy it? I have had an incredibly hard time finding this stuff!! Thanks!
Thank you! The white chocolate actually wasn’t vegan (which is why it’s marked as optional), but Fork and Beans made a great guide (here: http://www.forkandbeans.com/2015/05/26/dairy-free-white-chocolate-guide/). Good luck on your quest!
Could some hemp seeds be added as well? I suppose that it would probably change the flavor through. Was thinking of an easy way to increase the protein content.
Sure! I haven’t worked with hemp seeds much, however, so I’m not sure how the taste would change. Let me know if you try it and how you like it!
Happy belated Birthday! These cake energy bites look amazing. I have a December birthday too (next week), but luckily I’ve never had finals week at the same time. Good luck!!
Thank you Melanie 🙂 December birthdays are the best! Happy early birthday to you!
I need to add sprinkles to my next batch of energy bites! I missed my blogiversary this year too… so I guess I’ll have to blow up 27, too 🙂
Yes! Sprinkles make everything prettier!! And happy belated blogiversary…27 is definitely the year to celebrate!
Happy happy birthday! :D! That’s awesome that you managed to squeeze in some time to study (I’m the same way, so I get it! 😛 ) in between! :]
Those energy bites look absolutely delicious! I love the sprinkles and the white chocolate drizzle! 😛 Makes em’ look extra festive!
Thanks Farrah…I knew someone out there could get my (and now our) crazy ways!
Happy birthday!! My birthday is this Wed and i def don’t miss the days of spending my bday studying! Good luck with finals and then go out and have a ball!
Thank you! And happy early birthday to you!! Despite it being finals, December birthdays are always so exciting with it being holiday season too! 🙂
You deserve like 50 of these!! YUM and HAPPY birthday!!!!!! (Belated) 😉 xoxoxo
Aww thanks doll! xx