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These Christmas Energy Bites are made with wholesome, simple ingredients but packed with flavors, considering you just need a few spices. They are so tasty like treats but actually healthy and good for your body too!
Christmas is just around the corner when I typed this post. Even though a lot of things happened to me recently, like getting Covid and getting seriously burned by boiling water, and feeling scared and insecure, it didn’t stop me from what I always love: making foo and blogging.
I know it might sound a bit cheesy, but it’s true. It also makes me realize how much I love it and how I will go on despite all the misfortune. But, who knows, sometimes it’s a blessing in disguise, and I would like to think it like that.
So, back to our Christmas Energy Bites! As the name suggests, they are packed with Christmas flavor, which I think you know but just to make it more clear for both of us, it’s a flavor that’s full of warm spices nutty notes.
They are super easy to put together and no baking is required. So if you’re looking for last-minute Christmas treats, this recipe is one of them.
Ingredients You Need
Basically, we need 8 ingredients:
- Dates
- Rolled oats
- Hazelnuts, toasted
- Candied lemon peel, or use fresh if you like
- Orange peel
- Ground cinnamon
- Mixed spice, or pumpkin spice/apple pie spice
- Desiccated coconuts
Optional Ingredients
And here are some optional ingredients you can add if you like:
- Raisins, optional
- Ground ginger
- Ground nutmeg
If you have those extra spices and dried fruits at hand and you like them, feel free to add them. Just make sure that most spices are quite strong, so a little bit goes a long way.
How to Make Christmas Energy Bites
As I’ve said, it’s really easy to make these Christmas bites. But there is one condition — you’ll need to have a food processor. You don’t need a fancy one, just1 one that can work normally.
First, chop the dates in the food processor into small pieces. You might want to soak your dates for 10-15 minutes if they are too dry.
And then add the rest ingredients, EXCEPT FOR the desiccated coconuts. Continue to use the food processor to bring all the ingredients together. You might need to stop and scrape down the sides.
Finally, carefully take out the blade from the food processor and stir in the desiccated coconuts.
Use a spoon to scoop out a tablespoon of the mixture, press, and roll it into a ball between your palm. Repeat to finish all the mixture. You should have 8~10 balls.
You can have them as they are, or, put all the balls into a container and pop it into the fridge for 20 minutes. I personally like to refrigerate them before eating because they will get firmer and deeper in flavor.
How to Store Christmas Energy Bites
Store these energy bites in a container and they will be fine in the fridge for 5~7 days. If you want to store them for longer (or for Christmas to come), pop them into the freezer. They will be good for 2~3 weeks, ready for the 12 days of Christmas Countdown. 🙂
Questions You Might Have
Are there other subsitutions for hazelnuts?
I pick hazelnuts because they really have a festive, unique, nutty flavor. But you can use other types of nuts to replace them if you don’t mind the change in flavor. My other recommendations are pecans and walnuts if I must.
I don’t have mixed spice, what can I use instead?
Mixed spice is a mixture of different spices, usually including cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. It’s very common in the UK. But if you cannot find it, you can use pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice. They are made of similar spices.
Can I use fresh lemon peel instead of candied lemon peel?
Yes, you can. Fresh lemon peel will make these Christmas bites taste fresher and more refreshing. So, it’s really up to your liking and what you have.
These Christmas energy bites are naturally sweet, fruity, and nutty with the incredible toasted hazelnut flavor. Plus the spices and citrus peels, these energy bites are seriously so good that I think this one batch may be too small.
So if you want to make more at once, simply double or even triple all the ingredients. You probably will need a bigger food processor as well if you triple it.
That’s it! I hope you will love these festive bites as much as I do. If you make them, welcome to tag me on Instagram or Facebook (@barrelleaf). And if you have questions or other thoughts, you can let me know by commenting down below.
Merry Christmas!
More Christmas/festive recipes:
- Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Cream Pie (Gluten-free)
- Vegan Mince Pies (Gluten-free)
- Vegan Orange Speculoos (Dutch Spiced Cookies)
Christmas Energy Bites
Ingredients
- 40 g pitted dates, *
- 40 g rolled oats, use gluten-free ones if intolerant
- 40 g toasted hazelnuts
- 1 tsp candied lemon peel
- 1 tsp orange peel
- 1 Tbsp raisins, optional
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp mixed spice, or pumpkin spice/apple pie spice**
- 2 tsp drinking water, depending on the texture
- 1 Tbsp desiccated coconuts
Instructions
- In a food processor, add the pitted dates. Chop them into small pieces.
- Then add rolled oats, hazelnuts, lemon peel, orange peel, raisins, ground cinnamon, mixed spice. Process again to bring all the ingredients together. Stop and scrape down the sides if needed.
- Check the mixture, which should stick together when pressed between your fingers. If it’s too dry, add 2-3 teaspoons of water to1 help binding.
- Then carefully take out the blade of the food processor. Add the desiccated coconuts and mix evenly.
- Scoop out a tablespoon of the mixture. Press it against the spoon and then shape it into a ball with your hands. Place it on a plate or bowl and then repeat to finish all the mixture. You should have 8-10 balls in the end.
- You can enjoy them directly, or pop them in a container and refrigerate for 20 minutes. They will become firmer and chilled, which is how I like them
Notes
- *Dates: If your dates are dry, soak them in water for 15-20 minutes and use them without the soaking water, which you can add to your oatmeal, overnight oats, or simply drink it!
- **Mixed Spice: Mixed spice is a mixture of different spices, normally including ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. It’s very common in the UK. If you don’t have it, you can just use pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice, or just add a pinch of each nutmeg and clove.
