These chocolate chickpea “cookie dough” energy bites are a go-to snack for me. Chickpeas are part of the legume family. As a registered dietitian who focuses on foods that provide optimal health benefits, adding legumes, like chickpeas, offers gut-friendly fuel. Chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) contain significant amounts of fiber, protein, and iron. This is a simple recipe that requires minimal time to prepare. Enjoy these energy bites when you’re looking for a quick and healthy snack.
Chocolate Chickpea “Cookie Dough” Energy Bites Recipe
Yields: about 16 bites
Ingredients
1 (14 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 c rolled oats
1/4 c smooth peanut butter
3-4 Tbsp maple syrup or honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 c dark chocolate, chopped into small pieces (can substitute chocolate chips or wafers)
Instructions
- Place paper towels onto flat surface or small baking pan. Add rinsed and drained chickpeas on top of paper towels and pat dry. Tip: this helps to prevent the bites from being too wet and sticky
- Using food processor (I enjoy using my KitchenAid mini food processor) add rolled oats and pulse using chop mode until it is a fine (slightly course) powder. Place into large mixing bowl and set aside.
- Add dried chickpeas to food processor and pulse using chop setting until chickpeas are smooth and creamy (2-3 minutes). Tip: using a spatula, scrap-down the sides throughout the pulsing to ensure even texture. Add chickpeas with oats in bowl.
- Add remaining ingredients (except chocolate) to bowl (i.e. peanut butter, vanilla, cinnamon, salt). Using clean hands massage the ingredients together until well-combined (1-2 minutes).
- Add chocolate pieces to mixture and massage another 30 seconds to combine
- Using small baking sheet (option to line with parchment, as needed), roll 1 inch diameter balls with the mixture and place onto baking sheet.
- Place the pan with bites into the fridge. Allow at least 30 minutes for the “dough” to firm
- Enjoy! Bites can be stored in fridge in airtight container up to one week (or freeze up to three months)
Chocolate Chickpea "Cookie Dough" Energy Bites
Ingredients
- 1 (14 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 c rolled oats
- 1/4 c smooth peanut butter
- 3-4 Tbsp maple syrup or honey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/3 c dark chocolate, chopped into small pieces (can substitute chocolate chips or wafers)
Instructions
- Place paper towels onto flat surface or small baking pan. Add rinsed and drained chickpeas on top of paper towels and pat dry. Tip: this helps to prevent the bites from being too wet and sticky
- Using food processor add rolled oats and pulse using chop mode until it is a fine (slightly course) powder. Place into large mixing bowl and set aside.
- Add dried chickpeas to food processor and pulse using chop setting until chickpeas are smooth and creamy (2-3 minutes). Tip: using a spatula, scrap-down the sides throughout the pulsing to ensure even texture. Add chickpeas with oats in bowl.
- Add remaining ingredients (except chocolate) to bowl (i.e. peanut butter, vanilla, cinnamon, salt). Using clean hands massage the ingredients together until well-combined (1-2 minutes).
- Add chocolate pieces to mixture and massage another 30 seconds to combine
- Using small baking sheet (option to line with parchment, as needed), roll 1 inch diameter balls with the mixture and place onto baking sheet.
- Place the pan with bites into the fridge. Allow at least 30 minutes for the "dough" to firm
- Enjoy! Bites can be stored in fridge in airtight container up to one week (or freeze up to three months)
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no cost to you. See my full disclosure here.