Cocoa Cashew Pretzel Gluten Free Energy Bites! A sweet and salty combo that takes snacking to a whole new level! Dark Cocoa, Cashews, honey, peanut butter, and gluten free pretzel chips all packed into one healthy no bake energy bite! Great for kids, post workout refueling, or just as an afternoon snack!
Remember in Wednesday’s post how I told you you there would a BONUS energy bite and giveaway soon? Well… Here’s the thing. It’s the day before a holiday. It’s my birthday month, I’m all about sharing the love for both, oh and it’s FRIDAY! Which brings to this BEAST of giveaway and recipe. Okay I may be bias, but please keep reading and embrace my enthusiasm with me, ok?
These bites are an oldie but goodie. I could not let them slip by again without sharing. And who doesn’t like a sweet/salty combo?
Let’s dissect this bite, get to the gluten free energy bites recipe, and then to the giveaway. Mmm k?
First you got your cocoa powder. The bitter yet sweet dark chocolate cocoa powder that makes everything taste decadent!
Then you got your roasted cashews. Which tastes like butter when you grind them all together or puree into a sauce. Like whoa!
Next you got your pretzel chips, I used Glutino brand. Because being gluten free doesn’t mean you have to feel deprived from your favorite snack carb. Yes, these are my favorite! I like the chips version because they are light and crunchy!
Finally you have your nut butter. Now, you have few choices. You can go more plain jane and add in a salted nut butter of choice. Or you can go more sweet and smooth and add in coconut peanut butter, which is what I did and will be giving away this nut butter below. Ahem… keep reading.
Have I got your attention? I told you it was one heck of a combo. The reason why I had to make my BONUS bite for the week and one of the BEST OF healthy energy bites recipes. I crave these suckers. Consider them my travel companion as well. And when I add in extra protein powder, they make a great post workout companion.
So.. the recipe, it’s below. Make them. Savor them. Share them. Then repeat that whole process!
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Cocoa Cashew Pretzel Energy Bites
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 10 min
- Yield: 20 1x
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Cocoa Cashew Pretzel Energy Bites (Gluten Free)
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup crushed GF pretzels
- 1/4 cup coconut or almond flour
- 1/4 cup roasted cashews (crushed)
- 1/2 cup nut butter (I used coconut peanut butter)
- 6–8 tbsp Chocolate or Vanilla Protein Powder (you can also use peanut flour)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup raw honey or maple syrup.
- Optional- 1/2 tsp butter extract to bring out the salty or 1/2 tsp vanilla to make it more sweet flavor.
Instructions
- Blend pretzels and cashews in food processor. Transfer into a large bowl and add in all the remaining ingredients with the honey/maple syrup being the last . Mix well ( I use my hands) and roll into bite size balls. Coat bites with extra cocoa powder and a little bit of leftover crushed pretzel. I usually coat them after they have set in freezer for at least 5-10 minutes. Then return to freezer after.
- Makes about 20 balls.
- Freeze or keep in refrigerator to maintain freshness.
Here’s the bonus for the bonus bite. Consider it my Birthday present but instead of me getting the gift, I give it to you. Cause I just love you so!
These are my BEST OF GLUTEN FREE FOODS of choice. It’s what makes living and eating gluten free easy and delicious! You’ve probably seen me use these products in recipes or post on instagram, but let me gush about them again here.
- Glutino Pretzels –> like i mentioned above, that salty crisp snack is sooo good!
- Earth balance Coconut Peanut Butter—> I have 2 words, OMG GOOD! Sweet and salty at it’s finest!
- Udis Gluten Free –> Tortillas (which are so soft and heavenly), Snicker doodle Cookies (so you can make more cookie crumb bites), and Active Granola (which is filled with OMEGA goodness!)
- Evol Street Tacos –> These came into my life just a month ago. They are heavenly. They are flavorful. They are gluten free. They are TO DIE FOR!
3 winners here. Two for the Best of Gluten Free Foods package and one for a box of healthy bites. Haha, that’s even, right? But 3 is better than two, so let’s just focus on that and enjoy! US only but the Healthy Bites giveaway is open to US and Canada.
Thanks friends and Happy 4th! May it be filled with lots of fun and gluten free eating!
Favorite sweet/salty snack?
Cheers!
Hi, I’m Lindsay! Gluten Free Nutrition Specialist, food photographer and author of 
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right now the sweet and salty combo I am into kalamata olives and beets in my salad…cant get enough!!
And all of the gluten free products look amazing but I think Id have to say the cherry walnut granola is at the top of my list of things to try!!
My favorite sweet/salty combination is dark chocolate with salted caramel.
★★★★★
I almost feel bad for entering this, as I am not wholly GF, but then I don’t feel bad at all because I want it! I love chocolate and pretzels. And cashews. YUM. Trail mix or kettle corn are my favorite sweet/salty combos, but I always finish sweets with a little bit of salt to bring out the flavor! Have a great weekend, my friend 😀
The gluten free product that I am dying to try is the Earth Balance coconut and peanut spread.
These are making me drool! Glutino pretzles have been the best I’ve had but I’ve never seen the chips. Pretzles were always my favorite salty snack and chocolate covered pretzels are definitely the best sweet salty snack.
Yum these sound like a great snack!
You had me at sweet and salty, best combo!
One of my fav sweet salty snacks is kettle corn, so addictive 🙂
Dark chocolate and almost anything with a little salt. It’s great to be able find good GF foods. Pretzel chips. I’m adding them to my grocery list.
With the flavor combination, your new bite recipe will probably be in the top 5 of the favorite energy bites!
Signed up for your newsletter. I honestly thought I already had.
I love the Glutino pretzels and and I love Udi products as well. I haven’t tried the Udi tortillas but I bet they are great!
My favorite sweet and salty combination is Nutella and pretzels. I am dying to try the Earth Balance coconut & peanut spread!
My favorite sweet/salty combo is dark chocolate with sea salt 🙂 sooo good!
I love dark chocolate and sea salt.
I love raw almond butter and dark chocolate!
I am totally in love with the free healthy bites ebook!! I am dying to try the active granola!
chocolate and sea salt, duh
Favorite sweet/salty combo is pretzels dipped in canned frosting. Any frosting will do but funfetti is best. Yum
dying to try all the stuff , we eat ALL the foods, we eat LOTS of food
chocolate covered pretzels are definitely my favorite sweet salty snack!
id love to try the coconut spread. Ps you have so many bite recipes, it’s amazing!
I love peanut butter pretzels for sweet and salty 😉
I know this is kind of lame, but my fave combo is and will always be just GORP – good ol raisins and peanuts! I love it. I don’t even love either on their own, but together, I can’t get enough. Raisins aren’t the same without a dusting of salt, so if hte GORP is unsalted…..forget it.
Obviously I want to try the Udi’s cookies, but those EVOL tacos are calling to me!
I would love to try the EVOL products!
I love chocolate covered pretzels !! My favorite GF foods are quinoa pasta?
Happy Birthday Lindsay! I love the whole salty sweet combo so this would be right up my alley and all of your balls are perfectly round… how did you do that?!! Pinned, summed, sent smoke signals! Have a super weekend!
★★★★★
Since it is summer time and all the good movies come out, it has to be popcorn and a coke. It’s the only time I will drink a coke. Just love the combo.
Oh dear – I knew coming here before I ate breakfast was a bad idea! These look insanely good, Lindsay and these might be my favorite sweet/salty combo!!! Just reading through your ingredient list is making me salivate insanely! Gah – why are you not my neighbor?!?!?!?
Oh – before I go rustle up something to eat – I gotta say – this is one heck of a giveaway – thank you!!!
I love pretzels with sweet but I’d have to say that salted caramel is my favorite sweet/salty combo.
Yum! These must be made asap!
It’s not a “snack” but for dinner last night, I made baked sweet potatoes and then cooked up a topping with onion, bell pepper, spinach, apple, raisins, and bacon. The sweet of the fruit with the saltiness of the bacon was wonderful.
Does salted peanut butter and chocolate count? lol
Love chocolate and sea salt!!
I already subscribe!
Dying to try Udi’s snickerdoodles 🙂
Chocolate and pretzels might be one of my favorite sweet/salty combos. Wait, throw in some nut butter, too!!
And I’ve subscribed to your newsletter via [email protected] 🙂
The dark cocoa in this sounds delish!!
What a fun giveaway! The GF tortillas and and pretzel chips – YUM.
Happy Birthday month, friend!!
this sounds delicious! I love the sweet and salty combination!
These balls have EVERYTHING I could want in them. My favorite salty/sweet combo is usually chocolate chips and almonds or fruit and peanut butter. Love the GF snack giveaway! I don’t completely eliminate gluten, but I minimize it and opt for gluten-free snacks.
All of these healthy bites that you make look absolutely spectacular! I love how you used pretzels. Chocolate and pretzels are my favorite! Totally entering this giveaway 🙂
Sweet and salty would be apple and nut butter
and it’s so weird that I still haven’t tried Udi’s tortillas! Ah!
Ok. This must happen STAT. Come over and I’ll make a wine popcorn and we’ll pair it with salty balls.
I subscribed to your newsletter!
Favorite sweet/salty combo? Bacon and Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies…. SOOOOO GOOD!
Also, thanks for doing this amazing giveaway! Wow!
I can’t wait to try these. I love chocolate covered pretzels.
subscribed to your newsletter! 🙂
I am dying to try gluten free pretzels!
Favorite sweet and salty snack right now is dates with salted cashew butter. OMG I die every time!! These cocoa pretzel bites might just change my mind though! I would love to try the gluten free Udi’s tortillas!
i subscribe to your newsletter <3
favorite sweet/salty combination is chocolate covered pretzels. such a weakness!
which leads me to the product i am dying to try… the gluten free pretzels!
I love chocolate and pretzels
I would love to try the cookies!
All I can say is YUM to all these products. Thanks for the opportunity to win them!!
peanut butter and gluten free pretzels. Best combo!
My favorite sweet and salty combo is basically anything with nut butter or chocolate 😉
★★★★★
Those snickerdoodle cookies sound delish!
i love pretzels and chocolate!! Absolute favorite sweet and salty combo
I love a sweet and savory sandwich!!
Sweet and salty such a delicious combo I love it!
I would love to try the coconut pb spread! Favorite combo… apple plus almond butter with a pitch of sea salt
These look SO good. I love energy balls and have to make these – I love that they are gluten free too!
These sound so good! I LOVE anything with a salty-sweet combo, especially if it involves chocolate. 🙂 Yummed!
My favorite sweet/salty combo is pretzels with chocolate.
★★★★★
I really would like to try Glutino pretzels and Udi’s Granola Clusters.
Favorite salty and sweet combo-chocolate covered pretzels
I would like to try the UDIS products. I’ve heard great things about them.
I love anything salty & sweet but I will take your ballin bite over them!
I don’t have to be GF but fun to taste a bagel! 🙂
Um, heck yes! I am all about pretzels! I love chocolate covered pretzels, so these bites are right up my alley. I’ve been loving cocoa flavored almonds lately as a salty/sweet treat, too. Thanks for creating and sharing this great recipe, Lindsay!
My favorite sweet & salty combo is toast with grape jelly topped with a fried egg!
I’d love to try some gluten free tortillas for enchiladas!
I love peanut butter, pretzels, and chocolate!
I’d love to try a gluten free english muffin or bagel.
The coconut peanut butter. I used it to make cookies I need a new jAr!
The coconut peanut butter. I used it to make cookies I need a new jAr! I need to try the cookies
A salty and sweet combo in my weakness! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
i love cashews and chocolate or pretzels and chocolate! I want to try the evol meals!
Chocolate covered pretzels!
The tacos!
I love dark chocolate salted caramels
I am dying to try the Evol. Street Tacos Korean Style Beef & Kimchi
Salt-covered popcorn with chocolate chips is my go-to snack.
I would like to try the pb spread. I love all different kinds of pb in my greek yogurt in the morning.
hmmm probably trail mix!
i loooove the sweet and salty combo! kettle corn, salty pb w/jelly, brownies with a sprinkle of sea salt are some of my faves!
also i really want to try those udi’s tortillas! i love to make wraps for lunch
Honey wheat pretzels with almond butter or coconut peanut butter!
Those tortillas are THE BEST I’ve found yet — Definitely a staple in my household!
My favorite sweet and salty combo has to be trail mix! I love slightly salty nuts with some dried fruit! So yummy 🙂
I think all the street tacos look amazing!
My favorite sweet&salty combo is trail mix w/the M&Ms mixed in.
I want to try the Earth Balance Peanut Butters.
These look delicious!!! I hope to win to try them out myself!! 🙂
★★★★
Also, my favorite sweet and salty combo is salted caramel ice cream with chocolate sprinkles! I can’t wait to try the coconut and peanut spread YUM
My favorite sweet/salty is gf pretzels dipped in chocolate.
I have never tried the Street tacos or Udis snickerdoodles, those sound good.
chocolate dipped pretzels
would like to try the tortillas
I LOVE peanut butter pretzels, so this is a great combo for me!
I’ve been dying to try the new gluten free condiments – ketchup, etc. on the market. Out of this selection, I’d love to try the coconut & peanut spread. Yum!
I love apples and peanut butter!
I have wanted to try the gluten free granola for awhile now! I’m a sucker for good granola!
Bananas and almond butter.
I want to try the Snicker Doodle cookies.
YUM! this may be your best flava combo yet! love you!
Love you more! I think I need a watermelon bite for you next
pretzel pieces in healthy bites?! THAT would be my favorite sweet/salty snack 😉 I’m a trail mix gal, so any sweet/salty mix I can get my hands on is usually gone pretty quickly.
I have all the ingredients including the GF pretzels! I feel like balls are on tap teehee. I would love to try out the tortillas b/c most tend to just fall to bits and pieces.
Salty chips and chocolate ice cream is one of them.
chocolate covered pretzels!
Udis Gluten Free Snicker doodle Cookies and Granola!!
Sounds like a great combination- and a healthy snack!
Sweet-salty is my favorite flavor combo ever! I love salting my sweets — I made salted chocolate-covered frozen banana slices the other day and they were amazing. Thanks for the great giveaway!
I would like to try Udi’s cookies and Glutino pretzels!
I like cheese & crakers followed by cookies.
Salted caramel is hard to beat.
I like putting peanut butter between pretzels and dipping in chocolate, yum!
I heard you on endurance planet this week and visited your site. I just made these bites and they are to die for! Thank you so much! I am going to be making all of your note recipes. How do they behave in a pocket on a hot bike ride?
Great! They should last, make sure to freeze them first and maybe not put any extra chocolate coating on them. Keep me posted!
The recipes you share are very detailed and easy to understand. I will learn to make this dish. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!!