This protein bites recipe is grain free, gluten free, and vegan friendly! Dark chocolate cocoa Reese’s protein bites are a superfood snack that’s delicious, protein packed, and a no bake snack recipe! Real food ingredients that taste REAL GOOD!
Ya, it’s Healthy No Bake Bites Day! It’s kind of my favorite day of the month. I get to share what’s I’ve been “biting” on this month and making with my local orders. This month’s flavor has me SUPER excited because it’s chocolate, it’s grain free, and it’s GOOD for gut health! Come on, you didn’t think I’d just post a recipe without explaining some nutrition magic behind it, did you? Ha!
So let’s talk about the “magic” ingredient and then we shall get to the no bake protein bites recipe. Sound good?
Hang with me, you’ll love where I’m going with this!
Cocoa. It’s the raw form of chocolate. But there’s so much more to it these days, other than it’s just plain tasty.
Actually, new research has found that this SUPER FOOD can actually FEED our gut flora. Remember? I mentioned it in this post.
Okay, cool. But how does cocoa actually help our gut? Well, it’s all about the compounds!
Cocoa powder is rich in two flavanol compounds, catechin and epicatechin, along with a small amount of dietary fiber. Both flavanol compounds are poorly digested and absorbed, however, good gut bacteria begins to gobble them up as soon as they enter the colon. source
You see, what they (researchers) have discovered is that the good bacteria in our bodies (i.e Bifidobacterium) can actually help break down the cocoa solids we cannot on our own digest, which in return will ferment it. You know what that means? It means cocoa is similar to a prebiotic! Prebiotics are fermented fibers that absorbed in the body and have tremendous anti-inflammatory properties!
So to summarize –> Raw chocolate has flavonols and fiber which are hard to break down. So they ferment in the intestines. But then our good bacteria likes it and eats it. Good bacteria gets fed, immunity get’s a major boost and so do our vital organs! WIN WIN!
Are you bored yet? haha. Okay, I will get to the recipe. And just so you know, I made the recipe in several different “allergy friendly” forms. So you can make it vegan, paleo(ish), or even nut free if you use different flour/sunflower seed butter. I will give you suggestions for each ingredient you can sub!
ENJOY this protein bites recipe!
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Grain Free Reese’s Protein Bites
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 25 1x
Description
Grain Free Reese’s Protein Bites
Ingredients
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- â…“ cup peanut flour (coconut, almond, or chickpea flour will work too!)
- â…” cup creamy peanut butter (we use nuts n more chocolate peanut butter)
- 1 cup Vanilla or Chocolate Protein Powder (whey or vegan)
- â…“ cup agave or honey
- ½ tsp Butter Extract
- ½ tsp natural caramel extract (makes taste it more like reeses taste!)
- Optional- for more crunchy texture, add in 3 tablespoon chopped nuts or dark chocolate chips!
- Optional add in -> 2-3 tablespoon dark chocolate syrup if or sauce.
Instructions
- In large bowl, add in all your dry ingredients.
- Then mix in your nut butters, extracts, and last the honey.
- Mix well ( I use my hands) and roll into bite size balls.
- NOTE: Add more protein if batter is too runny. Add more nut butter or honey if it’s too dry. Just depends on the type of nut butters you use and the oil in it.
- Makes about 24-26 balls.
- Feel free to roll into larger bites, or smaller to make more. Freeze or keep in refrigerator to maintain freshness
- If you want to reduce sugar, take out ¼ cup honey and replace with sugar free chocolate syrup, like NuNaturals.
- If you are wanting paleo friendly, just use almond or sunflower seed butter along with coconut flour!
Notes
For natural extracts, check out olive nation, which are also on amazon.
- Prep Time: 10 min
As you can see, there is another secret ingredient to these delicious bites. Um.. ya, look below.
That’s some creamy protein packed low sugar goodness of a nut butter, or NUTS n MORE! They boost their nut butters with a little protein and keep it low sugar while their add it. They are the small biz that got their big break on Shark Tank, remember that? So cool!
What’s your favorite thing to eat with dark chocolate?
[Tweet ” Healthy Dark Chocolate Reeses #Protein Bites that are #grainfree! YUM! #fitfluential #glutenfree”]
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It is 2021 and I am so excited to try these! I am trying to find creative ways to use my protein powder and I am drooling over the idea of these! I will definitely leave a comment when I try them đŸ™‚
Wonderful! Keep me posted on how they turn out JEssica!
Perfect when the afternoon sweet tooth kicks in!
These look amazing! One question though. What is ” ¼ cup chocolate syrup you gave me”? Can’t wait to give these a try! Thanks!
Oops! Not sure why that typo happened! It’s 2-4 tbsp of a dark chocolate sauce if you have it. Totally not needed though. I’ll correct that. Thanks!
Sauce or syrup
These sound awesome. Do you know where to get a dairy-free butter extract?
Thanks!
I know McCormick brand carries one or this one is good http://www.amazon.com/Butter-Extract-Natural-Flavor-Blend/dp/B004XW1HO4
I LOVE everything bite-sized! these are going to my to-try list đŸ˜‰ and I really like the flavor combo nothing is better than chocolate and peanuts!
it’s a must! PB and chocolate heaven michele! haha
Dark chocolate bars topped with PB!
It takes one to know one, so I don’t feel bad for saying this…
You have an eating disorder (apparent from photos of you) and it’s odd that you still give nutritional advice to your readers. It’s not right.
I wish you all the best. And hope you get help instead of do what I know you will do – either delete this comment, deny it, or tell me I’m stupid.
Hi Monika. I would never ignore a comment if it’s out of concern. I know your heart is in the right place. And I would never tell you are stupid. My purpose is to educate others with good gut health information, myself included. I do have a degree and certification in alternative health. It’s never meant to harm or misinform. I apologize if I’ve done so.
Thank you for replying, but I still think that as someone with an eating disorder, you should be explicit about that with your readers.
I’ve been seeing your protein bites around different blogs and I had to get over here to see what all of the hype was about – these look SO good đŸ™‚ Thanks for sharing the recipe. I’ll definitely be making these bites this weekend.
let me know if you do Diane!
Any way to eat chocolate and peanut butter together is awesome, but lately my favorite has been a simple spoonful of peanut butter with a small square of chocolate on top. Yum!
with ice cream đŸ˜‰
Love peanut butter anytime!!
I love chocolate and peanut butter in ice cream.
YUM. Chocolate and peanut butter can’t be beat!
My favorite combo of chocolate and peanut butter is eating chocolate and peanut butter cheerios for a snack! It’s always a good combo!
I like to make peanutbutter and chocolate bars with the recipe from ‘Beyond Fit Life’. Flax seeds, PB, and protein powder are the main base with choc. on top.
oh those sound good!
So you’re saying that chocolate is a health food and should be consumed daily. Gotcha đŸ˜‰ In all seriousness, though, chocolate is the bee’s knees, and while I’m perfectly content to eat it straight up (raw chocolate bars have been my everything lately), I’m just as happy to enjoy it with almond butter and bananas.
Can’t beat pb and banana!
I haven’t found a way to eat chocolate and PB that I don’t like đŸ™‚ Right now it’s my “ice cream” recipe đŸ™‚ I’m definitely making your bites this weekend. Yum!
You’re amazing Lindsay. xoxo
I have a THEORY that Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are what caused ALL of my food allergies – LOL! Because……. I used to eat them breakfast lunch dinner snacks… Along with a side of sugar cookies! LOL!
OMG me too!!! Damn REESES
Whoa, these look amazing! One question…how many could I shove in my mouth without being judged?!
I don’t judge any! Haha
I subscribed to the newsletter!
the colleen!
I love eating chocolate and peanut butter together.
Yum!! I wonder if I can use almond butter?
My son is allergic to peanut butter – but this looks so delicious!! xx
totally! or sunflower seed butter.and it works with coconut flour or almond meal
OMG – yum!!!! PB right out of the jar OR on chocolate! đŸ™‚
I think I did the ebook right but I may not have! đŸ™‚
hmm, i didn’t get anything yet, but i will send it to you if not! no big deal. just let me know.
Have I told you that my favorite candy is Reese’s?! These look SPECTACULAR.
um, me too! we are twins!
Peanut butter cups are the best way to combine pb and chocolate!
YUMMY!!
These sounds absolutely AMAZING!
peanut butter & chocolate in any form as dessert!
Are these the ones you made me long ago?! I must make them. They were so so good!
OMG these are nirvana!!! your best yet, I think hehe. can you come and make me soooomeeeee đŸ™‚ I LOVE this flavor combo. My fave thing to eat with chocolate and peanut butter is COFFEE! and close second, wine đŸ˜‰ (with chocolate, not PB really lol)
oh coffee goodness, yes! p.s. did you get the reply via email?
Sooooo these look absolutely unfreakinREAL. My favorite flavors right here annnd I can’t wait to make them for food prep sunday this week! Also? I never even KNEW that butter extract existed!! haha, you are a genius in the kitchen my friend, yum yum!
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Oh Lindsay, you know how to make me very happy. These might be my favorite bites so far! Thanks for linking up with us, they sound amazing!
Chocolate and peanut butter – I love to make smoothies with this combo but honestly you can’t go wrong with cookies!!
My favorite way to eat chocolate and pb is TOGETHER!!!
OK I need to make these and then hide them so my family doesn’t eat them all!
I am already subscribed to your newsletter!
In a peanut butter cup!
PB & chocolate are my favorite!
banana or pretzels dipped in pb with chocolate chips! or those pb filled chocolate covered pretzel nuggets to make life easier
i just bought some peanut butter stuffed chocolate chips so I can’t wait to bake them into some brownies or cookies! I would love to try this pb on a banana too!
Ah so good! Favorite way with chocolate and pb……oatmeal!!!!!!!
My favorite only because I have done it since I was a kid is a big spoon of peanut butter rolled in chocolate chips! đŸ˜‰
Let me first start off by saying that I think chocolate and peanut butter is the best flavor combination known to man and that there isn’t a way that I don’t enjoy them together. If I had to choose one way it would be chocolate brownies with a layer of peanut butter cookie dough. Buckeye Cheesecake is a real close second!
Peanut butter and chocolate oatmeal…yumm! Or peanut butter flour and cocoa sprinkled over an apple with a yogurt drizzle.
These bites sound like they could be my favorite yet!
Love choc & PB any and every way!!
I love using peanut flour in things! It’s one of my new faves, and I love to combine it with cacao powder in banana softserve! Chocolate and peanut butter banana dream team:)
If I don’t win this giveaway, you better send me ANY leftovers you may have…although I’m guessing there are probably none, because why would you…HAHA! XOXO
Spoon >> Dip in PB >> Dip in chocolate chips đŸ™‚
…..Guess who can ENTERRRRRRRRRRRRR. And my favourite flavour too.
American Idol = you!
Together…on a spoon! đŸ™‚
Yum! Chocolate + PB is one of my very fave combos đŸ™‚
I just love all of the nutritional information in your posts so I’m glad you don’t let a post squeeze by without!
My all time favorite way to eat chocolate + pb has to be a reese’s cup but there’s never a bad way to eat it!
Oh wow, these look amazing Lindsay!! I love my chocolate and PB either in a smoothie, or in homemade protein bar form. Any idea if the gut benefits of raw chocolate apply to cacao as well?
yep, same benefits in cocao due to the flavnols and fiber! YAY!
As if I needed another reason to love chocolate! Haha. Good info!! Who knew?!
So – confession time – sometimes I take a piece of dark chocolate and use it as a spoon for my almond butter or peanut butter! So nah-sty – but oooh so good! đŸ™‚
Now that I know cocoa is gut friendly, clearly I need to start cocoa-loading! These bites sound so dang delish they make me wanna bite my screen!
I love chocolate and PB in smoothies and in peanut butter cups, duh!
I subscribe already!
Chocolate and PB, the best combo ever!!!
LOVE the ingredients in these bites!!!!!
If I make these, I will not tell my kids b/c they will steal them all!
Those look amazing. I need these in my life. Thank you!
These sound amazing! Yum!!
My takeaway from this is I should just eat all the raw chocolate and say it is so I don’t get sick. I can get on board with this! =) Oh and the recipe looks amazeballs too!
These look amazing! I like just about any combination of chocolate and peanut butter:)
Could these look any better? And good for the gut = sign me up of course!
Lesson learned: eat cocoa every day. I can do that đŸ™‚ These bites are ON POINT.
OMG YUMMM!! These look perfect to curb any sweet tooth and who needs REECES when you have these!! Thank you for sharing xo C
I subscribed to the newsletter
Chocolate PB Banana Loaf is one of my fav treats/snacks.
Cocoa is good for everything–gut, soul… GIVE IT TO ME
My favorite way to eat chocolate and peanut butter is in Overnight Oatmeal. By the way, I subscribed to your blog newsletter.
Looks delicious as always my friend!
I love to eat bananas with pb and chocolate chips… so good!!
Peanut butter nutella sandwiches. <3
genius!
While these are totally off limits for me, they look amazing!!
but i made an nut free option for you! xxoo See, i care about my nut free friends. haha. Just use protein powder, coconut flour, butter extract (to make take more like PB), sunflower seed butter, and cocoa! xxoo
And see how I need my coffee in the morning so I can actually READ things properly?? thank you for caring about your nut-free friends!! xoxox