“Cookie Dough” Protein Bites

Over a year ago I bought the cookbook Superfood Snacks by Julie Morris. I somehow stumbled upon this gem of a cook book (Amazon suggestions, I believe) and this book has changed my life. In the year plus since I bought this cookbook, I’ve become obsessed with trying to sneak superfoods into my meals. Julie’s recipe for Cookie Dough Protein Bites was one of the first recipes I wanted to try when I first flipped through the pages of the book. I even bought Medjool dates specifically for the recipe. And then the dates sat in my cupboard for a year or so. I guess life got in the way or something.

But the recipe has been haunting me ever since. Every time I flip through the cookbook (which seems nearly daily these days) I glance at the recipe and stare longingly at it and want the cookie dough bites on the page opposite the recipe in my mouth. Immediately. Alas, I threw out the damn Medjool dates that I had in my cupboard for about a year some time ago in a cleaning frenzy. Today I stopped at Trader Joe’s to get some chicken for my dogs and passed Medjool dates at the end of the produce aisle. It was Kismet.

The first thing I did when I got home (other than feed and walk my dogs) was to whiz the ingredients together in my food processor. Then I pinched the dough together between my fingers to taste the creation and literally fell in love.

I am so pissed I waited this long to try this recipe. It’s the BEST RECIPE EVER. I’m serious. It tastes like cookie dough. But there’s nothing cookie dough about it in terms of ingredients (except for the vanilla extract maybe). I have no idea how these ingredients turn into the taste of cookie dough but they do. I would recommend to anyone to try these bites. Immediately if not sooner.

Below is my spin on Julie’s recipe.

ingredients.

1 c. dried mulberries
5 Medjool dates, pitted
⅓ c. cashew butter
1 scoop chocolate protein powder (raw)
1 tsp. vanilla extract (I never really measure how much vanilla extract I put in anything)
hefty pinch of salt
1 oz dried goji berries
¼ c. hemp seeds
¼ c. semi-sweet mini chocolate chips (use non-dairy to make vegan)
¼ c. cacao nibs

directions.

In a food processor, grind the mulberries until you have a coarse mixture. Add the dates, nut butter, protein powder, vanilla extract, and sea salt, and process until combined.
Add the goji berries, hemp seeds, chocolate chips and cacao nibs. Briefly pulse to break down the ingredients; allow some large pieces to remain.
You may need to add a touch of water to get the crumbs to bind when pinched together. I had to. If the dough is too wet, mix in a bit of protein powder.
Julie recommends packing the dough into a cookie dough scoop. I always have difficulties getting regular cookie dough out of my scoop and this time was no different. I did use the cookie dough scoop to portion out the dough however. Then I rolled the dough into balls. I got 12 balls.
Julie says you can store these bites at room temperature in an airtight container for several weeks (or in the freezer for several months!).

If my estimations are correct, each ball is approximately 180 calories, 5 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber. These bites are also high in vitamin C.

I cannot stress enough how EASY this recipe is. It’s just whirring and whizzing ingredients in your food processor. Seriously, people. It’s SO easy. Though it tastes like something that is so BAD for you, this is a snack you can feel good about eating.