No-Bake Peanut Butter Choco Bites {gluten free, dairy free, soy free}



A friend of mine {thanks, Heidi!} passed a recipe my way a few weeks ago. It was for a simple no-bake 'bite' of yumminess. Really, how can you go wrong when peanut butter and chocolate chips are involved? Anyway, Heidi's recipe had my wheels turning, and it all fell into place this afternoon when I spied an over-ripe, forgotten banana on the counter.

These little chocolate bites are full of good-for-you things, but they're pretty darned indulgent too. Even better, with the right ingredients {check your peanut butter and chocolate chip labels!}, they've got the potential to be free of refined/unnatural sugars.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 Cups Oats {gluten free, of course! and I used the quick-cooking variety*}
1/2 Cup Peanut Butter {or other nut butter}
1 Very Ripe Banana {mashed very well}
1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips {completely optional; I'd also love to try dried cranberries}
1/4 Cup Honey
2 Tbsp. Cocoa Powder
1 tsp. Vanilla

*if you do not have quick-cooking oats, or prefer the old-fashioned variety, try pulsing them briefly in your food processor or blender to break them down a bit into smaller bits.

Directions:
Combine the ingredients in a mixing bowl, stirring thoroughly to combine.
Using a small scoop {like this; or a spoon and your hands, though the scoop makes life easier}, scoop the mixture into balls and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Place the bites in the fridge, on the baking sheet, and allow to chill for at least an hour. As they sit, the oats will take on a bit of the moisture and you'll be left with a chewy, gooey little treat.

Store, refrigerated, in an airtight container for several days.

3 comments:

  1. These look great! I would use sunbutter to make Peanut free :)
    Thanks! :) Cindy (Vegetarian Mamma)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Christina, this recipe needs revising. You cannot expect a person to wait "at least an hour" for cookies, or bites, whatever you want to call them. At 45 minutes the one I'm eating with my spare hand qualifies as addicting (and messy, but I made them big). I only waited this long to get into them because I was putting the baby to bed. On an equally serious note, this was just what I was looking for. I wanted an oat-y cookie that wouldn't heat up the house baking. I made a double batch (treats go fast at my house) using 1/2 raisins & 1/2 craisins. These were so easy and fast to put together.
    P.S. I think we need to be better friends.

    ReplyDelete
  3. lol! oh, Chanel, you make my day with your comments! ;) ...I'm glad you like these, though, and you're causing me to crave another batch as well! Yes--let's resolve to be 'hang out' buddies!

    ReplyDelete

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