These reindeer energy bites are as healthy as they are festive and delicious. Date-filled chocolate oat energy bites are decorated with pretzel antlers, pomegranate seed noses, and mini chocolate chip eyes to create a Christmas treat you can feel good about.
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Every Christmas, I serve a variety of healthy, holiday-themed recipes like these reindeer celery sticks and Grinch fruit kabobs. This year, I’ve added reindeer energy bites to the mix. They look just like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer with their bright red pomegranate nose.
They’re a healthy, delicious, no-bake treat that is super festive – perfect for kids and adults alike. Make your holiday season a little brighter with these adorable snacks.
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Why You’ll Love These Reindeer Energy Bites
- Fun and Festive: These tasty bites are decorated to look like Rudolph for a pretty presentation.
- Simple Ingredients: You’ll find everything in your kitchen or the grocery store.
- Easy: It takes minimal effort to make these bites.
- Healthy: These gluten—and dairy-free bites are loaded with healthy protein, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Ingredients
Energy Bites
- Blanched Almond Flour: Blanched almond flour adds a subtle nuttiness and is safe to eat raw.
- Rolled Oats: Rolled oats give the bites body and add texture.
- Cocoa Powder: Cocoa powder makes these bites so chocolaty.
- Pitted Dates: Pitted dates add natural sweetness and holiday flavor.
Decorations
- Pomegranate Seeds: These make the red nose and add a more sweet, tart flavor.
- Gluten-Free Pretzels: Half a pretzel is used for each antler.
- Mini Chocolate Chips: I used dark chocolate chips for the eyes. They stay put more easily than candy eyes, but you could use those too if you prefer.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
Substitutions and Variations
- You can also use almond slices, or mini white chocolate chips for the eyes.
- If you want sweeter bites, try adding a bit of maple syrup or agave to the mixture.
- Consider dipping the bites in melted dark chocolate for a more decadent twist.
- If you are not gluten-free you can use regular pretzels.
- Add a tablespoon of nut butter for more protein.
How to Make Reindeer Energy Bites
- Place the dates in warm water and let them sit until softened. Then, drain them.
- Add all the energy bite ingredients to a food processor and pulse until combined.
- Scoop out the dough with a tablespoon cookie scoop and roll into balls.
- Add a pomegranate seed to the center of each ball to create the nose, a pretzel half on each side of the ball for the antlers, and mini chocolate chips for the eyes. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
FAQ
No, it doesn’t. Almond flour is ground almonds, and they, of course, don’t have to be cooked.
Dried dates can be quite dense. Softening them makes blending them into the energy bite mixture easier for the food processor.
The pitted dates and vanilla combine to give these bites plenty of natural sweetness and “treat” flavor.
Add maple syrup or agave to taste if you want a sweeter mix. You may need to add more almond flour since you are adding more moisture the dough.
Expert Tips
- Soak the dates thoroughly. This helps them blend into the energy bite mixture and incorporate their flavor evenly.
- Be sure to let the energy bites chill for at least an hour before adding the decorations so they hold their shape.
- If your energy bite mixture is too dry initially, add 1 tablespoon of warm water, blend again, and check. Repeat until the mixture is damp enough to hold together.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these reindeer energy bites along with other delicious, healthy Christmas snacks, such as a vegan charcuterie board, Christmas fruit wreath, or veggie tray Christmas tree.
Storage
Refrigerator: Store these bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freezer: Freeze the bites only, without decorations in an airtight freezer-safe container for 2-3 months.
More Healthy Christmas Treats!
Recipe
Reindeer Energy Bites
Equipment
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Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted dates
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup almond flour blanched
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Decorating
- pomegranate seeds
- pretzels broken in half
- mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Add the dates to a bowl of warm water. Allow to sit for 5 minutes until softened, then drain.
- Add the almond flour, rolled oats, cocoa powder, cinnamon, salt, softened and drained dates, and vanilla extract to a food processor. Pulse until the ingredients are combined. If the mixture is too dry, add a tablespoon of warm water one at a time until the ingredients are incorporated.
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl.
- Use a tablespoon to scoop the dough, and use your hands to roll the mixture into a ball.
- Add a pomegranate seed to the center of the ball for the nose and one pretzel broken in half for the antlers.
- Add mini chocolate chips for the eyes. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Video
Notes
- Soak the dates thoroughly. This helps them blend into the energy bite mixture and incorporate their flavor evenly.
- Be sure to let the energy bites chill for at least an hour before adding the decorations so they hold their shape.
- If your energy bite mixture is too dry initially, add 1 tablespoon of warm water, blend again, and check. Repeat until the mixture is damp enough to hold together.
- Store for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
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