Thursday, June 5, 2014

Stuff We Eat: Energy Bites

In my mind a good lunch is absolutely essential to a good hike.  After spending an exhausting few hours getting to the top of a mountain peak or a pristine glacier lake, there is nothing better than kicking off your hiking boots, having something delicious to snack on, and taking a quick little nap (or going for a swim if you're ambitious!)

These energy bites are a must have in my pack these days.  Let's be honest, everyone loves a good treat at the end of the trail, and these are just right for satisfying my sweet tooth.  Not to mention they sure beat a chocolate bar and a can of pop!
I used the base recipe from here and added in some dried fruit, nuts, and seeds.  Pretty much whatever you've got in your pantry works, so feel free to be creative!
Energy Bites

 - 1 cup rolled oats
 - 2/3 cup coconut flakes (the original recipe says to use toasted but I didn't and it turned out fine)
 - 1/2 cup peanut butter
 - 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
 - 1/2 cup chocolate chips
 - 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
 - 1 Tbsp chia seeds (optional)
 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
 - large handful of dried fruit (optional - some of my favorites are apricots, dates, or craisins)
 -  1/2 cup seeds/nuts (optional - I usually use sunflower seeds, walnuts, or pecans)
You may need to add a little extra honey and peanut butter, depending on how many seeds, ect. you use.  A tablespoon or so should do the trick!  Combine the dry ingredients, add the honey and peanut butter, and form into balls.  That's it!  I usually freeze mine for a few hours so they don't completely melt during the hike.  Enjoy!


1 comment:

  1. Nothing beats a chocolate bar and a can of pop....but these look good too.

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