These Gingerbread Energy Bites are the perfect snack to meal prep for the week. It only takes about 10 minutes to make, has minimal ingredients, and doesn’t require any actual cooking. Plus, it’s a healthy way to enjoy the gingerbread flavor during the holiday season!
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I’m not going to lie to you, as I type this – it’s August 30th. Most people are excited because Starbucks just released their pumpkin-spiced latte again and everyone is getting geared up for the beloved fall weather. I love fall (weather, food, & fashion) just as much as the next person, but I tend to bounce straight past the pumpkin-spiced items and head into gingerbread mode when the weather turns cool.
This may be a tease because my gingerbread spice is a seasonal item – so as I write this, it’s not available yet. I promise it is available every year from October through the end of December – so keep your eye out and stock up when you can! I have a lot of customers who use my gingerbread all year long!
In this recipe, I use my salt & sugar-free gingerbread spice from my spice company – The Spice Girl Kitchen. I’m completely biased because it is, after all, my spice recipe and the best salt & sugar-free gingerbread spice on the market.
In this post, I’m going to give you a few tips on how to use my gingerbread spice. Plus, we will dive deep into ingredients and equipment needs. And end with the best Gingerbread Energy Bites recipe!
This post is all about Gingerbread Energy Bites!
So… Can I Only Use Your Gingerbread Spice in Gingerbread Cookies?
The short answer: no! The sky is the limit to what you can make with my gingerbread spice. Here’s a good way to think about it: any time you reach for cinnamon, skip past it and use my gingerbread spice instead! Use it daily in your coffee, smoothies, oatmeal, hot chocolate, “gingerbread toast”, or on sliced apples with nut butter.
You can also make things like banana bread, monkey bread, gingerbread raisin bread, muffins, pancakes, waffles, and really any kind of dessert. And yes, of course, you can make classic gingerbread cookies too! Remember, my gingerbread spice has ZERO SUGAR and NO SUGAR SUBSTITUTES, so a little goes a long way.
Ingredient Deep Dive
Cashews
Cashews come from a cashew tree, which is native to Brazil but is now cultivated in tropical regions worldwide. They are rich in nutrients such as B vitamins, vitamin E, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, selenium, copper, and fiber. They are also high in fat content. The fat of cashews helps create a more decadent, buttery feel to these energy balls (remember fat = flavor!). Even though these little balls are calorie-dense (get it, energy balls, calories = energy), they are still nutrient-packed thanks to all of the real food ingredients.
For this recipe, I recommend using raw, unsalted cashews.
Dates
Dates are a fruit that grows on date palm trees. They are rich in natural sugars, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They start small, green, and hard. As they ripen, they turn a golden or reddish-brown color and become soft and sweet.
Dates are dried after harvest to extend their shelf life and enhance their sweetness. Most of the time, we find dates only in their dried version at grocery stores, but dates can also be enjoyed fresh, straight from the tree.
I recommend buying dates that are already pitted to cut down on prep time. But you can also buy dates with pits and pit them yourself!
Gingerbread Spice
The one and only salt & sugar-free gingerbread spice can be found here at The Spice Girl Kitchen seasonally October-December!
Honey
Honey adds a little extra sweetness to this recipe! I recommend buying honey locally if possible.
Almond Butter
This ingredient acts like the glue in your energy balls. Plus, the flavor of almond butter pairs really well with the gingerbread spice. I recommend a smooth, simple almond butter for this recipe. I like this brand because it contains just a few simple ingredients!
Swerve Brown Sugar
In this recipe, I use just a little brown sugar in the exterior coating. I recommend using the swerve brown sugar if your goal is to keep the sugar in this recipe as low as possible. Swerve is a monkfruit product, which means it has zero calories and zero sugar. It is one of the most natural sugar substitutes and you can use it cup for cup like real brown sugar.
Of course, you always have the option of using real brown sugar instead! Just be mindful that this will add a little more calories and carbs to the final outcome.
Nutrition Breakdown
THE BASICS
Here is the basic nutrition for this recipe as it stands:
- 148 calories per serving
- 5.5 grams of fat per serving
- 20 grams of carbs per serving
- 3 grams of fiber per serving
- 3 grams of protein per serving
Can I Make This Recipe Vegan?
Yes! This recipe becomes vegan just by swapping the honey for molasses or agave nectar!
Equipment Needs
I love a good no-bake recipe. These energy bites don’t require any actual cooking. But, it does require a food processor. In my opinion, a food processor is something that should be part of your standard kitchen setup. You will get more use out of it than you think! Plus, they aren’t very expensive. Here are some options:
4-Cup Food Processor
This Cuisinart 4-cup food processor is only $30 and works like a charm! This is great if you have limited storage in your kitchen.
10-Cup Food Processor
This Hamilton Beach 10-cup Food Processor runs about $55 dollars. The larger food processor is perfect for people who tend to make larger batches of food. My general rule of thumb is: if you have the space, opt for the larger option. You will never regret having too much space in your appliance, but it can be a pain if you have to work in batches because you only have a small food processor.
An immersion blender is on my list of must-haves. I find so many uses for this tool. For this recipe, I actually used the food processor attachment of my immersion blender because I didn’t need my large food processor to get the job done. It’s just a little more convenient for smaller recipes. Ideally, I recommend a large food processor and this 5-in-1 immersion hand blender to cover your bases. (But, if you can only get one – opt for the large food processor for the most versatility. This recipe can definitely be made in a large food processor.)
Storage Information
Store
Fridge: These energy balls can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks in an airtight glass container.
Room Temp: These energy balls can be left out at room temperature for up to a week! Make sure they are sealed in an airtight container.
Gingerbread Energy Bites
Ingredients
Energy Bites
- 1 cup raw, unsalted, cashews
- 2 cups pitted dates
- 1/4 cup almond butter
- 2 tsp The Spice Girl Kitchen Gingerbread Spice
- 4 tbsp honey
Exterior Coating
- 3 tbsp ground flax seeds
- 3 tbsp Swerve brown sugar
- 1 tsp The Spice Girl Kitchen Gingerbread Spice
Instructions
- Combine all "energy bite" ingredients in a food processor. Process until everything is well chopped and combined. The nuts will be coarsely chopped. Test the mixture by making 1 small ball and making sure the mixture sticks together well.
- Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, on a small plate, combine the "exterior coating" ingredients. Using a spoon, mix until combined.
- Remove energy bite mixture from refrigerator, roll into 15 even balls (using a cookie scoop or tablespoon), and roll each ball into the flax seed mixture. After rolling through the flax seed mixture, give each ball one more roll between your hands to knock off the excess. Serve immediately or save them for snacks throughout the week!
Notes
Storage Information
Store
Fridge: These energy balls can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks in an airtight glass container. Room Temp: These energy balls can be left out at room temperature for up to a week! Make sure they are sealed in an airtight container.This post was all about Gingerbread Energy Bites.
Did you make this recipe? Make sure to tag me @thespicegirlkitchen_ on Instagram or @thespicegirlkitchen on TikTok! I love seeing your recreations! I will be your ultimate hype woman!
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