Chocolate Maca Love Bites (Vegan, Gluten Free)

I know, I know…I had you at love bite. *wink*

“Are you ever NOT eating?”

Do you know how often I hear this phrase each week from my coworkers? Let’s just say if I had a nickel for each time someone said it to me, i’d be very close to purchasing that new camera I want. What can I say, I like to snack. AND since I enjoy snacking, I like to have healthy foods at my fingertips made with wholesome ingredients. I enjoy nuts, homemade granola, dried fruits, etc. but sometimes a girl wants a brownie…and these Maca bites are basically a raw version of a German chocolate cake/brownie. However instead of being filled with bad ingredients they’re refined sugar free, gluten free, vegan, AND going to improve your sex life. Wait, what?

Okay, before you get TOO excited, the reason you’re possibly getting lucky later isn’t because these guys are filled with a love potion, however they do contain maca. Haven’t heard of it? Well it’s a root that originates in Peru and helps  to improve energy, stamina, and libido! Basically, eat your chocolate, get frisky–and you’ll have the energy to stay up all night if you want to. WINNING!

I like to have these as both a pre- or post- workout snack. They’re small, DELICIOUS, fill me up, give me energy, but never leave me feeling heavy and weighed down.

Roll them in coconut OR be adventurous and use anything you like. Hemp seeds, cocoa powder, almonds, pistachios, etc.

Chocolate Maca Love Bites

• 16 pitted medjool dates
• 1/4 cup raw cacao (normal people probably use 1/8 cup but I like that dark chocolate taste)
• 2 TBSP Maca powder 
• 1/3 cup pecans
• 1/3 cup walnuts
• 1/4 cup oats
• 1/3 cup unsweetened coconut + 1/2 cup for rolling
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup water

Place all the ingredients in the food processor and BLEND BLEND BLEND! It should turn into a ball similar to cookie dough. If it’s too dry, add a little more water. Form into balls and roll in coconut.

ENJOY!

 

Chocolate Protein Frozen Yogurt–PROYO (Vegan, gluten free)

Why hello there beautiful people. I cannot believe how much time has passed since my last post. I’ve been wrestling with the idea of what to post for several  weeks now, and finally last week on an insanely hot day it happened…

EUREKA! I’ll make Chocolate Protein Frozen Yogurt (or PROYO as it is often called)!! Have you ever received flowers from a boyfriend as an apology? Well this recipe is my stand in for flowers.

Smooth, creamy, healthy, and delicious. I am quite certain if you try this, you’ll not only forgive my absence, but appreciate that it happened.

Although I made the original batch of proyo with my KitchenAid ice cream maker, it’s possible to make it without one. Swap out 1/2 cup of yogurt with 1 frozen banana and blend well. Put in a tupperware container and place in the freezer. Take out and stir after 45 minutes. Repeat 2-4 more times until desired texture is achieved. Or, if you want to speed up the process, freeze your yogurt in an ice cube tray before blending, and then there is no need to use the banana. You’re welcome!

Chocolate Protein Frozen Yogurt

2 cups non-dairy yogurt (I used vanilla flavoured almond cashew yogurt)

2 Scoops Vega Sports Performance Protein powder (50 g protein)

1/3 cup Soy milk (or almond milk)

5 Tbsp raw cacao powder

3-4 Tbsp agave or maple syrup (I used agave)

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

Put all of the ingredients in a blender. Blend on high speed until smooth. Turn on ice cream maker (according to instructions) add the yogurt mixture and mix until you get creamy soft serve, approximately 15 minutes. Enjoy immediately! I mean, even if I said freeze for later, I doubt you’d be able to wait…I sure couldn’t. I drizzled melted peanut butter over my first bowlful, it was glorious.

Soft serve proyo with warm peanut butter drizzled over the top!! *Swoon*

NOTE: If using an ice cream maker, be sure to prepare it in advance. My KitchenAid ice cream maker needs to be frozen for 24 hours prior to being used.

I truly hope you enjoy this recipe. Have a wonderful night friends. On that note, I leave you with one final proyo photo! Tonight’s Proyo bowl with bananas! I made this batch in the blender and let it sit in the freezer for an hour. I personally like soft serve, so it was perfection.

*Namaste*