These chocolate lemon energy bites pair pure cocoa powder with fresh lemon zest and a handful of other “good-for-you” ingredients you give you the most luscious, no-bake, healthy treat!
I think you would agree, that chocolate and friendship go hand-in-hand, and that’s the reason I created these “pop-in-your-mouth” super healthy and delicious No Bake Chocolate Lemon Energy Bites and Truffles (gluten free, vegan, low FODMAP & paleo options) for you today.
My first thought was chocolate + orange. A match made in heaven, IMO. But then I thought about it a little more, and I remembered the most divine chocolate bar with lemon {yes, lemon!} I had in Lisbon, Portugal from a little gem of a shop called Chocolataria Equador.
Oh, my goodness.It was SO delicious, but to tell you the truth, I spent a good 10 minutes in that chocolate shop while my friend waited ever so patiently, as I waxed and waned over whether or not to get the chocolate lemon bar, or the chocolate orange bar.
You’d have thought each bar was coated in gold. I mean, in retrospect, I should have bought both, But this is me. Someone who must weigh ALL the pros and cons before I can make a decision. What it I hated the taste of chocolate and lemon together? Would Armageddon happen???
Luckily I didn’t find out, because I was hooked from my first bite of that chocolate lemon bar…
And, later, I walked back to the shop and bought some more. Yep.
So here I am now, thousands of miles away from Lisbon, obsessing about chocolate and lemon.
And, add to that, my lemon tree is bursting with fruit, making it the perfect time for a little experimenting, don’t you think?
Hence, these most amazing chocolate lemon energy bites & truffles were conceived.
If you’re wondering what’s up with two different names, I thought I would create two different versions depending upon your tastes and dietary preferences, cause that’s the super nice kind of person that I am. 🙂
How to Make Chocolate Lemon Energy Bites & Truffles
Like most energy bite recipes, this version with lemon and chocolate is super easy to make! For both versions, you’ll need pecans, pure unsweetened cocoa powder, maple syrup, lemons, cinnamon, vanilla, & sea salt.
For the energy bites, you’ll also need gluten free oats. And, for the truffles, you’ll need hemp seeds.
And, for equipment, you’ll need a food processor, (I love my Breville Sous Chef Food Processor), a baking sheet, and parchment paper. That’s it!
Are These Energy Bites Good for Me?
Yes! These Chocolate Lemon Energy Bites are low sugar and low in saturated fat. They are a good source of heart healthy poly and monounsaturated fats, plus give you a boost of antioxidants from the pure unsweetened cocoa powder.
They’re also gluten free, vegan, & Mediterranean diet and MIND diet approved. Plus, you can make them low FODMAP or paleo (see recipe notes), depending on your dietary preference. Personally I love them both!
Can You Freeze Energy Bites?
You betcha’! In fact, while they taste pretty darn good straight out of the fridge, I think they’re even better frozen, and you can make a big batch to keep on hand for when your chocolate lemon energy bite craving hits!
No Bake Chocolate Lemon Energy Bites & Truffles
Ingredients
For Energy Bites AND Truffles
- 1 cup pecans
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
For Energy Bites
- 1/2 cup gluten-free oats
For Truffles
- 1/3 cup pecans, additional
- 3 tablespoons hemp seeds
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients {depending upon which version you are making} in a food processor, and process until mixture is sticky and well combined.
- Shape mixture in to 10 ~ 1-inch balls, and place on a tray or plate lined with parchment paper. You can eat them immediately, or place them in the freezer for at least 10 minutes {you can store them in the freezer as well} before eating.
Notes
- Both versions are gluten-free and vegan.
- The Energy Bites are suitable for a low FODMAP diet.
- The Truffles are grain-free, and suitable for a Paleo diet.
- The nutrition label is for the Energy Bites. For the Truffles, the nutrition information is as follows: Calories 140, Total Fat 12 g, Total Carbohydrates 8 g {3 g fiber, 4 g sugar}, Protein 3 g.
Nutrition
Craving more Energy Bite recipes? I’ve got more delicious ones for you to try!
P.S. Looking through my photos of Portugal has inspired me to start working on my WAY long overdue travel posts from my trip to Spain and Portugal last fall, so stay tuned, and in the meantime, enjoy this gorgeous shot of the colorful buildings and red tile roofs in Lisbon!
Let’s Chat! Have you tried chocolate paired with lemon before? What’s your favorite chocolate pairing? Ever been to Portugal before? Are you a snap decision maker, or would you have spent 10 minutes obsessing over which chocolate bar to buy like I did???
