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???
These look delicious! I do not have a food processor though – would a blender work instead?
Hi Karen! Thanks so much! If you’ve got a high speed blender, you could definitely give it a try. The mixture will be thick, and you’ll probably have to scrape the sides a lot. If you try it, I’d love to hear how it turns out!
Hello! They look delicious…..What can i use instead of Hemp Hearts, which I can not find??
Hi Ioanna~Thanks so much! If you can find “hemp seeds” instead of “hemp hearts” they are the same thing, but if you can’t find hemp seeds, I think ground flaxmeal/seed would work well too. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
Oh my goodness, sounds so delicious! I definitely try this recipe. Very nice photos too!
These look wonderful! I’ve been really into snack bites lately, definitely have to give these a try!
Mmm.. citrus and chocolate are so good. And pecans? Yum! 🙂
I’ve never tried chocolate and lemon together – what a beautiful fun treat!
Citrus and chocolate go so well together!
these look great and can;t wait for your travel posts
I’ve never paired these flavours before but I have enjoyed a ‘full-fat’ version from a classy box of chocolates and loved it. These healthier ones look fabulous. Stumbling, pinning etc. LOVE it. PS Thanks for the sneak preview of your holiday snaps. We love Portugal but despite having spent 2 weeks there for work I never managed to get to Lisbon. Looking forward to more snaps. 🙂
Oh, yay! A Lemon and Chocolate tasting party. Can I join you?!!! Can’t wait to make Danielle’s version too 🙂
Sounded so great that I made the truffles right now! They taste great!
Looking forward to your Portugal trip post!
Thanks so much Andrea and I’m so glad you had all the ingredients on hand to make the truffles 🙂 I’m quite motivated to get all my pics edited, so hopefully I’ll be posting them soon!
Haha I’m exactly the same way! I mean it wouldn’t be the end of the world to purchase both rather than stand in the middle of the store agonizing over which one reigns supreme. All I can say is..Poor Tim…Well, at least he’s learning to have patience ;). I’ve actually never tried chocolate + lemon combination, but I sure do love it with orange. Good for you for choosing something out of the ordinary..I probably would have stuck to what I know #sonotarisktaker. Pinning and can’t wait to make this soon! Love it when I find a recipe I want to try and I happen to have all the ingredients on hand!
We should get Hungryman and Mr. Spicy together and they can commiserate on together on being married to two indecision makers 🙂 Hope your week is off to a fabulous start Min!
Lemon with chocolate?? Yes, please!! Forget the orange lol. Portugal has been on my travel list for years and now I must go to that chocolate store 🙂 These look so delicious – pinning!
Yes to Portugal! Yes to the chocolate store in Portugal!!! Hope you love these as much as I do Alanna 🙂
I probably would have taken forever to make a decision between orange and lemon too, haha! I have no idea why, but the thought of chocolate and lemon has never crossed my mind before. I guess it makes sense because chocolate and orange go together perfectly! Can’t wait to try these no bake lemon energy bites. Happy Sunday!
I felt the same way as you after I FINALLY made up my mind to buy the Lemon Chocolate-why had I never thought to try this fabulous combo before?!! Hope you’re week is off to a fabulous start Genevieve!
We were on the same page this month! Great minds think alike? Your energy balls look delish!
Yes!!! Love your different take on chocolate and lemon Danielle & can’t wait to try them out!
So nice to know I’m in great company holding up the chocolate line 🙂 Hope to have my travel photos up soon, and in the meantime, you should definitely start planning your trip to Portugal. You will love it!
What a fabulous combination! These look delicious! Hope I get to travel to these amazing places someday!
Thanks so much Jessica! Hope you get to travel to Portugal one day too!! xoxo
I’ve never had chocolate + lemon, but that sounds amazing! (Definitely with you on chocolate + friendship going hand in hand! ;P ) I think there’s a very big chance that I would’ve caved and gotten both! 😛 These look delicious!
Hi Farrah! It seems funny to me now, that lemon and chocolate are served together more often, but they really make a delicious pairing, as the zingy, citrusy taste of the lemon, helps to brighten the somewhat intense flavor of dark chocolate. Both? Oh, yes!!!
Hey there E.A.! I am so jealous of your travels!!! Adore the photos of Lisbon and that nostalgic shot of Chocolataria Equador! I am sooo curious about these; healthy ingredients that sound like uber delicious partners! Pinning so I can make sometime soon. Thanks, E.A.
Hi Diane! Thanks so much 🙂 Hope you try making these soon, and would love to know how they turn out!