Easy to Make, Gluten Free Almond Joy Protein Bites

Sometimes all you need is a little bite of happiness to get you through to the next meal. That’s exactly what these Almond Joy Protein Bites are. The perfect mix of coconut, chocolate, cinnamon and nut butter goodness. Plus they’re gluten free – fun for everyone!

When you’re on a diet or trying to be healthier in general, it can feel overwhelming to plan for every single hungry moment. But that’s kind of what it takes. You don’t need a bite for bite meal plan but you do need a game plan.

If you’re prepared for the bumps in the road you can more easily overcome them. And nothing says “bump in the road” like a mid-day crash and craving habit. That’s exactly where these Almond Joy Protein Bites work their magic.

Smart Snacking 101

At face value snacking is simple: you’re hungry between meals, you eat.

The problem with snacking arises when you’re a) not actually hungry, maybe just bored b) grabbing the first thing in site which is often not healthy and c) making snacks that rival your meals in size and calories.

By following a few basic guidelines you can make sure that when hunger does it, you’re snacking smart.

Step 1: Ask yourself am I really hungry? We often mistake boredom or thirst for hungry. Next time you feel hungry between meals, give yourself 15 minutes to sit with it. Take a sip of water and take a break from the monotony of what you’ve been doing. If you’re still hungry after 15 minutes is up, go ahead and have a snack!

Step 2: Ask yourself is it a craving? If you find yourself craving a specific food, i.e. chips or chocolate, and nothing else matters…that’s a craving. Go back to Step 1.

Step 3: Eat a balanced mix of protein like Greek yogurt or hard boiled eggs, fiber such as popcorn or whole grain crackers, and healthy fats like nuts.

Step 4: Watch your portion sizes. Keep your snacks around 200-250 calories. It doesn’t need to be as big as a full meal!

Bonus Step: Just because it’s a snack doesn’t mean you shouldn’t practice mindful eating. Put away the distractions, slow down and enjoy it.

These Almond Joy Protein Bites cover all of the bases!

Good for You Ingredients

Snacks go one of two ways. They are either packed with nutrient-dense ingredients and play an important role in keeping you healthy and satisfied. Or they are loaded with empty calories, artificial ingredients and keep the craving cycle running. Those kinds of snacks don’t belong in your body or in your diet plan.

These Almond Joy Protein Bites are packed with the good stuff.

• Nut Butter – I use mixed nut butter (like this amazing one from Trader Joe’s!) as opposed to just peanut butter or just almond butter. It adds a depth to the bites. You can’t quite tell what it is…peanuts? Cashews? Almonds? Yes, yes and yes. It keeps you guessing and gives you a wider range of nutrients too.
  
• Cold-Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil – Coconut contains saturated fats, but don’t panic. You’re body needs these kinds of saturated fats. The healthy fatty acids found in coconut actually help your body burn fat. Use a virgin coconut oil that is cold-pressed so that the nutrients remain as unaffected and natural as possible.
  
• Maple Syrup – I might be biased because I live in Vermont but maple syrup is my favorite sweetener. Real maple syrup is high in antioxidants and a good source of many minerals like zinc and calcium. Don’t use the fake stuff – it’s overly sweet with none of the benefits.
  
• Old Fashioned Oats (gluten free) – We recently found out that my husband is gluten intolerant so we’re eating more gluten free foods these days. Oats are a great source of complex carbs (fiber!), and they contain a bit of protein too – a good combo to boost satiation and keep you fuller, longer.
  
• Protein Powder – I used a vanilla coconut protein powder in these bites but you could easily sub in your favorite chocolate, vanilla or even cinnamon protein powder.

Almond Joy Protein Bites

Easy to make and a pleasure to eat. To make these you need about 5-minutes of time and a little restraint to not finish the “dough” before they’re shaped!

Almond Joy Protein Bites

juliaehale

A satisfying combination of sweet and salty. These bites are the perfect healthy treat!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 12 servings

Ingredients

  

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil virgin, cold-pressed
• 3/4 cup mixed nut butter
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut unsweetened
• 1 cup old-fashioned oats gluten free
• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup dark cocoa powder Dutch
• 1/4 cup vanilla coconut protein powder
• 12 slices almonds topping
• sea salt topping

Instructions

 

• Melt coconut oil in a medium, microwave safe bowl. This takes roughly 1 minute. Mix in peanut butter. Once combined, add maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, coconut, oats, chocolate chips, cocoa powder and protein powder. Make sure the dough is evenly mixed.
• Line a plate with wax paper. Wet your hands so that the dough doesn't stick. Scoop out 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough and roll between your hands to shape a ball. Each ball should be about the size of a ping pong ball.

  Gently press your thumb into the top of each ball, flattening and creating a slight indentation. Top each bite with a slice of almond and a sprinkle or sea salt.
• These bites can be stored in the fridge for a week, or in the freezer until you want to enjoy them!

Keyword chocolate, coconut, gluten free, healthy, healthy snack, healthy sweet, peanut butter, protein snack