Healthy Chocolate Peppermint Bites (No-Bake + Fast!)

Inside: Get a recipe for healthy chocolate mint bites made with walnuts and dates, topped with coconut and crushed candy canes. Sweet and sweet!

It’s the season for Christmas sweets. And I love you all.

But it’s nice to have other treats on hand that are delicious and festive but actually give your energy instead of consuming it.

These chocolate mint bites are made with just a few healthy ingredients and then rolled in a crunchy layer of coconut and candy canes.

Ingredients you need

• Dates: Be sure to remove the pit inside first
• Walnuts: These are pulverized in the food processor, so it doesn’t matter if you choose them chopped or halved.
• cocoa powder
• Milk: Use dairy or plant-based milk.
• mint extract
• Coconut: Unsweetened (as Bob’s Red Mill) works best in this recipe, but sweetened is fine too.
• Candy Canes: Crush them by placing them in a bag and using a rolling pin or meat tenderizer mallet to crush them into small pieces (not powder).

How to make chocolate mint bites

Place the dates, walnuts and cocoa powder in a food processor. Process until combined.

Then drizzle in the mint extract and milk. The dough will come together and form a dough. It should be sticky but not wet. If it is too dry, add more milk, a teaspoon at a time, until it is the right consistency. If it’s too wet, add some extra nuts.

Roll the dough into 14 balls (a spoonful of cookies like this makes it easy and they are all uniform). Next, roll each ball in a combination of coconut and crushed candy canes. I crushed my candy canes by placing them in a bag and pounding them with a meat tenderizer mallet. Grind them into small pieces, but not into powder.

Press the layer with your fingers to make it stick. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Questions about Chocolate Mint Bites

What type of coconut should I use?

Unsweetened works best here, so it doesn’t clump together in the crushed candy cane. But either one works. If the coconut pieces are long, put them through the food processor first.

How do you store these mint bites?

Because they contain milk and are not cooked or baked, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Consume within 5 to 7 days.

What is the nutritional information for these mint bites?

Each bite of chocolate mint contains approximately 99 calories, 8 grams of sugar (mainly natural sugar from dates), 2 grams of fiber, and 2 grams of protein.

Swaps and substitutions you can make

• Skip the peppermint extract if you don’t have it. The mint flavor will still be noticeable in the candy cane coating.
• Use plant milk instead of cow’s milk.
• Skip the candy canes and roll them in coconut only.
• Add the crushed candy cane to the dough in the food processor to make it crispy inside.
• Use raw almonds instead of walnuts (you may need more milk).

More No-Bake Cookie Ball Recipes

Chocolate and mint bites

Produce:
14

Preparation time:
10 minutes

Total Time:
10 minutes

These healthy chocolate mint bites are rich, fluffy and filling, with a crunchy mint coating.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut*

• 2 candy canes (crushed into small pieces)

• 1 cup of walnuts

• 1 cup dates, packed (seeded)

• 1/4 cup cocoa powder

• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

• 2 tablespoons milk (dairy or non-dairy)

Instructions

1. Combine the crushed candy canes and coconut on a small plate and set aside.
2. Place the walnuts, dates and cocoa powder in a food processor and process until finely chopped.
3. While the food processor is running, add the peppermint extract. Then add the milk, a tablespoon at a time, until the mixture comes together and forms a ball. It should be sticky but not wet.*
4. Shape into one-inch balls, then roll in coconut and crushed candy canes to coat. Press the layer with your fingers so that it adheres well.
5. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Grades

*You can also use sweetened coconut, but it may get a little cakey with the crushed candy canes. If the coconut pieces are long, throw them into the food processor first.

*If the mixture is too dry to spread, add more milk (a teaspoon at a time) until you get the right consistency. If it’s too wet, add some additional nuts and then process again.

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Nutritional information:

Produce: 14

Portion size: 1 bite

Amount per proportion:

Calories: 99Total fat: 6gSaturated fat: 1gTrans fat: 0gUnsaturated fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 2mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 2 gSugar: 8gProtein: 2 g