Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites

Full confession – I was inspired to make these while putting spoon to face straight out of the pint of cookie dough ice cream. (Special thanks to my besties from Columbus who sent said ice cream to me!!!) I decided I needed to recreate this amazing flavor in a portable form for post-exercise fueling. Or, really any fueling for that matter!

Refueling post exercise has a few goals – replacing glycogen stores (the storage form of glucose), repairing muscle damage, and decreasing inflammation. To do this we need carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats to address those goals, in that order. We can often accomplish this in a meal within an hour after exercise – but let’s be honest, sometimes a meal isn’t happening that quickly. So, we need an easy, portable, balanced snack to hold us over until the real recovery meal can be feasted upon.

I know that none of these ingredients scream ‘I’m going to taste like cookie dough’ but trust me, it works. Cashews are a fairly sweet, mild flavored nut. They also happen to be very creamy when blended. So when you blend these up with the dates, a little bit of magic happens. The oats add in some substance and keep them from being too sticky.

I had a handful of these today after a longish run and they satisfied me both nutritional and flavor-fully. And, isn’t that just killing two birds with one super healthy stone!?

But please don’t be mistaken. You don’t need to run long to enjoy these delicious little bites

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites

Servings 14 balls

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Ingredients

  

• 1 cup Medjool dates pit removed (this was 10 for me)
• 1 cup cashews salted
• 1/2 cup quick oats
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup or other liquid of choice
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

 

• Add all ingredients except chocolate chips to a food processor. Blend and pulse until well combined and starts to form a ball.
• Remove from food processor and place in bowl. Knead (or stir) in chocolate chips.
• Roll into balls. If the dough feels too sticky, put a little oil on your hands before rolling them.
• Store in refrigerator or freezer.

Notes

Other Thoughts:

• If you want to make these added sugar free, substitute another liquid for the maple syrup. This is really to moisten and bring the dough together more so than sweetness.
• Use gluten free oats, if needed.
• If using raw, unsalted cashews, add a sprinkle of salt.
• If you want to get crazy, add in some mini M&M's to make them Monster Cookie Dough bites.

 

How-to-Use:

Athletes: The dates and oats make this an awesome post workout snack. Eat a couple right after a hard workout with a big old glass of water.

Healthy Eating: Who doesn't want to eat cookie dough on the regular?! Make these for a delicious and balanced weekday snack.

Kids: These were a huge hit with the kids in our house. I'm talking HUGE hit. Sometimes the raw, sticky things I make don't make the texture cut with the kids. But these were another story and a definite keeper!