Nutty Cherry Energy Bites

Dates might be one of my favorite foods and if you follow my blog I use them regularly to make sweet treats that are healthy and delicious. I am also a big fan of cherries, so when I found the unsweetened dried bing cherries at the store I had to give them a try.  According to Livestrong.com, dried cherries are a good sources of copper and vitamin C, two nutrients that support collegen production and protect us from free radical damage.

Here is my most recent recipe for a quick fix or a pre-workout energy boost! To keep costs down you can find all these ingredients at your local Trader Joe's, a great option for shopping healthy on a budget.

The raw cashews in the recipe gives is a nice "cookie dough" flavor and the cherries add a sweet pop of color. You can add or omit ingredients to fit your taste so use this as a jumping-off point for your next recipe adventure.

Cherry-Nut Energy Bites

Makes about 2 dozen

1 Cup Raw Cashews 1 Cup Pecan Halves 1 cup Medjool dates, pitted and chopped ( they should be very soft) 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut 1/2 cup dried bing cherries, unsweetened 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/4 tsp salt Optional -1 tsp cinnamon is great for balancing blood sugar!

Directions: Add nuts to food processor and blend into a fine meal consistency. Add in the rest of the ingredients and process until a sticky dough forms. Roll 1/2 tablespoon of dough into bite size balls. Chill for about 1-hour and then serve! Bites can be stored in air tight container in the fridge or freezer then remove when ready to eat.

Nutrition Facts Calories: 119 Total Fat 8 g

Saturated Fat 4 g

Monounsaturated Fat 3 g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1 g

Trans Fat 0 g

Cholesterol 0 mg

Sodium 32 mg

Potassium 65 mg

Total Carbohydrate 11 g

Dietary Fiber 2 g

Sugars 8 g

Protein 2 g

Vitamin A 0%

Vitamin C 0%

Calcium 1%

Iron 3%