Busy Bee Bites

I am a chocolate addict. And, this whole staying home thing has me going a little bonkers when I can't get my chocolate fix, so scrappiness is a must! Inspired by a JuicePlus+ recipe, which I've previously posted, I ransacked my cabinets & started tossing ingredients in a bowl. The bowl turned into scrumptious Busy Bee Bites - packed with protein, energy, & chocolate, of course! Make them for yourself:

Ingredients

• cinnamon

• 1 tbsp chia seeds

• 3 tbsp flaxseeds

• 3 tsp maca powder* - if you don't have, ground coffee or ginseng root are decent alternatives

• 2 tbsp cocao powder (unsweetened) - this is for chocolate lovers! Simply leave out if you do not have

• 4 cups puffed whole grain cereal - I use Arrowhead Mills Puffed Millet, use gluten-free rolled oats if you do not have any puffed cereal (Rice Krispies are not gluten-free)

• 1 tbsp coconut oil - if you don't have, simply add more nut butter or honey to get that doughy consistency

• 1 (16 oz.) jar nut butter - I went with a mix of sunflower seed & peanut butter, but use what you have!

• 2 tbsp honey - I always recommend local as it's best for you, the bees, & small business

• 1 cup protein - I made a mixture of vanilla whey protein (.5 cup) & chocolate collagen protein (.5 cup)**

The Process

• combine dry ingredients in a big mixing bowl - puffed oats, protein, maca powder, cinnamon, chia seeds, flaxseeds, cacao

• once dry ingredients are thoroughly mixed, add in nut butter & blend together

• blend in honey & coconut oil

• once everything is fully blended into a dough, you have 2 options: (1) roll into bite-size balls (2) place wax paper on a sheet pan & fit dough to sheet pan

• Place in freezer for 25 minutes then serve! (cut into squares/bars if you opted for the sheet pan)

*Maca Powder - a plant-based superfood that sustains energy - I use Navitas Organics

**Vegans - do not use whey or collagen protein, whey is derived from dairy, while collagen is derived from animal bones