almond chocolate chia bites

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Oh sweet.

My first food post this week and I bring you…

dirt?

Don’t worry.  The contents of this dirt-looking-food is actually cocoa powder, chia seed flour, medjool dates, and just a few other ingredients. 

This tasty little treat was inspired by Chia Brownie Bites from the Twin Cakes Bakery.  This was included in the ridiculous bag of swag from the blogger retreat this past weekend.

These bites are to die for, as I suspect are the rest of their creations.  The twins’ ingredient lists are always stellar and the love + care that go into their recipes are clearly evident.

Like little bites of fudgy, chocolaty, deliciousness.  I was addicted upon first bite.

While the ingredients are somewhat similar, my version are actually quite different in texture + flavor.  I was using the brownie bites as inspiration but not trying to replicate.  I’ve been experimenting with chia flour [ground chia seeds] and liking it more than ground flax.  It doesn’t leave the same strong, nutty flavor that flax tends to do.  It’s much easier to mask the light flavor of chia and requires less sweetener to taste sweet.

Or in this case no added sweetener, as the sweetness comes purely from dates.  They’re also packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats [like omega 3’s, from the chia seeds].

Chia flour is one of the easiest to make.  All you do is grind chia seeds in a coffee grinder, spice grinder, magic bullet, or high speed blender until flour-like.  I’m not sure if it will work in a food processor.

Print this!

Almond Chocolate Chia Bites inspired by Chia Brownie Bites

gluten free, vegan // yields ~18-20 bites

  • 1 cup chia flour
  • 10 medjool dates
  • 2.5 Tablespoons unrefined coconut oil, softened
  • 6 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 Tablespoon chia seeds [optional]
  • 2 Tablespoons unsweetened coconut [optional]
  • 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon + 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  1. Process the pitted dates in your large food processor until a ball forms and the pieces are well ground.
  2. Add in your pre-ground chia flour, coconut oil, cocoa powder, almond extract, vanilla extract, and salt, and process until well combined.  About 20-30 seconds.
  3. The mixture will look crumbly, but should easily form into a ball when you press it together with your hands.
  4. If using, mix in extra chia seeds + coconut by hand.
  5. Form dough into balls or bars and store in a sealed container in the fridge.

notes: If you don’t want there to be a crunchy texture, leave out the extra chia seeds + coconut.  If you don’t have or don’t like almond extract or need this 100% nut free, add 1/2-1t cinnamon instead.  Medjool dates work best as does coconut oil.  The cheapest place I have found to order chia seeds is on amazon.  I buy 3lbs at a time, which last quite awhile.

Sweet + chocolaty + totally snackable.

Enjoy!

Ashley

-- I posted 5 sets of photos trying on 5 different Warby Parker frames over on my facebook page.  Join in the fun telling me what you think.  The responses are cracking me up.  I am looking for something a little different than my “play it safe” style but am not sure I found it just yet.  You are allowed to order 5 at a time [for free!] to try on, and I may be ordering 5 more. :)