February’s Recipe Redux theme is everyone’s favorite, chocolate! I love chocolate, especially dark chocolate. One of my favorite treats is a glass of red wine and dark chocolate.

In coming up with this months recipe,  I wanted to redo the classic truffle. Since my day job is a sports dietitian for the University of the Pacific, I created these with a post-workout snack in mind. Chocolate, protein powder, dates, and nuts come together to make this delicious, gluten-free treat.

With just the right balance of carbohydrates and protein, a few of these balls make the perfect recovery snack.

Chocolate Protein Bites

Ingredients:

1 orange, juiced, 1/4 cup orange juice and 1/4 water, or 1/2 cup water. (If you don’t like chocolate-orange flavor, use water)
2 cups pitted dates
3/4 cup protein powder, chocolate or vanilla flavor
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 tbsp. flax seed meal
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 tbsp. liquid sweetener, like agave nectar or maple syrup

1 cup crushed walnuts

In a food processor, chop the dates. Add the water or the orange juice and pulse a few times to combine. Add the cocoa powder, peanut butter and blend together. Slowly add the flax seed and protein powder until just combined. Add the syrup and pulse a few more times.

Remove the mixture and refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Roll into a small ball and then roll in the crushed walnuts. Freeze until ready to eat.

Enjoy the rest of the Recipe ReDuxer’s chocolate treats!