Cacao Protein Fudge Bites

I got a craving for my Cacao Protein Fudge Bites I made last year and realized I didn’t post the recipe! I had it all written over a year ago but yet another I never got around to sharing. Some things are just worth the wait I guess.

Craving chocolate I was going to make some fudge protein balls to keep in the freezer for when I had these cravings for a quick healthy fix. While getting out my food processor I found a silicone ice cube tray I bought last summer and decided to make cubes “bites” instead. These worked out perfectly as I can top each one with different toppings if I wanted and just pop one out when I wanted. They worked out great and it was one of those “why didn’t I think of this sooner moments”. I divided mine into 3 batches topping some with sweet cacao nibs, some with goji berries, and left the rest plain. If you don’t have a silicone ice cube tray you can make them in a 8×8 or 9×9 pan and cute into desired bars.

Cacao Protein Fudge Bites

Makes 8×8 or 9×9 pan, or 24 1″x1.5″ cubes if made in a silicone ice cube tray

½ c hemp seeds (used Manitoba Hemp Hearts, Raw Shelled Hemp Seeds)

1½ c water

2/3 c cacao powder (used Navitas Naturals)

1/3 c chocolate protein powder, or more cacao powder (used Vega Choc-A-Lot Protein Smoothie)

1 c pitted dates or figs, or combination of (soaked)

2 tsp pure vanilla

pinch sea salt

pinch of cinnamon,  optional

2-3 TBSP gelatinized maca, optional

1 c almond butter, peanut butter, or seed butter of choice (used Justins Vanilla Almond Butter)

cacao nibs, goji betties, chocolate chips, nuts, or desired toppings for fudge bites as desired, optional (used Navitas Naturals Sweet Cacao Nibs and Goji Berries)

Place the dates/figs in a bowl and cover with water and soak for about an hour, until soft. Drain reserving liquid. In a food processor pulse together hemp seeds, cacao, protein powder, and maca if using until hemp seeds are ground down and you have a flour consistency. Pour mixture into a large bowl. In a Vitamix, or food processor, blend the dates/figs and vanilla until smooth, slowly adding soaking water as needed to form a creamy consistency. Add in nut butter or seed butter and blend until smooth. Pour into bowl with dry ingredients and stir with a spatula until combine. Divide mixture into silicone cube tray or press into a 8×8 or 9×9 pan lined with parchment paper. Tap pan or tray a few times to try to get out any air bubbles. Top with desired toppings if desired. Place in the freezer for 2-4 hours until firm. Cut into bars if made in a pan or remove from ice cube tray. Store in the freezer in an airtight container until ready to enjoy!

 
Craving chocolate? Make these #healthy Cacao Protein Fudge Bites @VegaTeam @Justins @NavitasNaturals #SweatPink #FitFluential Share on X
 

As a Vega Recipe Ambassador I receive Vega products, which I used as an option in this recipe. I use Vega not because it is given to me but because it has been my plant-based protein of choice since before I started blogging and some recipes are made with Vega products I purchase. I only write about foods I love, my blog is an extension of my hobby to make fun healthy food creations for me and my family.