Cinnamon Carrot Cake Bites

If I'm making an energy bite, 90 percent of the time it must involved dark chocolate. But sometimes you need to switch it up for your health and to stay inspired. I'm not even a raw carrot fan so this was a great way to incorporate a food that I don't typically love. Carrots are packed with beta carotene, lutein, and many more phytonutrients that help with skin, heart, eye, liver and colon health. These bites are also packed with omega 3's from the walnuts and chia seeds as well as super nutrients from cinnamon and nutmeg. Cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon may have antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. It also has antioxidants, fiber and manganese as well as phytonutrients. Nutmeg is also abundant in phytonutrients as well as manganese, manganese and copper.

What's really awesome is that these Cinnamon Carrot Cake Bites shouldn't take more than 10 minutes to make. You can stick them in the fridge and eat them raw for a softer texture or cook them for a crispy outside and cake-like consistency on the inside.*

Cinnamon Carrot Cake Bites

Ingredients

• 1 cup rolled oats

• 1/4 cup almond flour

• 1 cup shredded carrots

• 1/2 cup walnuts

• 1 Tbsp coconut oil or 1 Tbsp applesauce for oil-free

• 3 Tbsp maple syrup

• 1 tsp baking powder*

• 1 tsp baking soda*

• 3 tsps cinnamon

• 3/4 tsp nutmeg

• 1 Tbsp chia seeds

• 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees if planning to bake and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. If planning to enjoy raw, move to step 2.

2. Place the chia seeds in a small bowl and add 2 Tbsp water, making sure all of the chia seeds are covered. Set aside and let sit for 5 minutes until the chia is a gel-like consistency.

3. In a food processor, blend 1/2 cup oats (reserve the other half for later), almond flour, carrots, walnuts, coconut oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and baking powder until all ingredients are completely blended.

4. With a spatula, scoop out mixture into a medium size bowl.

5. Into the mixture, add the other 1/2 c oats, coconut flakes and chia seeds. Fold the oats, coconut and chia seeds into the mixture, making sure the chia is evenly distributed.

6. With a tablespoon scoop out the mixture and roll into a ball with your hands. Place on the parchment-lined baking sheet.

7. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

8. Let cool before diving in!

*If you want to enjoy these raw, omit the baking soda and powder.

**If you want more sweetness you can add a powder sugar glaze to them after the bites are cool. To 1/2 cup powder sugar add 1-2 Tbsp water and mix well until pasty then add on top of the bites.

Servings: Makes about 20 bites. See Nutrition Info Below.

Nutrition Information

Per bite (10 bites): 63 calories, 6.5 grams carbohydrates (5 grams net carbohydrates), 1.5 grams fiber, 1.5 grams protein, 4 grams fat, 90 milligrams sodium

Good source of vitamin A, copper

Excellent source of manganese