Rainbow Sprinkle Energy Bites

Happy Labor Day Weekend!  Celebrating with some sprinkle fun today.

A few weeks ago, I came across these gorgeous naturally dyed sprinkles.  Not exactly healthy, but also not filled with lots of artificial colorants so it makes me feel a little better about serving them to my kids.  My poor kids… whenever they see colorful cakes and candy, they ask, “Mom, does this have artificial coloring?  Is this okay for me to eat?”  I have to admit, I am a party pooper when it comes to artificially dyed food.  I am no fun at all.  But!  I just purchased a 2.9 pound container of these sprinkles.  Enough sprinkles to last a lifetime.  I must get cool mom points for that, yes?

These Rainbow Sprinkle Energy Bites are no-bake, naturally sweetened, whole-grain, and are the perfect little snack to pack on-the-go or in lunch boxes.  The little bites are filled with the goodness of oats, coconut, flax, wheat germ, raw honey, and almond butter.  Cacao powder gives them a rich chocolate flavor and adds an extra boost of antioxidants.  Sprinkles are completely optional of course, but don’t they add such a glimmer of fun?  I used almond butter, but use any nut butter that you prefer.  I’m going to try a sunbutter version next to keep it nut-free for school.   Using a stand mixer breaks down the oats and gives the mixture a finer texture.  A finer texture helps the sprinkles to adhere better, but feel free to mix by hand, especially if you are leaving off the sprinkles.  From start to finish, the whole batch took me 20 minutes to make.  These are easy, healthy, and deliciously satisfying!

Rainbow Sprinkle Energy Bites

• Yield: makes 15 1 1/4-inch bites

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup creamy almond butter, peanut butter, or almond butter
• 1/3 cup raw honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• 2/3 cup unsweetened flaked coconut, chopped
• 1/4 cup ground flax seed
• 1/4 cup wheat germ
• 3 tablespoons cacao powder
• rainbow sprinkles

Instructions

1. Using a stand mixer, combine the almond butter, honey, and vanilla.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the oats, coconut, flax seed, wheat germ, and cacao powder.
3. Add the dry ingredients to the almond butter mixture and mix together on medium-low speed until thoroughly combined. Shape into balls of desired size and dip in a bowl of rainbow sprinkles to coat. Press lightly on the sprinkles to adhere. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Notes

Adapted from Gimme Some Oven