Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Dough Protein Bites

Although I normally don’t buy protein powder myself, I received a lot of free samples at the Sports Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition symposium I recently attended in Portland, OR. One of the vendors had samples of protein bites that I could not get enough of! They were so good tasting and I could tell they were packed with nutrition. This inspired me to create my own version.

Given my recent cravings for oatmeal raisin cookies (random, I know), I decided to transform these flavors into a nutrient-dense energy bite. The result? Spot. On. These taste exactly like a cookie, but are packed with protein with. The majority of the sweetness comes from the naturally sweet dates and raisins, and only a minimal amount of extra sugar is needed in the form of agave nectar or honey. Each bite clocks in at only 110 calories and a whopping 5g of protein each (the equivalent to about 1 egg). These are a great make-ahead snack or even dessert!

 

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Dough Protein Bites

Serves 8

Ingredients:

½ cup oats

1 scoop vanilla protein powder* (I used biPro French Vanilla flavor)

2 Tbs. almond butter

3 Medjool dates OR 6 regular dates

¼ cup +2 Tbs. raisins, divided

1 tsp. agave nectar or honey

2 Tbs. water

 

Directions:

Combine almond butter, dates, ¼ cup of raisins, & agave/honey in a food processor. Process until small particles are formed. Add oats, protein powder and milk and continue to process until combined. Mixture should be firm, but sticky and moist. If not, add more milk. Add remaining 2 Tbs. raisins and form into 8 balls. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

*Note: when choosing a protein powder, opt for a whey-based formula OR high-quality plant-based formula.