Chocolate Strawberry Better Bites – A Recipe for Romance!
My classic “Better Bites” are always a staple sweet treat in my home. These delicious little balls are full of wholesome ingredients, like dates, nuts, and spices, yet taste like dessert that can be enjoyed no matter the time of year. I love enjoying my Better Cookie Dough Bites any day, and my Snickerdoodle Better Bites are a must around Christmas time.
So, it should come as no surprise that the classic recipe has taken on a new flavor, just in time for Valentine’s Day! We all know that this national day of love is usually celebrated with all different types of chocolate confections, from truffles, to chocolate cupcakes, to little chocolates in heart shaped boxes, and so much more. One of my personal favorite Valentine’s Day sweets is chocolate covered strawberries. I just love the combination of deep rich chocolate and bright sweet berries. So, it only made sense to put these flavors into my go-to nutritious and delicious sweet snack. Here, fudgy chocolate date balls are dipped in chocolate and finished with a dusting of freeze dried strawberries. I wouldn’t mind a heart shaped box of that!
These Chocolate Strawberry Better Bites are easy to fall in love with (pun), for several reasons: 1. chocolate 2. chocolate 3. chocolate. Need I say more? The rational human in me loves chocolate, but the dietitian in me also loves it, all for good reason. First off, contrary to popular belief, chocolate is actually loaded with nutrients and healthy compounds. Chocolate is rich in antioxidants, which of course have been connected to a number of healthy outcomes, such as reduced disease risk, improved cognitive function, healthy skin, and so on. Chocolate is also a good source of magnesium. This underrated mineral is vital for a whole bunch of bodily functions and processes, including muscle contraction/relaxation, nervous system function, energy conduction, etc. Chocolate is also rich in monounsaturated fats. These are the “healthy fats” that are important for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, promoting heart health, and even reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. But, these nutritional benefits are found in the chocolate itself, and not in the milk and sugar often added to most chocolate bars, so aim for dark chocolate (70% or darker in my opinion) to reap the most benefits.
Luckily, these bites are made with not one, but two forms of chocolate. Cocoa powder gives the inside a rich fudgy flavor, while bittersweet chocolate creates a lovely outside coating. Freeze dried strawberries seal the deal with a bright red topping that tastes as perfect as it looks. So, if you ask me, these little bites make for a perfect gift for all your loved ones, holiday or not. Or just show yourself some self love and keep them all for yourself. I’m not judging!
Chocolate Strawberry Better Bites
Equipment
- Food processor
Ingredients
- ½ cup oats
- 12 medjool dates, pitted
- ¼ cup unsweeted cocoa powder
- 3 Tbsp almond butter (or nut butter of choice)
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp water*
- 2 oz. bittersweet chocolate (about 1/3 cup)
- ⅓ cup freeze dried strawberries
Instructions
- Add the oats into a food processor and blend until they are broken down into a flour-like consistency.
- Add in the dates, cocoa powder, almond butter, and maple syrup, and blend until everything is broken down and combined, for about 30-45 seconds, or until the mixture resembles cookie dough.*If the mixture is still crumbly, slowly drizzle in up to a tablespoon of water, until it forms a dough. It should all come together into a big ball in the food processor.
- To form the bites, roll portions of the dough into about 20 bite sized balls.
- Place the bites in the fridge to chill for 10-15 minutes, or until they are firm.
- While they chill, crush the freeze dried strawberries into a course powder. You may do this in your food processor, or you may put them in ziplock bag, seal the bag, and crush them with your hands. Transfer the powder to a bowl.
- Melt the bittersweet chocolate. You may use the microwave or a double boiler over the stove.
- Remove the bites from the fridge. Dip each bite one by one in melted chocolate. Sprinke the crushed freeze dried strawberries on top of each bite before the chocolate hardens. Once all the bites are dipped, return to the fridge for the chocolate to completely harden, about 5 minutes.
- Once the chocolate is hardened, enjoy! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.