Healthy Hemp Heart Energy Bites (No Sugar, Paleo Option)

Health Benefits of Hemp Hearts

We have a 4 year old who recently decided he pretty much only wants to eat cheese burgers, nut butter, and kombucha. (Any other toddler moms relate? 😉 ). Thankfully we can make several nutritious snacks using nut butter, and add in healthy extras like the hemp hearts to help round out nutrition. Hemp hearts are exceptional for growing children, pregnancy, post partum, and generally all who are looking for nutrient dense foods.

Hemp hearts are:

1. A complete protein on their own, containing all 9 amino acids our bodies cannot make on their own.
2. Rich in B vitamins
3. High in minerals, such as magnesium, zinc, potassium, and iron
4. Balanced in ratio of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which are important for cardiovascular health

Hemp Heart Energy Bites Recipe Without Sugar

Honey is a high mineral food, so we try to use it as a sweetener in most of our desserts. This means, instead of depleting essential minerals from our bodies the way processed sugar does, it adds in essential minerals. Because honey is much sweeter than sugar, less can be used in dessert recipes. Using natural sweeteners, like honey, can sometimes yield a softer texture, which is lovely for peanut butter & hemp energy bites!

Why You Will Love These Hemp Heart Energy Bites

1. Taste. These homemade hemp heart energy bites are sweet, chewy, and satisfying. They satisfy the peanut butter dessert cravings without the crash!
2. Quick & easy to prepare. You can make this recipe with just a few ingredients and no cook time.
3. Healing diet friendly. This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free (optional), sugar-free, and egg-free. Whether you are eating GAPS, Paleo, whole food, or just becoming more ingredient aware, this recipe is compatible with many healing diets.
4. Naturally sweetened. Use honey as the sweetener to eliminate the need for refined and processed sugar.
5. Customizable. You can use different mix ins to these hemp heart energy bites, such as shredded coconut, chia seeds, chocolate chips, oats, etc.

Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free Desserts

As our family healed from food allergies using the GAPS diet protocol, we learned how to re-create favorite childhood recipes with healthier alternatives. Simply swapping a natural nut butter without added sugar and seed oils, as well as swapping honey for sugar can make a much healthier favorite snack. If you are eating paleo or gaps, avoid adding in oats. We have made these energy bites with and without and they are both delicious.

Check out some of our other favorite gluten-free, sugar-free, and dairy-free dessert recipes here.

Healthy Hemp Heart Energy Bites FAQ

1. Can I substitute nut butters in this recipe?
   Yes! We most often make these with peanut or almond butter. Moisture content of nut butters may vary, so you may need to adjust other ingredients slightly to get the right texture.
2. What texture should these hemp heart bites be like?
   The texture will vary with different mix ins or nut butters. A good texture is simply one that you can form the mixture into a ball easily.
3. Can I press these into bars instead of shaping into balls?
   Yes! If short on time, I often press these into a 9×13 pan instead of forming into bite sized servings. The ball shapes are great for freezing large batches; however, as they do not stick together and no need to thaw an entire pan.

Helpful Tools to Make This Recipe:

• 9×13 pan 
• unbleached parchment paper (to line 9×13 pan, if using)
• measuring cups

Ingredients Needed to Make Healthy Hemp Heart Energy Bites

• 1 cup nut butter (we like almond and peanut best)
• 1/2 cup raw honey (or more to taste)
• 1/2 cup hemp hearts
• 1/2 cup chia seeds or ground flax seeds (optional)
• 1 cup rolled oats (optional)
• chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

• First, add nut butter and honey to a mixing bowl and mix until well combined.
• Next, add in the hemp hearts, chia seeds, and flax seeds and mix well.
• If desired, stir in additional mix-ins, such as oats or chocolate chips and mix.
• Next, roll mixture into golf ball sized shapes.
• Store in the fridge or freezer. When stacking the bites, layer a piece of parchment paper in between to prevent sticking.

Recipe Notes

• Depending on the amount of mix-ins or variations in the recipe, you might need to adjust the amount peanut butter and honey. The consistency should be such that it is easy to roll into a ball without crumbling (too dry) or sticking (too wet).
• For a quick alternative to “bites”, press mixture into a 9×13 pan and serve as “bars”.

We hope your family enjoys this healthy hemp heart energy bites recipe as much as ours does! We would love your feedback in the comments below.

Check out other healthy dessert recipes here.

Resources

Posts

High Mineral Foods
What is the GAPS Diet – An Easier Explanation
GAPS Diet Desserts
Healthy Fudge Recipe – 3 Ingredients! (GAPS, Paleo, Sugar-Free)

Shop This Post

• 9×13 pan 
• unbleached parchment paper
• measuring cups
• raw honey
• hemp hearts
• chia seeds or ground flax seeds
• chocolate chips

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

Favorite1