Chocolate truffles and pumpkin spice energy bites all rolled into one decadent recipe? Sign us up! These Chocolate Covered Pumpkin Protein Bites are secretly packed with goodness but taste like a gourmet dessert. Pumpkin, cacao, Lifeway Farmer Cheese, spices, raw honey, and coconut and almond flours come together to create these power-packed bites of pumpkin spice delight.
Each bite is perfectly coated in a dusting of cacao powder or melted chocolate—you get to choose. The best part? They’re filling thanks to the protein in Lifeway Farmer Cheese and are an excellent source of fiber thanks to the pumpkin, almond flour, coconut flour, and cacao powder we used.
Coconut and almond flour are two gluten-free flour alternatives to regular flour that can be used in a variety of different recipes. They absorb a lot of water and help thicken recipes while also boosting the fiber and nutrient content. Each one also has a unique, nutty, cake-like flavor making them terrific to use in energy bites and healthy desserts. Here, we paired them with raw cacao powder, which has a similar texture, as well as ultra-creamy Lifeway Farmer Cheese.
Our farmer cheese not only boosts the protein, but it also supports digestion thanks to the live and active cultures it contains. Additionally, its creamy texture helps give these protein bites a rich, gourmet-like texture with a luscious flavor you have to try for yourself.
Tip: Be sure to let the dough chill completely before rolling these into bites which will help them set up better and prevent them from melting while you roll them into chocolate. You can also freeze the dough for half an hour before rolling them in the chocolate to cool them off even further. Keep them in the fridge until serving, and then enjoy all week long. Kids and adults alike will love these, so be sure you make enough to go around!
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with a variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese, a creamy, high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and a healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Prep Time: 45 mins Servings: 10-12Ingredients
For the Bites:
- 1/2 cup Farmer Cheese
- 1/2 cup pure canned pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 3 tbsp. raw honey or pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
- 1/4 cup almond flour (not almond meal)
- 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
- 2 tbsp. chopped nuts of choice (almonds, walnuts, pecans, etc.)
- 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
For the Chocolate Coating:
- 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips, melted and slightly cooled
- 1/4 cup raw cacao powder, for dusting
Directions
- For the Bites: In a food processor, mix farmer cheese, pumpkin, honey (or maple), and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
- Add in the coconut flour and almond flour to combine, then add the 1 tbsp. cocoa powder and stir in the chopped nuts. Make sure the dough is thick enough to roll into bites. Roll into bites, refrigerate for up to 20-30 minutes (or the freezer to quicken the process).
- For the Chocolate Coating: Melt chocolate chips into a smooth, creamy chocolate dip-like texture. Let it cool slightly, then roll the bites into the chocolate. You can also dust some of them with the cacao powder, if desired. Put back in the fridge to firm up for at least an hour before enjoying, or 30 minutes in the freezer to quicken the process.
- Store in the fridge for up to a week. You can also freeze these for a month if well-covered if you want to make a larger batch. If freezing, thaw 10 minutes on the counter before enjoying, or in the fridge overnight.
