Choconut peanut butter bites

Choconut peanut butter bites

Do you ever want just a little something sweet?  The classic combination of chocolate and peanut butter is just so satisfying.  Here's a healthier version of a peanut butter cup using all natural ingredients that was inspired by this original recipe at Bondi harvest.

Choconut peanut butter bites

3/4 cup coconut oil
3/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1/4 cup raw almonds
2 tablespoons coconut water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 tablespoons agave nectar
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 additional tablespoon agave nectar
1 tablespoon cacao nibs
natural peanut butter (or almond butter)
chia seeds

In a food processor, blend the coconut oil, almonds, shredded coconut, vanilla extract and agave nectar until thoroughly combined and fairly smooth.  (I left a little coconut texture in my mixture.)

Remove half of the mixture and spoon it into oiled mini muffin tins and smooth down.  Place a small mound (approximately 1/2 teaspoon or so) of peanut butter on top of the plain coconut mixture.

To the remaining half of the coconut mixture left in the food processor, add the cocoa powder and the additional 1 tablespoon of agave nectar and blend until thoroughly mixed.  Add in the cacao nibs and pulse a few times to mix them in without breaking them up completely.

Place a spoonful of the chocolate coconut mixture on top of the peanut butter layer and smooth to cover completely.  Sprinkle the tops of the cups with a few chia seeds. Place the muffin tin in the refrigerator or freezer until the mixture is firm to the touch, approximately 15-30 minutes.  Unmold and store in a container in the freezer or fridge until ready to eat.

In the ongoing celebration of US VegWeek, I wanted to share a few more resources for exploring vegetarian and vegan culinary adventures.

Like cooking shows?  Check out these online videos:
Bondi Harvest - whole food recipes, many of them vegetarian or vegan
Bahvna's Vegetarian Kitchen - Indian, American and international cuisine
Sidesaddle Kitchen - Raw. Vegan. Not Gross. - one of my favorites for the hostess' endearing quirkiness and the yummy easy recipes

I still enjoy getting sticky fingerprints on a good recipe in a book.  Here are some of my favorite vegetarian and vegan cookbooks:
Ani's Raw Food Kitchen and Ani's Raw Food Essentials - simple, delicious raw dishes
Sexy Crazy Kitchen - from simple to elegant enough for entertaining
Curtis Cooks with Heart and Soul - southern cooking gone vegetarian
Traditional Vegetarian Cooking - from Europe's Crank's Restaurant - the baked goods are fantastic

Happy cooking and thanks for reading!

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