Simple, healthy, but with decadent flavor and texture, these No Bake Double Chocolate Sunflower Butter Bites are the answer to any chocolate craving! They’re paleo, vegan, nut free, incredibly kid friendly, and ready in 10 minutes.
Drew (4) came downstairs this morning to find me sitting at the computer, not wearing running clothes.
“Uh, mommy?” Love the preschool sass.
“Yes, Drew?”
“Uh, I actually DON’T know how far you ran this morning.” He loves the word actually.
“Well, I actually didn’t run this morning at all. I did yoga. And actually, I’m taking a break from running and haven’t run for a week.” I guess I sorta love it too.
“Huh? What?! Why?”
“I just wanted a break. I’ll probably start running again on Thursday.”
“Thursday?!” Pauses to memorize. “Okay. I have to go potty now.”
Uh and what the heck does any of this have to do with no bake double chocolate sunflower butter bites? Nothing and everything all at once. Okay I just really like saying that so I threw it in there.
But ACTUALLY, it is relevant because due to this running break thing I’m doing, I’m bringing you an extra recipe this week. Because when we do not run we have extra time/energy to bake (or no-bake) delicious things. And I also thought it was interesting to get a child’s perspective on his typically running-momma doing things a bit differently in the morning.
Kids (or at least Drew) are notorious for being routine oriented, and Drew is a smidge baffled by my little shift in routine. Actually, (there it is again) even Adam was confused when he saw me still sleeping at 5:45 one morning. I was pretty freaked out too when I woke up and saw 5:47 on the clock. That seems insane as I type it out but the truth is I really never sleep even naturally past 5:30.
Another thing this little break has shown me is how mornings have drastically changed for us over the past 3-4 years. Back then, I was DESPERATE for a break from having a baby, a toddler, and a preschooler physically attached to me 24 hours a day. That’s what I was doing when I got into distance running, literally running away from my 24/7 job. Of course I needed a break, but back then it was a constant battle in my head between getting out in the mornings to run and INDULGE in the alone time it allowed me, and the “mommy-guilt” that I could never entirely escape, no matter what.
Things are SO different now, and I’m just trying to catch up. No one is desperately attached to me and I am not tiptoeing out of the house panicking someone will wake up before I make my escape (okay fine I still tiptoe, but it’s not necessary anymore.) My runs are less “relieving” than they used to be. I know that now they have to be about something else since the old source of motivation has been rendered null and void by time.
Just a little deep thinking before the chocolate since I just can’t help it, but transitioning back now…
…So, these no bake double chocolate sunflower butter bites have been a hit over here for several days now and two batches worth. They’ve been a snack, a dessert, they’ve been requested for breakfast (I said no) and they’ve traveled in the minivan. They are paleo, vegan, and nut free awesomeness.
Double Chocolate No Bake Sunbutter Bites
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup coconut flour
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2/3 cup sunflower seed butter
- 3 tbsp + 1-2 tsp pure maple syrup* depending on how sweet you want these, you might want to add more
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/3-1/2 cup canned full fat coconut milk* or other non dairy milk
- 1/4 cup Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips or your favorite brand
Instructions
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In a medium bowl, combine the coconut flour, cocoa powder, sunflower seed butter, maple syrup, and vanilla.
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Stir in the coconut milk slowly until you have the consistency of a dough, then stir in the chocolate chips.
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Roll the dough into one inch bites and store leftovers in the refrigerator, where they will firm up a little to a nice cookie dough consistency. Enjoy anytime as a quick snack or treat!
Recipe Notes
*You can adjust the amount of maple syrup to suit your taste, and the coconut milk to create a creamier or cakier texture, depending on what you prefer.
What do your kids think about your fitness/running routine?
Do you find that if you cut back on workouts you have more time/energy for more activities, or do you lose motivation?
Are you a sunflower butter fan? Do I have to ask about chocolate?
I don’t actually feel like I gain much time when I cut back on working out because I will just sleep in a little more and spend more time reading blogs. Nothing super productive at all! And like I told you yesterday I feel like I have less energy when Im not working out.
This recipe looks great- Ive been loving these kinds of snacks lately!
It’s so easy to get sucked into blog reading in the morning, running or not! It’s also funny how even 15-30 minutes of extra sleep seems to eat up extra time, though I can’t figure out what I did with that time (blogging again I guess?)
This is my problem too- if I don’t run, I sleep or do sweet nothing. But then I guess that’s what a break is all about!
Full breaks where you catch up on sleep and everything is the way to go if you can, I think!
I enjoyed the deep thinking! It has to be a good thing that running is less about escaping for you nowadays. But for real though, chocolate and sun butter… You done good kid.
Thanks! I guess I can’t help but squeeze in a deep thought or two 🙂 I agree choc and sunbutter, can’t really go wrong.
This recipe reminded me that I need to make more of my fudge bites made with sweet potato. I was making them every week and then stopped for no reason lol…It’s funny how I really don’t need to tip toe in the house anymore when my son is sleeping. I still can’t believe my baby who was up by 5 am every day without fail now needs to be woken up for school!
I know we’ve talked about it but it really is strange how long it takes moms to “catch up” on how things are in the present! I wonder if I’ll still be tiptoeing when they’re visiting from college?
I know you will. 😉
🙂
If they made chocolate sunbutter, I would be a goner because sunbutter is my favorite. I ACTUALLY don’t know what I will do when I start running again. There is a part of me that is itching to go, a part of me that is scared, and a part of me that just doesn’t know how she feels about the whole thing.
I was just thinking that finding the “meaning of running” has now replaced finding the meaning of life 🙂 I guess our approach to running and running itself changes with the times and with life stuff, as it should and as it has to! It’s also hard to remove the “shoulds” from the equation and just run and see what happens.
There actually is a chocolate sun butter at the winco near where I live now! I wanna try that!
you are so spot on with this post ! i ACTUALLY realized last night that i really felt like i needed a rest day but if i didnt work out after work i would have made myself clean out a closet and i really didnt want to do that. i realized that i was totally running/working out to get out of having to do the clean out. which is sooooo stupid cuz i gotta do the clean out regardless before friday (we are painting this weekend) so in the long run i cant avoid it. i guess it sorta hit me that i was running away from the closet. for the record…closet is not clean as we speak yet.
I do find i have some extra time when not working out but i dont usually use it productively.
I’ve actually never tried sunbutter. i really like peanut butter and try to like almond butter so i guess i’ve never really thought about trying sunbutter. someday.
I know what you mean about the closet thing. When people have made comments like, “wow you’re disciplined” I just think to myself “I’m ACTUALLY taking the easy way out.” It’s easy to disguise avoidance as discipline! Of course in the long run we can’t avoid the closet or whatever else. A running break reminds me of that. It also puts in perspective that running is not my life, duh 😉
I love stories like that..so cute! I don’t have kids, but my fiance would probably have the same reaction if I took a break from running. These look fantastic and I can’t wait to try them out 🙂
Hope you try! And yeah, funny how everyone gets used to our routine, not just us!
I don’t have children, but my boyfriend definitely notices when I don’t work out or deviate from my scheduled workout. Usually he thinks I’m sick or have a Crohn’s flare. When I randomly decide to take time off he’s almost shocked! But again – rest is a good think 🙂 LOVE sun butter… I need to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Funny how loved ones are worried when we’re NOT running! They’re even more used to our routine than we are 🙂
Ah, you used coconut flour! Love it!
Sunflower Butter is my go-to for when I make sandwiches! I have to have my MaraNatha Sunflower Butter!
I don’t buy sunflower butter enough, when I have a jar I use it up quickly though!
Hi Michele! Enjoy that down-time! And even though I’m a creature of habit, I do like to take a week off from my regular workouts once or twice a year, and I enjoy that time away from it. These bites sound yummy! And yes, big fan of sunbutter. Have a great day, Momma! 🙂
Twice a year sounds perfect. We need some down time to get perspective and just give our bodies a break!
I’ve never tried sunbutter before. I guess I need to? I love it when kids overuse new words. So cute. My kids are used to seeing me in my running clothes. I’ll sometimes be putting Katie to bed and she’ll scrunch her nose up at me and ask if I’m sweaty and if I am, could I please change first before she hugs me? I don’t really blame her. 😛
Drew really repeats everything he hears, it definitely shows me what I’m saying all the time 🙂 So cute, my kids are not fans of sweaty hugs either.
ok i don’t know which i like more, the recipe or your prelude to the recipe??? i ACTUALLY love the banter, lol. drew is hysterical, i actually love that word, too. and clearly… clearly i love to ramble, and clearly i love stories that introduce delicious recipes!
i happen to (see, didn’t say actually but i had to think) LOVE sunbutter!!! omg yummy. this stuff is just awesome, and since i have not had it in years it is a great time to reintroduce it to our kitchen. yay!
my last day at this job is tomorrow… so my routine is about to be totally thrown and i imagine it will be for the BETTER 🙂
thanks for a nice morning chuckle, i always love your posts Michele!
Will be interesting to see how your routine change makes you feel, I think when you’re ready for it it’s always for the better 🙂 I love sunbutter but don’t buy it often enough!
And glad you like the pre-recipe stories!
Once again, your balls look amazing 😉
And I’m flattered, again 😉
While I was injured and couldn’t do cardio, I made zillions of recipes. Not running can certainly have its perks! Drew is too cute!
It’s not even that I have SO much more time but I feel less frazzled and that definitely helps with recipes! Thanks 🙂
Yum! I love sunbutter! I may add a little Skoop protein powder into these too!!
That could definitely replace a little of the coconut flour, good thinking 🙂 I might try that for next time!
those times were needed and now less time for workouts is needed.I totally get that. But the good thing is you know what’s important, for you and your family, right? CHeers to good mornings! and these, YUM!
Different times require different approaches, that is for sure!
These look awesome. I’ve been fighting the urge to buy coconut flour because I’m confused by it and it’s pretty pricey, but these may be my tipping point!
It’s great once you get used to it. A little goes a long way!
I am so making these this weekend! I am sunbutter’s #1 fan. I found that eating too many nuts makes me breakout!
I don’t eat a lot of nuts to begin with but I’m always battling breakouts to some degree, it seems hormonal but I do wonder if it’s something I’m eating. At this point I’m not about to give up anything else though!
Even though I love my nut butters, I DO love sunbutter because of the saltiness 🙂 But oh my do these look wonderful, and easy to make!
xoxo Sarah Grace, Fresh Fit N Healthy.
Really easy to make! I agree sunbutter is a nice change from nut butters 🙂
These look like an awesome post workout snack! yum 🙂
Thanks!
Calories/Nutrition Info on these babies?! THANKS!!
I don’t keep track – your estimate would be as good as mine – sorry!
Just made them looks delicious. I now live in Savannah Ga and it has been over 100 everyday. Running has been out. So I am using my in door machines. I have celiac and without exercising I am sick. Will return to running when it cools down
Very delicious and easy to make! I substituted peppermint extract in place of vanilla for a chocolate mint flavor.
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