Name: Makhana Energy Bites with Dates and Prunes (No Bake)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 cups Makhana/Fox Nuts/Lotus Seeds (Use unroasted); 15 dates; 15 prunes; ½ cup almonds; ½ cup walnuts; ½ cup peanuts; ¼ cup sesame seeds; ¼ cup coconut powder/dessicated coconut (unsweetened); 4 tbsp Jaggery (unrefined cane sugar); 2 tablespoons ghee/clarified butter (optional (avoid if vegan))

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These no bake, nutritious, guilt free, low sugar bites of nutty deliciousness are perfect to indulge in whenever hunger pangs hit you or when you need an energy boost!

Sweetened with just dates, prunes and a dash of jaggery but overloaded with nuts, makhana/fox nuts/lotus seeds and a dash of coconut and sesame seeds, I know I am going to make these flavor bombs/energy shots again and again.

All you need is a high speed blender or a food processor to make these easy bites of scrumptiousness.

Serve them as a mid morning snack, in lunch boxes or even as an after lunch or dinner dessert.

They make great edible gifts too especially during festive seasons.

Makhana Energy Bites/Laddus

Energy bites are normally super easily made, no bake, nutritious, high energy balls of a mixture of oats, dates, chocolate chips, peanut butter etc. along with sweeteners, preferably healthier options; along with nuts, seeds etc., full of healthy fats, fiber and delicious flavors.

All the ingredients are blitzed to a coarse mixture and then formed into small balls of sweet delight.

Totally customizable according to your taste and preference with ingredients you have or like.

Basically no bake, almost no cook and quick to put together!

These Makhana bites have, as indicated, some roasted makhana or as more popularly known as fox nuts or lotus seeds as the main ingredient along with dates, some prunes, both of which add a natural sweetness and of course I need a lots of nuts in my sweet treat bites!

Makhana, (popularly known as Phool Makhana in India), are packed with nutrients and are a good source of protein and fiber, along with micronutrients like calcium, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus.

A powerhouse of good for you nutrients, it is becoming increasingly popular to consume in most houses on a daily basis.

I have even added these to curry to make my oft repeated VEGAN MAKHANA MATAR MAKHANI! Do check that out too.

Along with this super food makhana, I have added nuts, seeds, some dates and prunes to give a natural sweetness and a dash of jaggery to make it perfectly sweet.

Once you make it, I am sure you are going to love it too!

INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE MAKHANA ENERGY BITES

MAKHANA : Also known as fox nuts or Lotus Seeds. These are easily available online or in any Indian grocery store.

DATES: These add a natural sweetness to these energy bites.

PRUNES: Prunes not only add a truckload of nutrients but also add to the sweetness, again naturally.

NUTS AND SEEDS: Most energy bites contain some nuts and/or seeds. Here I have used almonds, walnuts and peanuts along with some sesame seeds (roasted or unroasted). You can use whichever you want or have.

SWEETENER: Just a tad bit. I prefer using jaggery, an unrefined version of cane sugar.

Although dates and prunes add most of the sweetness to these energy bites, a dash of jaggery powder rounds off the sweetness to the level and flavor I like.

Jaggery powder is easily available in any Indian store or even online. You can substitute with date sugar, maple syrup, honey etc. too.

GHEE/CLARIFIED BUTTER: This is optional but Indians love to consume ghee (albeit a dash of it) in most sweets and desserts especially when consuming dates as it slows down the absorption of sugars when eating dates. If vegan, you can avoid it.

DESSICATED COCONUT: Optional, but adds a tropical flavor to the whole experience.

HOW TO MAKE MAKHANA ENERGY BITES

Measure 2 cups of makhana and dry roast in a pan on medium low for 5-6 minutes stirring often until they turn crisp.

Remove and set aside.

In the same pan roast ½ cup each of almonds and walnuts for a couple of minutes. When hot to the touch, remove to a bowl.

Next roast ½ cup peanuts. This one may take a slightly longer time but make sure to roast on medium low. Remove and set aside.

Turn off the heat and roast 1/4 cup each sesame seeds (if using unroasted) and coconut for a minute or so, stirring continuously.

(I used already roasted sesame seeds).

The heat of the pan is enough to roast and remove any excess moisture in them.

Now, the next step is to blitz, grind or mix all these with dates and prunes along with jaggery powder to a coarse mixture.

Just drop the roasted nuts (walnuts, almonds and peanuts with skin), roasted makhana, 15 dates, 15 prunes, 2 tablespoons each of roasted sesame seeds and desiccated unsweetened coconut in the bowl of a food processor or high powered blender.

Use the rest of the sesame seeds and coconut to coat the energy bites if preferred or add the rest here too!

Grind to a coarse mixture, stopping in between to check the texture.

Taste and check for sweetness. If needed, add jaggery powder. I have added 4 tablespoons to get the sweetness my family loves. You can start adding just 2 tablespoons at first and if needed add more.

When the mixture is ready, remove into a bowl.

Make equal sized balls and enjoy immediately or chill in refrigerator and enjoy!

For more variation, roll the balls in either sesame seeds or coconut powder.

Enjoy and Happy Eating!

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

These delicious Makhana Energy Bites are a perfect guilt free, high energy snack to indulge in at any time.

They are a perfect after dinner/lunch dessert, great for lunch boxes or picnics and make an amazing nutritious edible gift for any occasion.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for that perfect texture but taste amazing at room temperature too especially if you love your energy bites soft and tender.

For more similar easy and nutritious snacks, check these out too:

Now, time to PRINT/SAVE so that you can make them too:

Makhana Energy Bites with Dates and Prunes (No Bake)

Sweetened with just dates, prunes and a dash of jaggery but overloaded with nuts, makhana or fox nuts and a dash of coconut, sesame seeds,

I know I am going to make these flavor bombs/energy shots again and again.

Absolutely addictive and so easy to make!

Course Dessert, Snacks

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 25

Author Vanitha

Ingredients

2 cups Makhana/Fox Nuts/Lotus Seeds Use unroasted
15 dates
15 prunes
½ cup almonds
½ cup walnuts
½ cup peanuts
¼ cup sesame seeds
¼ cup coconut powder/dessicated coconut unsweetened
4 tbsp Jaggery (unrefined cane sugar)
2 tablespoons ghee/clarified butter optional (avoid if vegan)

Instructions

Measure 2 cups of makhana and dry roast in a pan on medium low for 5-6 minutes stirring often until they turn crisp.
Remove and set aside.
In the same pan roast ½ cup each of almonds and walnuts for a couple of minutes. When hot to the touch, remove to a bowl.
Next roast ½ cup peanuts. This may take a slightly longer time but make sure to roast on medium low. Remove and set aside.
I like to leave the skin on. You may deskin the roasted peanuts if you like.
Turn off the heat and roast 1/4 cup each sesame seeds (if using unroasted) and desiccated coconut in the same pan for a minute or so, stirring continuously.
The heat of the pan is enough to roast and remove any excess moisture in them.
Now, the next step is to blitz, grind or mix all these with dates and prunes along with jaggery powder to a coarse mixture.
Just drop the roasted nuts (walnuts, almonds and peanuts with skin), roasted makhana, 15 dates, 15 prunes, 2 tablespoons each of sesame seeds and desiccated unsweetened coconut (or all of it if not coating the bliss balls with them) in the bowl/jar of a food processor or high powered blender.
Grind to a coarse mixture, stopping in between to stir and check the texture.
Taste and check for sweetness. If needed, add jaggery powder.
I have added 4 tablespoons to get the sweetness my family loves.
You can start adding just 2 tablespoons and then if needed add more.
When the mixture is ready and forms a sticky mass, remove into a bowl.
Make equal sized balls and enjoy immediately or chill in refrigerator and enjoy!
(For more variation, roll the balls in either toasted sesame seeds or coconut powder).
Coated in melted chocolate (especially healthier dark chocolate) sounds amazing too!
Enjoy and Happy Eating!

Recipe Notes

Adjust the amount of jaggery according to personal taste.
Use any mixture of nuts/seeds you like or have
If you cannot find or like prunes, then use only dates.
Instead of jaggery, you can use any sweetener of your choice like maple syrup, honey, date syrup etc.
For more peanutty flavor, feel free to add a tablespoon or two of peanut butter.
Enjoy and Happy Eating!