If you know me, you'll know that I love cheese. Throw me a theme, and I'll roll with it. And roll with it some more.
I adore everything about Christmas. I am THAT person who puts her tree up before December 1, and who blasts out all those classic (*ahem* Wham and Slade) songs given any opportunity. I still wake up at 4am to check my stocking, still devour entire tins of Quality Street, and I definitely still leave a mince pie out for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph.
Given all that, Christmas is the perfect excuse for me to put my creative hat on and get more than a little bit carried away. From last week's (secretly healthy) mince pies to these Christmas Pudding Energy Bites, I'll never tire of finding a way to create something festive, or reinvent some old favourites.
For these Energy Bites, I turned my old recipe on its head a little and whipped some up with the incredible Hognuts Christmas Pudding flavour nut butter (I am so sad that this one is a limited edition - I have no words for just how good it is!).
When topped with some Sukrin zero calorie / zero carb icing sugar, these are the perfect afternoon treat to keep you going and powering through those work Christmas parties and beyond.
What are your favourite Christmas indulgences?
Sam x
CHRISTMAS PUDDING ENERGY BITES
Ingredients:
200g Hognuts Christmas pudding nut butter
2-3 tbsp honey or maple syrup
2 tbsp Lucy Bee coconut oil
100g rolled oats
4 tbsp vanilla protein powder
Added extras (all optional):
Handful raisins
Handful chopped dates / apricots
Handful sugar-free dark chocolate chips
Pinch of salt
Sprinkling of cinnamon
Splash vanilla extract
To decorate:
Sukrin Zero Calorie Icing Sugar
Method:
1) In the microwave, melt together the peanut butter, honey and coconut oil in 20 second blasts until combined (around one minute).
2) Stir the rolled oats and vanilla protein into the peanut butter mixture, then throw in your choice of added extras and mix well. Roll the mixture into balls, then set aside to firm up. If the mix is too sticky, then stir in more oats or protein. Too dry and add a touch more coconut oil or honey.
3) Once the bites have hardened, drizzle over some icing sugar (mix it with water) and decorate however you fancy!
