Simple, raw, bite-sized, naturally sweetened collagen bites with chocolate and pecan pie tastes that don’t need any effort or sugar! Raw, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and paleo are all options. Next, try my apple pie and coconut-lemon-puffed-seed energy bites.

Energy bites > pie

I’m sure I’ve stated it before, but I’m not a big lover of pie. Depending on the kind, it may be a pain in the ass to create the crust, then cook a filling, pour it just so, bake it without it overflowing, making sure the crust edges don’t burn but are still cooked through ugh. I’d prefer not to.

I’m sure there are others who would argue that creating a layer cake is just as difficult, what with the leveling, ensuring the texture is correct, making the frosting, and decorating the cake.

Although you are accurate that it may be time consuming and detailed, but for some reason I like that kind. Maybe it’s because cake = icing. That’s most likely why.

My fianc loves pie (this strawberry rhubarb pie is a favorite for his birthday), so I try to remember that pie is adored by almost everyone else in the planet, so I should get over myself and simply make one once and again.

OR I can still avoid it by converting pie into mini energy pieces, which involve significantly less preparation, no crust, and don’t need me to explain the calories. Then there are the Pecan Pie Energy Bites. ChocolatePecan Pie Energy Bites, to be exact.

I’ve had a recipe concept for a raw chocolate pecan pie in my brain for a couple of years, but I haven’t gotten it precisely right yet. Therefore, in its place, I wanted to bake something with nuts and chocolate for the holidays.

And because I’m trying all in my power not to eat everything in sight so that my poor wedding gown doesn’t burst at the seams in February, I believe this is a decent compromise to have some nutty dessert tastes while still being quite healthy.

Ingredients for pecan pie energy bites

• No added sugar! Medjool dates: This is where the sweetness comes from!
• Cashew butter or almond butter (affiliate link): Cashew is my personal preference for these, but almond also works well.
• Pecans: Because pecan pie bits would be incomplete without them.
• Collagen peptides (affiliate link): I use Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides (affiliate link), which promotes healthy skin, hair, and nails as well as joint health.
• Chia seeds: Helps to reduce appetite and is high in omega-3 fatty acids, carbs, protein, fiber, antioxidants, and calcium.
• Vanilla essence, salt, and cinnamon: Just a little something to enhance taste.

And for the chocolate version, we’re also adding:

• Raw cacao powder (aff link) is unprocessed and contains minerals such as magnesium, calcium, iron, fiber, and protein.
• Tiny chocolate chips: Because, you know, chocolate (I use Enjoy Life mini chips)

When I took them into my workplace, everyone loved them. One individual threatened to take the whole container, while another described them as “simply lovely.”

True, he was inclined to like them since it was his birthday and I was essentially allowing him to eat pie for breakfast.

I received requests for more of them, but they had no idea I had a hidden second container of them waiting in the wings. I’m a true wicked genius.

It’s not like biting into a truffle or anything with a hard shell on the exterior with these. It has the consistency of cookie dough and is comparable to the apple pie bits I prepared last year.

I know some people are afraid about getting chia seeds caught in their teeth when they see chia seeds, but there is a very minimal quantity in these and I have yet to have any stuck in my teeth, and believe me, I have eaten a lot of these in one sitting.

If you’re really concerned, you may leave out the chia seeds; you’ll merely be losing out on their nutritious content, but it won’t alter the taste.

I’ll let you know when I eventually master that raw chocolate pecan pie recipe, but in the meanwhile, let’s indulge in these little guys and feel good about all the calories we’ll be saving for Christmas cookies in a few months 3