The sweetness of a cookie, but the nutritional power of a bicep muscle—these vegan banana bites are one tasty snack! Combining energizing foods for a base using bananas, oats, nuts, nut butter and maca powder first, later tossed with crunchy pepitas (also known as pumpkin seeds in the U.S. of A) and fresh raisins, you mouth enjoys a mixture of flavors and textures in these little balls of joy.

PREP TIME: 15 minutes prep, 1 hour refrigeration 
SERVES: 12 1″ balls (más o menos)
TAGS: raw, dairy-free, vegan, protein, post-workout, pre-workout, travel snack

INGREDIENTS

• 2 ripe bananas
• 2 C gluten free oats
• 1/4 C almond or natural peanut butter*
• 1/4 C honey
• 2 tbsp raisins
• 1 tbsp raw, unsalted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp Navitas Maca Powder

*Feel free to substitute any of the nuts for your tastebuds, including cashew, almonds—get creative!

DIRECTIONS

1. Smoosh ripe bananas in a bowl with a fork
2. Add in oats, nut butter, honey, cinnamon and maca powder
3. Mix ingredients until contents are blended evenly
4. Fold in raisins and pepitas
5. Roll with hands (yay!) in to 1″ balls
6. Refrigerate one hour to “bind” ingredients (these are raw, after all)
7. Plate when ready to serve! Store in refrigerator up to 5 days, or freeze up to 3 months
8. See option two for a cookie variation below!

OPTION TWO: MAKE IT A COOKIE!

Almost any ball recipe you find can be recreated to make a cookie. Simply use the flat bottom of a glass cup and press down on the 1″ balls until they become about a 3/4″ high cookie shape. In these, I chose to top with some unsweetened coconut flakes for a little extra taste and styling points.

Kitchen Tip: This cookie variation is a great option for a make-ahead dessert. Prep the balls in advance, refrigerating or freezing (if longer than 3 days) the day you’re ready to plate and serve.