Chocolate Almond Butter Banana Bites!

These frozen treats are the PERFECT post-dinner dessert. They are cold and refreshing, and the frozen banana has somewhat of an ice cream-y texture. They are nutty, chocolatey, and perfectly sweet! Make a batch and store them in the freezer for an easy sweet bite after a meal!

Ingredients:

(makes about 20 bites)

• 2 bananas

• 1/4 cup almond butter (or nut butter of choice)

• 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips

• 2 tsp coconut oil

• sprinkle of cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

• Line a large plate or baking sheet with parchment paper

• Peel and slice the banana into 1/4- 1/2 inch rounds

• Lay 1/2 of the bananas on the parchment paper. Spoon almond butter onto banana slices. Top with the remaining banana slices to make little “sandwiches”. Place in freezer for one hour.

• Melt chocolate and coconut oil on the stovetop over low heat, stirring constantly until melted together (or microwave). Remove from heat and stir in a sprinkle of cinnamon if desired.

• Take banana “sandwiches” and dip into the melted chocolate until covered halfway. Then place back in the freezer for a few minutes until fully frozen.

• Eat and enjoy!

Pumpkin Smoothie

You can have this smoothie for breakfast, but if you’re like me, you’d rather have it for dessert! It tastes like a pumpkin milkshake, but you can fully enjoy it knowing there is no dairy or refined sugars. The banana adds a natural sweetness and the spices make this smoothie/milkshake taste festive and seasonal. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 banana

• 1 cup frozen cauliflower

• ½ cup pumpkin puree

• ½ cup and 2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk

• ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice

• ⅛ tsp cinnamon

• 1 tbsp almond butter

Directions:

• Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth

Tip! Make this into a smoothie bowl by topping with toasted pecans, coconut, and banana slices with a sprinkling of cinnamon.

Pumpkin Spice Energy Bites

These pumpkin spice energy bites are perfect for when you need a quick energy-boosting snack or you’re rushed for time in the morning and need a quick breakfast. They are loaded with healthy proteins, fats, and fiber, meaning they will satisfy your tastes, help stave off hunger, and keep your blood sugar levels stable. I personally love having one of these with some tea as an afternoon treat. Enjoy!

Ingredients

(makes 10 energy balls)

• 1 ¼ cup old fashioned oats

• ½ cup pecans

• ½ cup pumpkin puree

• ⅓ cup almond butter

• 3 tbsp maple syrup 

• 3 tbsp ground flaxseed

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 ½ tsp pumpkin pie spie

• Pinch of salt

• 3 tbsp mini chocolate chips (optional)

Directions:

• Pulse the oats and pecans in a food processor or blender. 

• Add pulsed oats and pecans along with the remaining ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix until well combined. Chill in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes and then roll into 10 balls. 

• Store in the refrigerator or freezer.

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bowl

This breakfast dish is so cozy and comforting. It’s absolutely perfect for that crisp fall morning, where you’re craving something that’s warming. This oatmeal tastes delicious and it’s full of healthy fats and protein with the coconut oil, flaxseed or chia seed, and almond butter to help keep your blood sugar levels balanced and your energy up all day!

Ingredients

(serves 1)

• ½ cup rolled oats

• ½  cup water

• ½  cup unsweetened almond milk

• 1 tbsp chia seeds or ground flaxseed

• 2 tsp coconut oil

• ½ tsp cinnamon

• 1 organic, crisp apple, diced

• 1 tbsp almond butter

Directions:

• Heat coconut oil in a medium sized saucepan over medium heat.

• Add in the ¾ of the apples and sauté for about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the cinnamon.

• Add in oats, water, almond milk, chia seeds or ground flaxseed, and a pinch of salt. Stir and bring to a boil. Then reduce to a simmer and let cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring every so often until oats are cooked and have absorbed most of the liquid.

• Remove oatmeal from heat and ladle into a bowl.

• Top with 1 tbsp almond butter, the remaining apple pieces, a sprinkle of cinnamon and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup for added sweetness (optional)

Note: This recipe is easy to double, triple, or quadruple. Plan ahead and make some for the week to store in the fridge and then reheat for easy breakfasts!

Health Benefits of Apples:

• Apples contain pectin, a type of fiber that acts like a probiotic, which helps promote good bacteria living in our large intestine.

• They are a high fiber food, which helps with digestion and regulating bowel movements

• Apples are a great source of vitamin C, which fights free radical damage and boosts immune health

• Apples are one of the best natural sources of boron, a mineral that is important for building strong bones, muscle mass and for brain function

Sources and Additional Reading:

• https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/health-benefits-of-apple.html

• https://draxe.com/nutrition/apple-nutrition/

• https://www.medicaldaily.com/5-health-benefits-eating-apples-427297

Almond Butter Banana Oat Bars

These almond butter banana oat bars are super quick to whip up, only use a handful of ingredients, and are perfect for a grab-and-go breakfast, as they are loaded with fiber, protein, and healthy fats. I also love them for a little sweet treat after dinner. These bars are made with simple ingredients you can trust, rather than granola bars that are marketed as “healthy” in stores, but have a long list of refined and processed ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 3 ripe bananas

• 1 1/2 cup old fashioned oats

• 3/4 cup creamy natural almond butter

• 3 tbsp ground flaxseed

• 3 tbsp maple syrup

• 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

Ready to go into the oven!

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 8 inch square pan with small amount of coconut oil or use parchment paper

• In large bowl, mash bananas with a fork. Then mix in coconut oil, almond butter, ground flaxseed, and maple syrup.

• Stir in cinnamon, salt, and oats.

• Pour batter into pan and spread evenly.

• Bake for 25- 30 minutes and allow to cool. Slice into 8 bars.

Healthy Blueberry Smoothie

This summer, I was really into smoothies. I was starting to get sick of my green smoothies so decided to try out some new flavors. This one is loaded with nutrient-rich ingredients, like blueberries, cauliflower, and flax seed and I assure you, it is delicious and satisfying! Plus, there’s protein from the almond butter and healthy fats from the avocado and flax to keep you full and satiated. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

(serves 1- 2)

• 1 cup frozen organic cauliflower

• 1 cup frozen organic blueberries

• 1/2 avocado

• 1/2 banana

• 1 tbsp flax seeds

• 1 tbsp almond butter

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

• 1 cup almond milk

Directions:

• Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth

Almond Flour and Almond Butter Banana Bread

This banana recipe is protein-packed and full of healthy fats and nutrients. Using very few ingredients and almost no added sugar, this banana bread can be enjoyed guilt-free. For an extra satisfying and hearty breakfast or snack, I top this banana bread with some almond butter (and maybe a drizzle of honey and cinnamon). In my opinion, banana and almond butter is a tough combination to beat. I hope you enjoy!

Ingredients

• 3 large ripe bananas peeled

• 3 large pasture-raised, organic eggs

• 3 tbsp pure maple syrup

• 1 tbsp melted coconut oil

• 1/4 cup unsweetened and no-salt added creamy almond butter

• 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract

• 1 1/2 cups almond flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

• Line a 9" x 5" loaf pan with parchment paper or grease it with coconut oil

• In a medium sized mixing bowl, add the 3 peeled bananas. Mash them with a fork. Add eggs, and whisk until combined. Add maple syrup, coconut oil, almond butter, and vanilla to bowl. Mix until all ingredients are combined.

• In a separate bowl, mix together almond flour, baking powder, sea salt, and cinnamon.

• Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and fold with a spatula until combined, without overmixing.

• Transfer the batter to loaf pan and smooth into an even layer. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until when a knife is inserted, it comes out without batter.

• Remove banana bread from the oven and allow it to cool before serving.

• Serving suggestion: slice and top with almond butter or coconut oil for a delicious, guilt-free breakfast or snack

Health Benefits of Almond Butter:

• Almond butter is an excellent source of healthy, monounsaturated fats, which are associated with reducing the risk of heart disease.

• Almonds have high levels of magnesium, which promotes the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients

• Almond butter is a great source of fiber, which helps keep blood sugar levels stable

• Almonds contain riboflavin and L-carnitine, which can positively affect neurological activity and prevent cognitive decline.

• Finally, they are full of healthy flavonoids (antioxidants) and Vitamin E.

Sources and additional reading:

• https://www.naturallynutty.com/Organic-Almond-Butter-Health-Benefits_b_22.html

• http://time.com/3983904/almond-butter-healthy/

• https://www.organicfacts.net/almond-butter-vs-peanut-butter.html

• https://draxe.com/almonds-nutrition/