I recently had the joy of participating in an event with some fantastic children during the “school done differently” week. I was tasked with creating a recipe that could be easily prepared with the little ones. It had to be a healthy option that didn’t involve cooking or freezing – something that could be made on the spot and enjoyed right away.

So, I thought of making energy bites – not because the little ones lacked energy, but because I wanted their energy to come from nourishing nutrients and vitamins.

It was an amazing experience. Every child was fully engaged, eager to craft their own energy bites and learn as much as they could about the benefits of a wholesome dessert. We had a blast together, and they couldn’t stop raving about how delicious the treats were.

While the energy bites disappeared quickly, I’d like to mention that if you let them sit in the fridge for a day, they’ll become denser, and the flavours will meld even more.

From the ingredients listed below, we made about 60 energy bites, each about the size of a nut.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dates (soaked in warm water for 30 minutes)
• 1/2 cup sunflower butter
• 1/4 cup hazelnut butter
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 1/4 cup hemp seeds
• 1/2 cup almond flakes
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup finely shredded coconut

For decoration:

• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 2 teaspoons beetroot powder

Instructions:

Drain the dates, place them in a food processor, and blend until creamy. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.

Take a small portion of the raw vegan dough and roll it into a ball.

In a bowl, combine the shredded coconut for decoration with the beetroot powder to achieve a lovely pink hue.

Roll each ball in the coconut mixture until no flakes adhere.

Place them on a dish and serve immediately. They’ll have a slightly soft texture.

For a denser texture, refrigerate them for a few hours.

(Note: “School done differently” refers to a week in the Romanian educational system where children have the opportunity to learn about topics they are interested in, in a non-formal setting.)