Healthy Nut Butter Cups

Servings: 24
Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 cup favorite nut butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup favorite chocolate, cut into pieces

Directions:

Blend all ingredients (except chocolate) in a mixer until smooth. Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler. DO NOT OVERHEAT THEM. . . It makes them gritty and tough.

Line a muffin tin. (All I had was large paper muffin liners, but these would be perfect in mini muffins too.) Pour a tablespoon or so of melted chocolate into the paper liner and brush the chocolate up the sides; no need to be exact. The chocolate will harden almost instantly as you brush it up the sides. Fill with the nut butter filling and place in the freezer.

Store under refrigeration or in the freezer! You could always use a zester to put some pretty chocolate curls on top or a few extra chocolate chips.

Recipe and photo submitted by Tessa, Hillsboro, OR.

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Lemon, Coconut Energy Bites

Preparation Time: about 20 minutes
Servings: 10 bites

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup almonds
• 1/4 cup cashews
• 6 dates
• 1/4 cup almond butter
• 1 tablespoon Coconut Cream Concentrate
• 1 tablespoon lemon extract
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 2 teaspoon maca powder
• optional toppings: unsweetened, shredded coconut, lemon zest

Directions:

In a food processor, grind up your almonds and cashews until they make a grainy, flour-like consistency. Add in the dates and blend. Next, add in the rest of the ingredients (except optional toppings) and blend until the dough begins forming a ball.

Roll the mixture into 1/2-inch balls. If you are using toppings, spread them out on a flat plate and roll the balls in the toppings, coating them completely, and serve.

Recipe and photo submitted by Julie, Burlington, MA.

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