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These brownie bites are not only chocolatey and delicious, but packed with the maca, a superfood that can boost your stamina for athletic outdoor endeavors.
Maca powder comes from the maca plant, specifically the maca plant root. Also called Peruvian ginseng, maca is considered a cruciferous vegetable and contains vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Maca can provide a plethora of benefits, like increasing , increase , speed up wound healing, damage caused by UV rays, and .
One had eight male cyclists take maca orally for two weeks to see if it would improve endurance performance. After the study’s experiment period, it was concluded that the maca did improve the cyclists 40 km time trail.
Even through all the benefits of maca, the best thing about these brownies might just be that they don’t require baking. Whip them up to fuel your next bike ride, long run, or hike.
Ingredients
- 2 cups pitted dates
- 1 cup almond meal
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (TRY: NOW Foods Unsweetened Shredded Organic Coconut)
- 1/2 cup cacao nibs
- 1/2 cup ground chia seeds
- 1/4 cup maca powder (TRY: Navitas Naturals Raw Maca Powder)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cacao powder
- 1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
Preparation
1. To a food processor, add dates, almond meal, coconut and cacao nibs. Process for 1 to 2 minutes, until finely ground. Add chia, maca, cacao powder, cinnamon and salt and process again to combine, about 20 seconds.
2. Add maple syrup and process again for 10 more seconds to combine (dough will be sticky). (NOTE: You may need to process in batches and combine in a large bowl depending on the size and capacity of your food processor.)
3. Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. Transfer mixture to dish and press into an even layer with your hands. Transfer to freezer for 30 minutes, until firm.
4. Lift brownies out of dish (using edges of parchment) and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into 25 squares. Keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 1 month.
Nutrition Information
- Serving Size 1 bite
- Calories 135
- Carbohydrate Content 17 g
- Fat Content 7 g
- Fiber Content 6 g
- Protein Content 3 g
- Sugar Content 10 g