Cherry Bites are the perfect snack to fuel your day with a burst of tart cherry goodness! Made with a blend of dried cherries, cashew butter, your fav protein powder, chopped cashews and a hint of honey, they are naturally sweet, chewy, and packed with healthy energy. These bites are ideal for busy mornings, post-workout snacks, or whenever you need a quick pick-me-up.

Each one is like a bite of deliciously tart cherry pie. This is one of my favourite treats. Only 5 ingredients and super easy to make too.  I like to keep them in the freezer for easy snacks. You can play around with which fruit and nuts you use. However, the cherries with cashew nuts/butter and dark chocolate is definitely a winner!

They are a great snack. Rich in protein, fiber, and nourishing fats, these will keep you feeling both full and satisfied in between meals so you are not constantly searching around for something more. YESSS…two different types of cashews, cherries and chocolate combine for a healthy snacking win. A dream trio, indeed.

These protein snacks are supposed to be stored in the freezer and we LOVE a good freezer treat, right!? You can definitely store some in the fridge, I just love a more firm fudge texture! Either option is good.

When I was first studying nutrition as part of my fitness qualifications, I was fascinated to learn that our cravings are truly messengers for us and when we can learn to work with them and not fear them, they can really improve our ability to tune into our hunger cues and serve our body’s needs – not just physically but mentally and emotionally.

Diet culture has trained us to think that cravings and overeating are somehow a failure on our part when in reality these urges are often our body’s physiological response to restrictive eating habits.

As I started working with clients to help them release that diet mentality and improve their relationship with food one of the biggest surprises for them has consistently been when I suggested *adding* a snack or two into their day rather than implementing more willpower. The result – more energy, more stable appetite, less intense cravings or feeling out of control around food and more body trust!

In case you have not heard of this….the “addition diet,” also known as the “add, not subtract” approach to your eating, is a method that focuses on incorporating nutrient-rich, wholesome foods into your meals and snacks rather than emphasizing what foods to eliminate or restrict. This approach encourages a positive and sustainable relationship with food by adding fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, dairy, nuts, seeds, and other unprocessed ingredients to your diet.

The idea is that by filling your plate with nutritious options, there’s naturally less room for empty calories, which can lead to weight loss without the feeling of deprivation often associated with traditional diets. It’s about creating a balanced and satisfying diet that includes the foods you enjoy while meeting your nutritional needs.

A bit deep for snacks, hey? Haha… But this is just one of the many reasons I am such a fan of snacks! Snacks tend to get a bad reputation, but in reality they are something you can add into your nutrition toolbox to help keep you feeling good and energized throughout the day and make you less likely to tuck into less than healthy choices when cravings become overwhelming.

I am going to experiment with fresh cherries for this recipe when they are in season but for now, dried cherries is where it’s at, you could absolutely substitute the cherries for cranberries (or any other berries) if you fancy too. Equally as fabulous outcome I would imagine. Most pre-portioned snacks at the grocery store are so expensive and often way overpriced. They often have sugar or other unhealthy ingredients in them too, which makes them less attractive to have in you healthy eating regime.

But by making your own, you control the cost and quality of the ingredients and can make sure they are clean eating snacks. These bars have simple and clean ingredients anyways so its pretty easy to replicate them at home. These are a great snack to keep on hand for an any time, after school, after work and are a great energy bar recipe for fitness enthusiasts, runners, cyclists, hikers, and other busy athletes.

I store them in the fridge, they will keep at least a week if you can get them to last that long!  They freeze well too, so feel free to double the batch! I love a good no-bake recipe when you want to prepare some snacks for the week ahead or make a dessert to impress without all the fuss. These little bites tick all the boxes – healthy, protein-rich and of course delicious.

I’ve kept all the good parts about a much-loved chocolate treat and made a healthier, lighter and fruitier alternative for when you want something still chocolatey but better-for-you.

Quick question before I go, would it be wrong to eat this whole batch in one day? Asking for a friend. Obviously. 🙂

Chocolate Cherry Cashew Protein Bites

Chocolate base, cashew butter, chopped cashews and cherries on the inside, topped with melted chocolate – all in one irresistible little bite! Healthy, protein-rich, no bake, and so easy to make. They are packed full of flavor, and make the perfect healthy snack!

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine Healthy Clean Eating

Keyword cashew date protein candy bars, cherry cashew protein bites, chocolate cherry cashew protein bites, chocolate cherry protein bites, clean eating candy, clean eating dessert or snack, healthy cherry candy bites

Servings 6

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup chocolate chips
• 2 teaspoons coconut oil
• 3/4 cup cherries, fresh, dried or canned
• 1/2 cup cashew butter
• 1 scoop protein or collagen peptides powder
• 1/2 cup cashew nuts, toasted, chopped

Instructions

• Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in small dish and microwave with 15 second bursts stirring between each one until melted and smooth.

  Or use double boiler method - (pot of boiling water with a bowl resting on top) melt the chocolate chips and the coconut oil together.

  Once melted, add a spoonful of melted chocolate to a silicone cupcake tray or a cupcake case. Put in the freezer to set for 5 minutes

  If using fresh cherries, cut them in half and remove the stone.  Put two halves into each cup. If using dried cherries, use 2-3 in each cup.

  Place the cashew butter in a small dish and add the protein powder to it and mix it in. Add a spoonful of cashew butter/protein mix into each of the 6 cavities.

  Add the chopped cashews on top of the cashew/protein mix (just divide up what you have between the 6 bites).

  Spoon over the rest of the chocolate to cover. Put back in the freezer to set.

  You can store in the fridge if you want a softer middle but I like to keep in the freezer so they will last longer (in theory!)  

Print Recipe

If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, protein-rich, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites