No-Bake Energy Bites with Oats, Dried Fruits, and Dark Chocolate

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

Chop the dried fruits and nuts: Begin by finely chopping the dried apricots and walnuts. You want them to be small enough to distribute evenly throughout the bites but still offer a bit of texture.

Mash the banana: In a small bowl, mash the banana with a fork until it becomes a smooth puree.

Melt the dark chocolate: Break the dark chocolate into small pieces and melt it. You can do this by microwaving it in 20-30 second intervals, stirring between each interval, or using a double boiler. Once melted, stir in the teaspoon of vegetable oil for a smoother consistency.

Step 2: Combine the Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, mix together the rolled oats, raisins, chopped walnuts, and dried apricots. Stir them until they’re evenly distributed throughout.

Step 3: Add the Banana and Melted Chocolate

Add the mashed banana to the dry mixture. The banana will help bind the ingredients together while adding a natural sweetness.

Pour the melted dark chocolate into the mixture, making sure it coats all the ingredients. The chocolate acts as both a binder and a flavor booster.

Step 4: Shape the Energy Bites