16 Healthy Chocolate Snacks That Taste Like Dessert

by vegabytes

Credit: Photographer: Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer.

Chocolate can fit seamlessly into a healthy and balanced eating pattern, so try incorporating it into these flavorful snacks. Whether you prefer chocolate-covered fruit or a nutty and satisfying energy ball, these tasty bites are everything you need to enjoy chocolate at snacktime. Make recipes like our Chocolate-Covered Puffed Quinoa Bark and Cranberry-Cashew Energy Cups for a pick-me-up that’s choc full of deliciousness.

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Chocolate-Pistachio Energy Balls

Credit: Photographer: Alex Huang.

Credit: Photographer: Alex Huang.

These no-bake chocolate-pistachio energy balls combine black beans, dates and almond butter for a naturally sweet, protein-rich snack. Cocoa powder and chopped chocolate add depth, while pistachios give each bite a crunchy finish.

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02 of 16

Chocolate-Covered Puffed Quinoa Bark

Credit: Photographer: Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer.

Credit: Photographer: Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer.

This quinoa bark combines crunchy puffed quinoa with creamy peanut butter and a drizzle of dark chocolate for a snack that’s sweet, salty and satisfyingly crisp. Freeze-dried strawberries add fruity flavor and a pop of color to each bite.

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03 of 16

Crispy Peanut Butter–Quinoa Balls

Credit: Photographer: Ali Redmond.

Credit: Photographer: Ali Redmond.

These no-bake Crispy Peanut Butter–Quinoa Balls come together in minutes and deliver a perfect mix of salty, sweet and crunchy flavors. The puffed quinoa gives them a light, crispy texture that’s held together with peanut butter and drizzle of chocolate on top. Look for puffed quinoa in the cereal or natural-foods aisle of well-stocked grocery stores, or order it online. If you can’t find it, try puffed brown rice cereal instead for a similar crunch.

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04 of 16

Cranberry-Cashew Energy Cups

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless.

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless.

Beat your afternoon slump with these cranberry-cashew energy cups! They’re a tasty, no-bake snack that’s perfect for a quick pick-me-up. They combine sweet dried cranberries, creamy cashew butter and dark chocolate for a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors. These little cups are easy to make ahead and great for grab-and-go snacks.

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05 of 16

Crunchy High-Protein Quinoa Bites

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

These crunchy quinoa bites are a delicious snack packed with puffed quinoa and almond butter, offering a satisfying crunch and a boost of plant-based protein. Similar to popcorn, puffed quinoa has been heated until it pops, creating a light, crispy texture that works perfectly in this healthy snack.

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06 of 16

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Credit: Photogrpaher: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Credit: Photogrpaher: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

This simple chocolate zucchini bread recipe is rich and chocolaty with pools of molten chocolate chips on top. The subtle sweetness makes it perfect for breakfast or snack served with vanilla Greek-style yogurt and raspberries. There’s no need to dry the grated zucchini as the moisture from the vegetable helps the loaf stay moist.

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07 of 16

Peanut Butter-Banana Chocolate Bark

The key to this sweet dessert is freezing the bananas so they form the base of the bark. We use peanut butter, but you could swap in your favorite nut butter for an equally delicious treat. Be sure to have the chopped peanuts ready to go as soon as you add the chocolate layer—it hardens quickly since everything is frozen. Press the peanuts lightly to make sure they adhere to the bark.

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08 of 16

Chocolate Nut Bark

Use your favorite combination of nuts to make this quick and easy chocolate nut bark.

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09 of 16

Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Yogurt Bark

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong.

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong.

Inspired by the flavors of the viral Dubai chocolate, this frozen yogurt bark combines creamy Greek-style yogurt with honey, pistachios and strawberries. A drizzle of melted chocolate adds richness and a pretty finish. Break the bark into pieces for an easy snack or refreshing dessert.

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10 of 16

Dark Chocolate Cashew Clusters

Credit: Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Sue Mitchell, Prop stylist: Skylar Myers,

Credit: Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Sue Mitchell, Prop stylist: Skylar Myers,

These 3-ingredient sweet treats are a breeze to make and, because dark chocolate clusters take just 15 minutes to prepare, they can be made on short notice to feed a crowd. While cashews contribute a sweet and mild flavor, don’t hesitate to swap them out for an alternative like almonds or peanuts, or try adding dried cranberries or cherries for a delightfully tangy twist.

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Chocolate-Caramel Energy Bars

Credit: Brie Passano

Credit: Brie Passano

Inspired by a Twix candy bar, these healthy energy bars with an oat crust will give your body a boost and satisfy your sweet tooth.

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12 of 16

3-Ingredient Chocolate & Almond Butter Dates

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

These stuffed dates can be an easy dessert or snack when you’re craving something sweet. We love the mild flavor of almond butter, but natural peanut butter would be a nice substitute. A flaky sea salt like Maldon elevates the flavor. Be sure to sprinkle the salt over the dates before the chocolate has set.

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13 of 16

Vegan Chocolate-Dipped Frozen Banana Bites

These bite-size frosty morsels of frozen banana, peanut butter and vegan chocolate make a perfect low-calorie snack or easy dessert. These banana bites store well in the freezer, so make some ahead and keep them on hand for those moments you crave a taste of something sweet.

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Coconut Peanut Butter Balls

All you need are four simple ingredients to make healthier coconutty peanut butter balls that kids and grownups will love. Make this easy recipe for a bite-size treat, on-the-go snack or easy homemade gift. You can swap the peanut butter for almond butter or even sunflower seed butter if you need a nut-free snack for school.

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Caramel Delight Energy Balls

Think of these easy no-bake cookies as a healthy makeover of one of our favorite Girl Scout Cookies—chewy caramel, dark chocolate and toasted coconut come together with fiber-boosting oats instead of sugar and flour. And the best part? They take only 15 minutes from start to finish.

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Raspberry-Jam Bites

Credit: Sara Baurley

Credit: Sara Baurley

It doesn’t get easier—or more delicious—than this simple three-ingredient snack. Chia seeds and raspberries add fiber to these healthy frozen bites. Chocolate provides a touch of sweetness to balance the tartness of the berries.

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Read the original article on EatingWell

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