*"Schweddy Balls" courtesy of SNL*
These peanut butter morsels are what kept me going during the Iditarod Trail Invitational 350 mile Fat Bike Race this February. It was one of the hardest things I've done, I was scared, and something I swore I'd never do....but I did!
They won't freeze even when you do! And they go down easy! Just make sure they're small enough ... to swallow whole!
These were my saving grace during the ITI. They were one of the only things I could manage to eat while I was out there. Pro Tip: Make them bite-sized, not two-bite-sized.
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup all-natural peanut butter
- 3/4 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/3 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips
- Optional: 1/4 cup wheat bran, hemp seeds, flax seeds, chia seeds, or hemp seeds
Instructions: 1. Add peanut butter to medium microwave-safe mixing bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, or until peanut butter is less solid.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients to the mixing bowl, and stir for 2–3 minutes until fully combined. At this point, if the dough is very sticky, you can refrigerate it for 1–2 hours or pop it in the freezer for 30 minutes to slightly firm up.
3. Using a cookie scoop or spoon, form the dough into about 24 tablespoon-sized balls. Place on wax or parchment paper and refrigerate for about an hour before enjoying.
4. To store, place energy bites in a Ziploc bag or storage container. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.
5. Pack 'em up and enjoy!
Test out the recipe and use the hashtags #JoinTheRusch and #GravelLessTraveled to be entered to win some cool prizes from my sponsors!
Learn more about my Iditarod Trail 350 race through my post leading in to the ride as well as my gear series here.
Want to #JoinTheRusch for your own adventure? My team of riding, coaching, and nutrition experts and I have planned ways for riders and adventurers of all levels to stretch your limits, challenge yourself, and see parts of the world that will amaze and inspire you. Be part of the Rusch Academy 4 days of gravel riding at the #GravelLessTraveled Camp, celebrate in my hometown with a Labor Day Weekend ride of 20, 62.5, or 100 miles at Rebecca's Private Idaho, or travel with this fall to experience the epic trails, impactful history, and beautiful people of Laos on mountain bike on the MTB-LAO4 trip.