Almond Pecan Bites
These delicious, energizing, and gluten-free Almond Pecan Bites are the perfect afternoon pick-me-up or mid-morning snack. They are so tasty and satisfying and sure to be a hit with family and friends.
A few Fridays ago, while I was at work, I got a call that just about every parent dreads…
It started off with “mommy…” – now I know when my 16-year-old reverts back to calling me “mommy”, I need to brace myself…
She went on to tell me that she had been in an accident by a mall close to home; my first question was if she was ok…and, a steady voice that didn’t quite sound like hers, replied “yes”; when I asked her what happened, she said she had hit a curb!
Hit a curb? Now, I have hit my fair share of curbs, but, they were never classified as “accidents”…I was worried and frustrated, and … I could only imagine how she felt when she went onto say that mall security and a county cop were at the scene.
When I got to her, I saw that she had indeed hit a curb – so incredibly hard! Fortunately, she had missed hitting a pole nearby, but had hit a raised flower bed and her car sat at almost a 30-degree angle, with the front end up on the flower bed. Fortunately, while the car was horribly damaged, she was ok. She had called the insurance company and the motor club we belong to, and, a tow truck was on it’s way.
When I got out of my car, there were a million things I wanted to say …”what were you thinking?” …”haven’t we practiced missing a turn and going straight and turning around later?”… But, as I walked to her, she broke down and kept on saying how sorry she was.
Just prior to this, after she started driving her own little car, I felt we were drifting – our relationship had begun to change. Some friends said she was just growing up, that she needed her independence – so I pulled back. Even though it didn’t feel right…I did my best to accept that this might be yet another stage on this journey to adulthood.
Then the accident happened…and, as we waited for the tow truck to come, we sat and talked… and I realized I wasn’t the only one who had noticed the drifting…she had too. She said she didn’t know how to fix it…how to go back…
I am a strong believer in that everything happens for a reason – no matter the expense, no matter the damage. God has a way of working things out, of bringing us closer to Him and each other.
And, the reasons are not for all to see or know.
But, I want my daughter to know that there is no changing what has happened, no amount of “should’ve”, “could’ve”, or “would’ve”, would undo what’s done – but, the future is a blank canvas – full of possibility; and I want her to look to it without regret, without fear, without bitterness, but with lessons learned.
We have been doing a lot of talking about this – and taking and eating seem to go hand in hand – at least for me!
So I whipped up these Almond & Pecan Bites as a treat. And I must say, these were not only a delicious pre-walk treat, but, I think these were the reason we were still walking and talking while our dogs were tuckered out!
Ingredients
FOR THE BITES
- 1 3/4 cups pecans or 1 cup pecan butter
- 1/2 cup almond butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup gluten-free flour I used Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 baking flour
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
FOR THE GLAZE
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons almond butter
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- FOR THE BITES
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- Add the pecans to a blender or food processor and process till pecans are pecan butter
- Mix all ingredients (including the pecan butter) together and form them into bite-sized shapes
- Bake for 15 minutes
- Take out and let cool
- FOR THE GLAZE
- Add all the ingredients to a pan over a low flame
- Let almond butter and coconut oil and a honey melt and mingle
- Stir well and then pour over the bites.
- Enjoy!
bobby and I are trying to work more nuts into our diet to replace some of the meat we eat and this is an excellent snack/breakfast! I buy my pecans in bulk so I have lots of them, but I do need some almond butter. Thanks for such a great mouthful of goodness!
These look like a really great snack. Glad your daughter is okay. I’m a big believer in things happening for a reason as well.
Thanks so much Salma!
Hi, I am so glad your daughter is OK and that ‘the drift’ is being talked about. It is very important for a mother to know that no matter what your child will turn to you. I have a question about the bites. Can I use potato starch instead of the gluten-free flour, or maybe coconut flour? Thank you
Thank you so much!
To answer your question, I have never worked with potato starch so I am sorry, but I am not sure ho it would work in this. As for coconut flour – coconut flour absorbs a lot of moisture – I am not sure if it would work best in this – if you had rice flour, I think that would be a good substitute or even ground up oats -aka oat flour. Hope this helps.
Thanks again so much for stopping by and commenting.
I’m so glad you’re daughter is okay, Shashi. What a scare!!
Thanks Marissa!
I am so happy your daughter is okay. Driving and being sixteen… what every parent dreads. My niece just go her permit up here. She waited and she’s 17, but I’m still freaked out about her being on the road. It’s good there was a silver lining in your story and it’s brought you and your daughter closer together. My son is almost 11 and sometimes I feel him drifting and pushing me away. He doesn’t like hugs anymore. 🙁 Maybe I can bribe him with a few of these almond pecan bites. 🙂
Haha – yes, Ramona – I think these might work well in bribing him! 🙂
Seriously, thanks so much for your kind words – funny thing is I wasn’t too freaked out about my daughter driving before – but now I am!
I could feast on these almond pecan bites 😛
Thank you Taruna!