Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites

Sitting on the kitchen counter and sneaking bits of raw chocolate chip cookie dough as my mom baked them is one of my earliest and fondest childhood memories. While her classic recipe is still my favourite, I try to make more nutrient-dense variations like this from time to time. 
This version is basically a really rich and simple energy ball variation with peanuts prepared three ways- roasted peanuts, natural peanut butter and peanut powder. Peanut powder is increasingly common and can be found near the peanut butter in most larger grocery and health food stores. It is basically made by extracting the oil from peanuts and then grounding down what is left into powder form. It can be added to water for a lower calorie and lower fat peanut butter alternative, or it can be used as a dry ingredient in baking, as I used it here.
Some dates add a natural sweetness and mini darck chocolate chips increase the dough’s treat factor. These plant-based ingredients don’t need to be cooked at all so the dough can simply be rolled into balls and consumed, though a quick session in the fridge to firm them up is nice if time allows.Mini dark chocolate chips are a great way to distribute a chocolatey flavour throughout a treat like this. The dark chocolate ones have more depth and strength of flavour but any favourite chocolate in mini chip form or chopped up into small pieces can be used.