‘Tis the season for homemade salt dough ornaments, driving around to look at holiday lights, and . . . . deep breathing our way through another off-key round of Jingle Bells in the car. 🙂
Majestic as they are, for most of us the holidays come with some stressful moments, which is why it’s often a good time to increase our intake of adaptogens (herbs that help us adapt and thrive under stress).
One of my favorite ways is to make up a batch of these gingersnap bites, which incorporate an adaptogen called maca root. Legend has it that Incan warriors used to consume it before battle to increase endurance, and research suggests there may be wisdom to this tradition.
What is maca root?
As I mention in this post on the benefits of maca root, it’s rich in several key amino acids that support hormone production, plus minerals that nourish our endocrine system.
These maca bites are a type of traditional herbal pastille, which is a “pill” that blends a healing herb with honey to make it enjoyable to consume. Maca is not my favorite flavor, so a pastille is a natural choice to help me incorporate it into my diet. These bites make a great post-meal snack on busy days – the honey provides quick energy while the cinnamon supports blood sugar balance and the maca nourishes and supports our stress response system.
I keep them in my fridge and eat 2-3 as needed. Like most adaptogens, they’re most beneficial when consumed consistently for a period of time.
Are you familiar with adaptogens?
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Now, on to the recipe!
Gingersnap Maca Bites
Equipment
- medium bowl
- spoon
- tablespoon
- teaspoon
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp gelatinized maca powder
- 3 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 4 ⅓ tbsp raw honey (plus an additional 1 ½ teaspoons if needed)
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract (you can make homemade vanilla extract)
- ground ginger (to roll the pastilles in)
Instructions
- Place maca root and cinnamon in a bowl and mix together. Add in 4 tablespoons plus 1 ½ teaspoons honey and 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract and mix with a spoon. The mixture will seem very powdery at first, but don’t worry! Just keep mixing until the honey has been evenly distributed throughout the powder. Then – and yes, this is a bit messy – use your clean hands to knead the powder and honey together to form a thick paste. If needed, add the additional 1½ teaspoons honey to incorporate all of the powder. Break the mixture into 12 balls and then roll in ginger powder before serving. Store in the fridge.
Nutrition
Looking for more ways to use maca?
Have you ever purchased an herb for one purpose, then wondered what to do with what you have left over? Me too, which is why I want to share a couple of other ways to incorporate maca root into your diet.
Maca Energy Bars – This post includes recipe for five flavors: Coconut Cream, Apple Cinnamon, Lemon Lime, Chocolate Chip and Gingerbread
Maca Coffee – Blended with hazelnut and vanilla
Is 3 tablespoons of cinnamon correct? I tried this recipe last night, and the cinnamon was overpowering and felt like it was burning my stomach. I had bought some Maca Powder on a whim at Trader Joe’s and was excited to try it.
Hi Rebecca, I’m so sorry the cinnamon was too strong for you. The amount is correct, but I’m wondering if perhaps your cinnamon has a stronger flavor than mine. It might be a good idea to add in some arrowroot flour to dilute the flavor. Regarding your stomach discomfort, I’ve never had that happen but again I’m wondering if the cinnamon you have is super strong. So sorry!
I have never heard of such a recipe, giving my tastebuds a surprise! Thank you for sharing! Please keep sharing more, all the love from Nepal! xoxo
hi, love all your things! I want to try this, but is this ok for 4 year old kiddos too?
Children eat maca regularly in the Andes mountains of Peru and Bolivia, but if your little one is like mine the ginger may make these a bit too strong for tiny taste buds.