Collagen is one of my favorite protein sources. Most days, you can find me adding a scoop to my morning coffee, using it in smoothies for myself and my kids, and adding to recipes like these Chocolate Covered Collagen Bites.

I made these collagen bites for a collaboration with iHerb using Garden of Life’s grass fed Collagen Peptides. I liked the recipe so much, that I decided putting it on my blog was a must! So, today I’m sharing the recipe for these high protein bites. They have an almond butter and collagen center and a dark chocolate coating. Basically, an almond butter truffle, but low in sugar and high in protein with the nutritional benefits of collagen.

Collagen is nothing new to me. In fact, I first started taking it back in 2014 when I was pregnant with my first child. I heard about it through Paleo blogs and was immediately intrigued.

What is Collagen?

So what exactly is collagen? Well, it’s the most abundant protein in the human body that makes up features like skin, hair, nails, bones, connective tissue, even the gut lining. As we age, our body’s production of collagen declines. This means, adding more collagen in our diet is essential for proper mobility, a healthy gut and overall appearance (ie healthy looking skin).

Collagen in our diets comes from foods high in protein. For example, beef, chicken, fish and eggs. Collagen peptides can be made from any of these high protein sources. The most common form of collagen peptides I’ve seen is from bovine (or cows). It’s made from their skin, bones and muscles.

Collagen peptides are unique in that they have undergone a process called hydrolysis, which breaks their amino acids down into shorter chains of proteins. (1) This makes collagen easier to digest and able to dissolve in hot or cold liquids.

What are the Benefits of Consuming Collagen?

improves skin elasticity (one reason why I love taking it when pregnant) and appearance
stronger nails
healthier hair – thicker, fuller, grows faster
supports gut health – improves gut lining and helps heal leaky gut
helps with joint mobility and connective tissue health

I’ve never taken collagen for any specific health issues. Mostly, I consume it to stay a step ahead with my health and aging. As I age, I want my skin to look firmer and I want to have fewer wrinkles. I want my nails to stay strong and my hair to stay thick and healthy. In addition, I want my body to work well. My hopes are that collagen will maintain my gut health and keep my joints and connective tissue healthy.

So, are you sold yet? 😉

I’m a firm believer that collagen does amazing things for the body. Personally, I think it’s an important supplement for health and maintaining optimal bodily functions throughout your life.

The Best Collagen Peptides

Firstly, here are a few things to look for when purchasing collagen:

Does it come from grass fed, pastured cows?
Does it dissolve in hot and cold liquids?
Is it flavorless?

I’ve consumes countless brands of grass fed collagen. I’ve had some that dissolve better than others. But for the most part, they’ve all been satisfactory.

So, what are my favorite brands of collagen? In no particular order, here are my top 5 favorite collagen brands:

I’ve purchased all of these over the years. Added them to my coffee, used them in smoothies and baked goods. Quite honestly, out of these, whatever is the cheapest is what I buy.

Okay, enough about collagen. Hopefully I didn’t bore you all but rather provided some relevant, important information. For now, let’s get back to these protein truffles.

What are the Ingredients in Chocolate Covered Collagen Bites?

Only 5 ingredients are required to make these bites. Some chocolate brands are thick when melted and hard to work with. So, the coconut oil is an option for thinning the chocolate and making it easier to dip and coat the balls.

Filling

almond butter
maple syrup
vanilla extract
collagen peptides

Coating

dark chocolate
coconut oil (optional)

I recommend a drippy, unsweetened and unsalted nut butter. The consistency of the almond butter will determine how much you need to add. If you are nut free, substituting with tahini or sunflower seed butter will work. However, I recommend adding the collagen bit by bit because the quantity needed will most likely change.

Also, you may substitute honey for the maple syrup.

If you love this recipe, you may enjoy some similar ones from my blog:

Enjoy!