Video: Just Plane Good Food — No-Bake Brownie Energy Bites

When it comes to getting your carry-on bag through the TSA checkpoint, there are a lot more “don’ts” than “dos.” There’s a massive list of things you’re not allowed to bring into a plane’s cabin: liquids larger than 3.4 ounces, baseball bats, dynamite, etc. (Okay, those last two might be a little obvious, but still.) But as it turns out, there are a fair number of things you certainly are allowed to bring onto a plane, and one of those things is food. Sure, there are caveats -- you’re not allowed to bring liquid food, like sauce or gravy (loophole: you can bring them on if they’re frozen). But the vast bulk of food is actually A-OK to bring onboard, after it goes through the X-ray machine, of course. So we’ve got a great recipe for no-bake brownie energy bites that are a perfect snack to take on your next flight. They’re healthy (but delicious), super easy to make, AND they can make it through airport security. Read on for the recipe -- and scroll down for a video lesson -- and make your next flight just that much more enjoyable.

Ingredients

• 1 cup pitted dates
• ½ cup walnuts
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract

Steps

1. Combine all ingredients (except for ¼ cup of shredded coconut) in a food processor.
2. Blend on medium to high speed until a paste forms.
3. Roll the paste into 12 tablespoon-sized balls.
4. Coat the brownie bites with the remaining shredded coconut.