No Bake Energy Bites 7 Ways (Make Ahead)

The ultimate guide to no bake energy bites.  SEVEN different ways to make them, tips and tricks, and how to make them ahead and freeze.

I’m back again with an epic post for you!  New around here?  Check out these 7 Healthy Baked Turkey Meatballs and these 7 Easy Stir Fry Sauces You Can Prep Ahead…and don’t forget these 5 Make Ahead Breakfast Smoothies!

This month, I dove deep with no bake energy bites.  Actually, I’ve been working on this post for several months.  You can see in my weekly meal preps (on Instagram), I’ve been prepping energy bites every week for…quite awhile now.

Why no bake energy bites?  Because snacking is kind of my achilles heel.  If I don’t have a convenient healthy snack, I’m into those tortilla chips.  Always.

And while experimenting, I found I really enjoyed having a little stash of these no bake energy bites.  They are SUPER convenient to grab on your way out the door.  They are sweet enough that you feel like you just had a treat, and filling enough to keep you going when you’re on empty.

For these energy bites I went with a nut butter base over a date base.  Two reasons: a) dates are expensive.  FREAKING expensive.  I can’t justify the price for what you get.  b) you don’t need your food processor.  In fact, all of these no-bake energy bite recipes require simply one bowl.  Woo hoo!

Tips for rolling perfect no-bake energy bites:

• Use a cookie scoop.  This helps pack all the ingredients together, making rolling a breeze.  I use a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop
  for these recipes.
• Allow the ingredients to chill slightly before rolling. This makes rolling SO EASY.  I like to chill for an hour or so before rolling.
• No time?  No worries!  Work with *slightly* damp hands to prevent the ingredients from sticking to your hands.

Tips for storing your no-bake energy bites:

• Short term: Store in a sealed container in the fridge.  Your energy bites are good for a week or so.
• Long term: Store in plastic bags in the freezer.  Freeze on a cookie sheet for one hour before transferring to a ziplock plastic bag in the freezer.  *Remove as much air as possible before sealing the bag*
• To thaw: place in the fridge overnight

Let’s check out these no bake energy bites, shall we?

This base recipe is what I worked off to create all of the flavors.  If you make it as is, you’re going to need to add more oats (1-2 tablespoons).  I found honey and maple syrup to be interchangeable, although honey has more of a dominant flavor and I have suggested one over the other for certain recipes.

Nut butters are also interchangeable (I’ve used almond, cashew and almond for the recipes below).  I tested all of these recipes with natural nut butter, which can tend to be on the oily side, so I can’t say how Kraft or Jif will work…you may need to add extra coconut oil.  If you try it, I’d love to know how your energy bites turn out.

The coconut oil may seem strange but results in a much better energy bite texture, and the bites stay moist for an entire week in the fridge.  You can leave it out but your energy bites may be a touch dry.

No Bake Energy Bites Base Recipe   Print Author: Denise Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• ⅓ cup almond butter (or other nut butter)
• ¼ cup maple syrup or honey
• ½ cup old fashioned oats (see note)
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• ¼ cup ground flax

Instructions

1. Melt coconut oil in a large bowl.
2. Stir in the nut butter, maple syrup (or honey) until smooth. Add the oats, chia seeds and ground flax, plus extra add-ins.
3. Roll into 1 tablespoon balls and store in the fridge for up to 1 week or the freezer for up to 3 months.

Notes If you don't add coconut to the recipe, add 1-2 extra tablespoons rolled oats. 3.5.3226

1. Cranberry, Lime & Coconut No Bake Energy Bites

Cranberry Lime Coconut Energy Bites   Print Prep time 20 mins Total time 20 mins   Author: Denise Serves: 12-14 Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• ⅓ cup almond butter
• ¼ cup maple syrup or honey
• ½ cup old fashioned oats
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• ¼ cup ground flax
• ½ cup shredded coconut (1/4 cup in the bars ¼ cup to roll in)
• 1 tablespoon lime zest
• ¼ cup cranberries

Instructions

1. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the coconut oil. Stir in the almond butter and maple syrup, until smooth.
2. Stir in the oats, chia seeds, ground flax, ¼ cup of the shredded coconut, lime zest and dried cranberries.
3. Roll into 1 tablespoon balls.
4. Roll the balls in the reserved ¼ cup shredded coconut.
5. Store in the fridge for up to a week or the freezer for up to 3 months.

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2. Dark Chocolate Mocha No Bake Energy Bites

Dark Chocolate Mocha Energy Bites   Print Author: Denise Serves: 12 Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• ⅓ cup almond butter
• ¼ cup maple syrup or honey
• ½ cup + 1 tablespoon old fashioned oats
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• ¼ cup ground flax
• 1 tablespoon espresso powder
• 2 tablespoons dark chocolate chips

Instructions

1. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the coconut oil. Stir in the almond butter and maple syrup (or honey), until smooth.
2. Stir in the oats, chia seeds, ground flax, espresso powder and chocolate chips.
3. Roll into 1 tablespoon balls.
4. Store in the fridge for up to a week or the freezer for up to 3 months.

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3. Carrot Cake Energy Bites

Carrot Cake Energy Bites   Print Author: Denise Serves: 15 Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• ⅓ cup almond butter
• ¼ cup honey
• ½ cup old fashioned oats
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• ¼ cup ground flax
• ¼ cup shredded coconut
• 1 cup finely shredded carrots
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the coconut oil. Stir in the almond butter and honey, until smooth.
2. Stir in the oats, chia seeds, ground flax, ¼ cup of the shredded coconut, carrots and ground cinnamon.
3. Roll into 1 tablespoon balls.
4. Roll the balls in the reserved ¼ cup shredded coconut.
5. Store in the fridge for up to a week or the freezer for up to 3 months.

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4. S’mores No Bake Energy Bites

S'mores Energy Bites   Print Author: Denise Serves: 16 Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• ⅓ cup peanut butter
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• ½ cup + 1 tablespoon old fashioned oats
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• ¼ cup ground flax
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup graham cracker crumbs plus more for rolling
• ¼ cup chocolate chips
• ¼ cup mini marshmallows

Instructions

1. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the coconut oil. Stir in the almond butter and maple syrup, until smooth.
2. Stir in the oats, chia seeds, ground flax, cinnamon, graham cracker crumbs, chocolate chips and mini marshmallows
3. Roll into 1 tablespoon balls.
4. Roll the balls in the reserved graham cracker crumbs.
5. Store in the fridge for up to a week or the freezer for up to 3 months.

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5. Trail Mix No Bake Energy Bites

Trail Mix Energy Bites   Print Author: Denise Serves: 18-20 Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• ⅓ cup almond butter
• ¼ cup maple syrup or honey
• ½ cup old fashioned oats
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• ¼ cup ground flax
• ¼ cup shredded coconut
• ¼ cup mini M&M;'s
• ¼ cup pepitas
• ¼ cup sunflower seeds

Instructions

1. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the coconut oil. Stir in the almond butter and maple syrup, until smooth.
2. Stir in the oats, chia seeds, ground flax, shredded coconut, mini M&M;'s, pepitas and sunflower seeds.
3. Roll in 1 tablespoon sized balls.
4. Store in the fridge for up to a week or the freezer for up to 3 months.

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6. Cashew Ginger No Bake Energy Bites

Cashew Ginger Energy Bites   Print Author: Denise Serves: 18-20 Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• ⅓ cup cashew butter
• ¼ cup maple syrup or honey
• ½ cup old fashioned oats + 1 tablespoon
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• ¼ cup ground flax
• ¼ cup crystallized ginger, chopped
• ½ cup cashews, chopped
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger

Instructions

1. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the coconut oil. Stir in the almond butter and maple syrup, until smooth.
2. Stir in the oats, chia seeds, ground flax, crystallized ginger, cashews, cinnamon and ginger.
3. Roll into 1 tablespoon balls. *Optional* Press a cashew half into the top of each bite.
4. Store in the fridge for up to a week or the freezer for up to 3 months.

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7. Blueberry Almond No Bake Energy Bites

Blueberry Almond Energy Bites   Print Author: Denise Serves: 16-18 Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• ⅓ cup almond butter
• ¼ cup maple syrup or honey
• ½ cup old fashioned oats + 1 tablespoon
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• ¼ cup ground flax
• ¼ cup dried blueberries
• ¼ cup sliced almonds

Instructions

1. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the coconut oil. Stir in the almond butter and maple syrup, until smooth.
2. Stir in the oats, chia seeds, ground flax, dried blueberries and sliced almonds.
3. Roll into 1 tablespoon balls.
4. Store in the fridge for up to a week or the freezer for up to 3 months.

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