Showing you how to make PERFECT no bake energy bites- never crumbly, full of flavor, and seven different flavor add ins!
No bake energy bites have all the flavors of granola bars compacted into little bite-sized portions. Like my favorite granola bars (find 7 granola bar flavors here!), these energy bites are easy to prepare and make for a delicious, portable snack.
Packed full of healthy protein, fiber and omega 3 fatty acids, these energy bites (which some people call energy balls) are the perfect ‘pick me up’ when you are low on energy and just need a little boost.
They are a favorite of my kids (we love putting them in Kai’s snack drawer!), and I feel good about the fact that I know exactly what goes into them.
This post covers everything you need to know about making energy bites: ingredients you’ll need, tips for rolling, how to store them and more. I even have a handy video in case you are a visual learner!
Energy bites video
Watch the video below to see how to make no bake energy bites in 7 different flavors. Stay tuned till the end of the, where I share tips for rolling! You can find more of my videos on my YouTube channel.
Essential ingredients
To make this energy bites recipe, we will need 5 base ingredients. Then we can customize with energy bite ‘add ins’!
For this recipe, you will need:
- nut butter– any all natural nut butter will work for this recipe. The nut butter works to bind together our dry ingredients and helps everything stick together. You can use any all natural nut butter including peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, or even sunflower seed butter. Make sure that your nut butter does not have any other ingredients other than nuts (and maybe salt). Processed nut butters which contain palm oil do not set up as well in this recipe.
- coconut oil– keeps the energy bites from drying out and helps them solidify in the fridge. If you do not have coconut oil, swap for an extra tablespoon of nut butter.
- liquid sweetener– honey or maple syrup work to add sweetness and bind everything together. I have not tested with any other liquid sweeteners.
- rolled oats– are the base dry ingredients which bulks out these energy bites. Do not use quick oats as your bites may be ‘chalky’ and dry. Rolled oats are sometimes called ‘large flake’ or ‘old fashioned’.
- ground flax– is added for extra protein, fiber and omega 3 fatty acids. If you don’t have ground flax, you will likely need to increase the amount of rolled oats in this recipe.
Optional but recommended:
- chia seeds– add a boost of omega 3 fatty acids and fiber.
Start by mixing together the wet ingredients
Melt the coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl, and stir together with the nut butter and honey (or maple syrup). Mixing together our liquids first ensures they are completely combined and will be distributed through the energy bites evenly.
Fold in dry ingredients + add ins
Next, we will add in the rolled oats, ground flax and chia seeds. Add your add ins to the mixture and mix everything together. Do your best with a spatula to ensure that everything is mixed together evenly.
Chilling the mixture is mandatory
If you try to roll your energy bites at this point, you will have a sticky mess on your hands. Chill the mixture in the fridge for 30 minutes- 2 hours to make it easier to roll.
Tips for rolling
After chilling your energy bite mixture, it’s time to get rolling. Here are some tips for rolling your energy bites:
- use a cookie scoop– this helps you get evenly-sized energy bites. I use a 1.5 tablespoon cookie scoop, but 1 tablespoon works great as well
- work the dough– if your mixture is very cold, you might need to warm it back up ever so slightly to get it to roll. I scoop with the cookie scoop into my hands, then squeeze it gently and pass it between my hands a few times to warm it back up
- wet your hands– if your mixture is still sticky, you might want to use damp hands when rolling. This helps prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands
Prep now and eat later
Energy bites are perfect for meal prep: you can store them in the fridge or freezer!
- Fridge storage- portion out energy bites into a 4-6 cup meal prep container and store in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Freezer storage- portion out energy bites into a plastic or silicone freezer bag or into a 4-6 cup meal prep container and freeze for up to 3 months.
*Find my recommended meal prep containers in this post with the Best Glass Meal Prep Containers
Tasty add ins- 7 options!
The base energy bites recipe is delicious on its own, but with a few extra ingredients, you can take them to the next level! Here are 7 of my favorite add ins (find full recipes on the printable card at the bottom of the post)
- Cranberry Lime + Coconut– add in 1/4 cup shredded coconut, 1 tablespoon lime zest, 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- Mocha– add in 1 tablespoon espresso powder, 2 tablespoons dark or mini chocolate chips
- Carrot Cake– add in 1/4 cup shredded coconut, 1 cup finely shredded carrots, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- S’mores– add in 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs plus more for rolling, 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips, 1/4 cup mini marshmallows (cut in half)
- Monster– add in 1/4 cup shredded coconut, 1/4 cup mini M&M’s, 1/4 cup pepitas, 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
- Cashew Ginger– add in 1/4 cup crystallized ginger chopped, 1/2 cup cashews chopped, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- Blueberry Almond– 1/4 cup ground flax, 1/4 cup dried blueberries, 1/4 cup sliced almonds
Can I make these nut-free?
I have had readers successfully use sunflower seed butter in this recipe, but I also have a nut, seed and coconut-free energy bite recipe here!
Can I turn these into bars?
I believe it would be possible to press these into a loaf pan (or double the recipe and press into a 9×9 inch pan). I recommend lining your pan with parchment paper before pressing into a pan. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting. Leave me a comment below if you give this a try!
How many energy bites is one serving?
These are a treat, but it can be easy to overdo it. I eat maximum 2 in one serving.
More energy boosting snacks
- Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Energy Bites
- 4 Ingredient Date Balls
- Easy Homemade Protein Bars
- Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars
- Fudgy Black Bean Brownies
Perfect No Bake Energy Bites (+ 7 Flavors!)
Showing you how to make PERFECT no bake energy bites- never crumbly, full of flavor, and seven different flavor add ins! Course SnackCuisine AmericanKeyword meal prep, no bake, snack, vegan Prep Time 15 minutesTotal Time 45 minutes Calories 107kcal Author DeniseIngredients
Base Recipe
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1/3 cup natural nut butter (see * notes)
- 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1/4 cup ground flax
Cranberry Lime & Coconut Energy Bites
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut *1/4 cup in the bars 1/4 cup to roll in
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
- 1/4 cup cranberries
Dark Chocolate Mocha Energy Bites
- 1 tablespoon espresso powder
- 2 tablespoons dark chocolate chips
Carrot Cake Energy Bites
- 1/4 cup shredded coconut
- 1 cup finely shredded carrots
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
S'mores Energy Bites
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs plus more for rolling
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup mini marshmallows
Trail Mix Energy Bites (Monster)
- 1/4 cup shredded coconut
- 1/4 cup mini M&M's
- 1/4 cup pepitas
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
Cashew Ginger Energy Bites
- 1/4 cup crystallized ginger chopped
- 1/2 cup cashews chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Blueberry Almond Energy Bites
- 1/4 cup dried blueberries
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
Instructions
- Melt coconut oil in a large bowl.
- Stir in the nut butter, maple syrup (or honey) until smooth. Add the oats, chia seeds and ground flax, plus extra add-ins.
- Chill mixture for 30 min- 2 hours.
- Roll into 1 tablespoon balls and store in the fridge for up to 1 week or the freezer for up to 3 months.
Notes
Each recipe makes between 12-20 energy bites. *Make sure that your nut butter does not have any other ingredients other than nuts (and maybe salt). Processed nut butters which contain palm oil are overly sweet and do not set up as well in this recipe. ** Chilling the mixture is essential in preventing stickiness during rolling. If you find that your mixture is too sticky, you can also try wetting your hands slightly before rolling. ***Nut allergy- I have had readers successfully make this recipe using sunflower seed butter Storage- fridge- store in a 4-6 cup meal prep container in the fridge for up to 1 week
- freezer- store in a plastic or reusable freezer bag, or in a 4-6 cup meal prep container for up to 3 months
