This No-Bake Energy Bites recipe is easy to make, full of feel-good ingredients, and irresistibly delicious!

Easy No Bake Energy Bites Recipe

Friends, have you tried this no bake energy bites recipe? ♡

It’s one of my all-time favorite recipes here on the blog, and one that I’ve personally made about a zillion times since I first published it here eight years ago.

I love these little energy bites because they are easy to make with simply pantry ingredients that I almost always have on hand. They are super easy to mix up and roll into cute little energy balls. (Or if you would like to save time, you can press the mixture into a parchment-covered baking dish, and then cut them into energy bars.)  They are the perfect make-ahead recipe to keep on hand for healthy snacking or breakfasts. And most importantly, they are just irresistibly good.

Over the years, thousands of our readers have made and loved this classic energy bites recipe too. So I wholeheartedly recommend giving it a try!

No Bake Energy Bites Recipe | 1-Minute Video

Energy Bites Ingredients

No Bake Energy Bites Ingredients:

To make this no bake energy bites recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

  • Old-fashioned oatsAlso called rolled oats — these will serve as the base ingredient for our energy bites.
  • Shredded coconutWhich I highly recommend toasting — either briefly in the oven or in a sauté pan — before adding to the energy bites. (Just be sure that the coconut has cooled before adding in the chocolate chips or the chocolate may melt.) Feel free to use either sweetened or unsweetened shredded coconut.
  • Creamy peanut butterI have used both traditional creamy peanut butter and natural creamy peanut butter in this recipe, and both work!
  • Ground flaxseedTo add some extra protein, fiber and omega-3s to our energy bites.
  • Semisweet chocolate chipsI photographed this recipe with standard-sized semisweet chips, but mini semisweet chips mix in easier.
  • HoneyTo add some natural sweetness and also help to bind the energy balls together.
  • Vanilla extractFor a touch of extra flavor.
  • Chia seeds (optional): Feel free to skip the chia seeds if you do not have any on hand. But I love adding in a tablespoon or so when I do!

How To Make Energy Bites (Balls)

How To Make Energy Balls:

To make these energy bites, simply…

  1. Stir everything together. Stir all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl until thoroughly combined.
  2. Chill. Cover the mixing bowl and chill in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours, or until the mixture is chilled.*
  3. Roll into balls. Roll into mixture into 1-inch balls.
  4. Serve. Then enjoy immediately! Or refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.

If you have trouble getting the energy balls to hold together, I recommend adding in more peanut butter to make the mixture a bit more sticky. Or if you would rather, you can also just press the mixture into a square baking dish to make flat energy bars instead of round energy balls.

Healthy Energy Balls

Possible Energy Bites Variations:

There are all sorts of ways that you can customize this energy bites recipe, so feel free to get creative! For example, you are welcome to…

  • Make energy barsPress the mixture firmly into a parchment-lined 8×8-inch baking pan, chill, and then slice into energy bars (instead of rolling the mixture into energy balls).
  • Use a different nut or seed butter: Use almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter, or any other nut/seed butters that you prefer in place of peanut butter.
  • Omit the coconut: I’ve heard from many of you over the years who don’t love coconut. If that’s the case, no prob, just omit the coconut and add in an extra shake of oats instead.
  • Add spices: If you would like to give these energy bites some extra flavor, feel free to add in a few pinches of ground cinnamon or some pumpkin pie spice.

Healthy Energy Bites with Chocolate Chips and Peanut Butter

More Healthy Snack Recipes:

Looking for more healthy snack inspiration? Here are a few of my favorite snack recipes!

No Bake Energy Bites

4.92 from 407 votes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Makes: 20 -25 energy bites
No Bake Energy Bites Recipe
This No-Bake Energy Bites recipe is easy to make, full of feel-good ingredients, and irresistibly delicious!

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Stir everything together.  Stir all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl until thoroughly combined.
  • Chill. Cover the mixing bowl and chill in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours, or until the mixture is chilled.  (This will help the mixture stick together more easily.)
  • Roll into balls.  Roll into mixture into 1-inch balls.
  • Serve.  Then enjoy immediately!  Or refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Notes

Prep Time: The prep time listed does not include time for the mixture to chill.  To speed up the chilling, I recommend spreading the mixture out on a small baking sheet and popping it in the freezer for 20-30 minutes until the mixture is cool.
Source: Recipe slightly adapted from Smashed Peas & Carrots.

Additional Info

Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Did you make this?Let me know how it turned out in the comments below!

About Ali

Hi, I'm Ali Martin! I created this site in 2009 to celebrate good food and gathering around the table. I live in Kansas City with my husband and two young boys and love creating simple, reliable, delicious recipes that anyone can make!

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4.92 from 407 votes

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Recipe Rating




2,367 Comments

  1. Megan says:

    These are thee devil! I devoured 5 alone at my lunch break today. Substitute peanut butter for almond butter and you’ve got yourself a ‘you can’t only eat one’ energy ball..
    The best, worst thing for you!

    Thank you :)

  2. Jenfitness Nicolaou says:

    Just made these one word …… YUM! As a personal trainer and fitness instructor I’m always trying to find tasty substitutes for all the processed artificial things out there that I can recommend to clients, this one is going into my recipe book.

    Thanks
    Jen

  3. Andrea says:

    I have made these several times. My girls love them! I usually omit the coconut and substitute Rice Krispie cereal.
    Also, I dont wait for them to cool in the fridge. I just use a cookie scoop and call it good.

  4. Connie says:

    My father-in-law hates coconut so I substituted with three honey graham crackers and they ended up being AMAZING!!!! Just and FYI for anyone who is not a fan of coconut. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, everyone raves about these!

  5. Michele says:

    Instead of 1 cup oatmeal, I used 1/2 cup each of oatmeal and rice krispies, and instead of the 1/2 cup each of flaxseed & chocolate chips, I used 1/3 cup each of chopped walnuts, slivered almonds and sunflower seeds. In place of the 1 tablespoon of chia seeds, I used wheat germ. They freeze well and I take out one every morning to take to work.

  6. Sharmon Savoie says:

    Do you know how many calories are in these bites?

    1. Johnnie says:

      Nutrition Facts
      User Entered Recipe

      25 Servings

      Amount Per Serving

      Calories 124.9

      Total Fat 7.4 g

      Saturated Fat 3.5 g

      Polyunsaturated Fat 1.3 g

      Monounsaturated Fat 1.3 g

      Cholesterol 0.0 mg

      Sodium 41.7 mg

      Potassium 38.5 mg

      Total Carbohydrate 13.7 g

      Dietary Fiber 1.7 g

      Sugars 6.8 g

      Protein 2.5 g

      Using the calculator from spark people Exact ingredients using honey, semi sweet chips, peanut butter creamy.

  7. Joyous says:

    Can’t wait to try these! Loving the reviews!

    DO THEY HAVE TO STAY REFRIGERATED? Please let me know.. was going to freeze the balls, then take on a camping trip.

    1. Ali says:

      Hi Joyous,

      Nope, they don’t need to stay refrigerated. That just helps them hold their shape and not fall apart a little easier. :)

      ~Ali

  8. Julia says:

    I went to the store and bought all of the ingredients. I’m a college student and didn’t have anything but oatmeal and peanut butter. Just tried my first bite and it’s delicious! And so easy to make! I can’t wait to share with my roommates. I used quaker oaks, maple syrup, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, peanut butter, flax seeds, and vanilla extract. Super simple!

  9. wendy says:

    I cooked down some dates and used that as a “glue” to stick them together and they were fabulous!

  10. Lynae says:

    I added some soft extra virgin coconut oil to mine. It allowed me to cut back on the honey and EVCO has so many excellent health properties. I also added some almond meal in place of some of the oats. They were delicious and the whole family loved them. They’re a great snack to make with the kids.