This No-Bake Energy Bites recipe is easy to make, full of feel-good ingredients, and irresistibly delicious!
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
No Bake Energy Bites Ingredients:
To make this no bake energy bites recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
- Old-fashioned oats: Also called rolled oats — these will serve as the base ingredient for our energy bites.
- Shredded coconut: Which 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 butter: I have used both traditional creamy peanut butter and natural creamy peanut butter in this recipe, and both work!
- Ground flaxseed: To add some extra protein, fiber and omega-3s to our energy bites.
- Semisweet chocolate chips: I photographed this recipe with standard-sized semisweet chips, but mini semisweet chips mix in easier.
- Honey: To add some natural sweetness and also help to bind the energy balls together.
- Vanilla extract: For 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 Balls:
To make these energy bites, simply…
- 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.*
- 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.
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.
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 bars: Press 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.
More Healthy Snack Recipes:
Looking for more healthy snack inspiration? Here are a few of my favorite snack recipes!
- Chocolate No Bake Energy Bites
- Seed Cycling Energy Bites
- Easy Refrigerator Pickles
- Nooch Popcorn
- Beef Jerky
- Sea Salt and Vinegar Kale Chips
No Bake Energy Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 2/3 cup toasted shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips (or vegan chocolate chips)
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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
Did you make this?Let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
I made them with chopped apple and golden raisins instead of coconut and choc chips for a slightly healthier version and they were DELICIOUS!!! I will def be making them again with all sorts of variations. A few of these will make a great on the go breakfast. Thanks!
I’m mildly obsessed with granola bars and I love the idea of being able to make my own without even having to turn on the oven. That’s for the great recipe.
Thanks for the great recipe! I found this on Pinterest and followed your recipe exactly. We love `em!!
3 points each for weight watchers points
I just made these with a few variations. I did not have flax weed so I used wheat germ, I used white chocolate chips and added a 1/2 cup of a granola mixture that I have that has granola, nuts and dried fruit. This was so yummy. I will double the recipe next time.
I’ve made these twice. The first time I used chopped carrot instead of coconut. They turned out great, the carrots added the necessary moisture, crunch, and sweetness the coconut usually lends. I also threw in some crushed pepitas (pumpkin seeds) because I had some on hand, substituted a bit of the honey for molasses, used quick oats, and used sun butter instead of peanut butter. The sun butter definitely does add a different distinct flavor versus peanut butter, so be warned!
I just made another batch with coconut, old fashioned oats, and regular peanut butter. They are not staying together as well. I think if you use old fashioned oats you need to chop them up a bit first. I added a splash of milk and I’m letting them sit for the hour in the fridge now.
Love these!! They’re a huge hit with my two boys, ages 6 & 2. I’ve been making them every week at their request. They’re a great snack for me as well! :D
Sooo…I just made these. I used quick oats, peanut butter, honey, a sprinkling of chocolate chips, unsweetened organic coconut flakes, chopped prunes, 1/2 cup of my favorite trail mix and then…for a bit of added energy….I dissolved some instant coffee and added that. THESE ARE DELICIOUS!! I don’t think you can make them taste bad:) Taking them to work tonight, and then making some sans caffeine for my 4 year old and I tomorrow. Thank you for the idea!
Yum!! I just made- and sampled- these and this is definitely a keeper recipe. As many others did already, I made some substitutions. While I love coconut, I didn’t have any, so instead I used 1/2 cup sliced almonds and 1/2 cup dried cranberries. I could not find ground flax seed so I used wheat germ. After letting it chill as directed, the mixture was still a bit crumbly and dry-ish. Not a big deal, though- just be sure to squish and compact everything into a ball.
I’ve always bought something called “Energy chunks” at our local food co-op. They’re oh so yummy and actually taste like they are good for you. I’ve been wanting to learn how to make them at home and now I can! Thank you! One question – are they sticky?