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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 they have cooled before adding in the chocolate chips, or the chocolate may heat and turn a bit melty.)
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.
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!
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.
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.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Jill! We’re glad you and the kiddos enjoy these, and that you found a soy butter you can use for them. And your variations sound delicious, thanks for sharing! :)
We have been making these for years. We make a double batch every two weeks. After we roll them we freeze them 4 per small Ziploc (2 balls for each of us) and then just grab and go each morning. We omit the chocolate chips. Have shared this recipe with countless numbers and everyone loves them!!!
Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven —
We’re so glad to hear that, Anne, thanks for sharing with us! :D
I used maple syrup as the sweetener. Worked great! And since I was out of chocolate chips I chopped up a bar of dark chocolate quinoa puffs – tasted delicious!
What would be a substitute for ground flax seeds? Protein powder? Can’t wait to try these.
Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven —
Hi Susan! Yes, you could use protein powder instead, or you could add more oats/nuts/dried fruit, etc., or a combination of those things. We hope you enjoy these!
These are so delicious, they never last long and I have to make a few batches at a time to keep up with demand. We take them on our whitewater rafting trips – first we freeze them then vacuum seal them and keep them in the ice chest. They are such a cold, delicious treat after a hot afternoon on the river!
Also, as a diabetic, I am always watching my sugar levels and I find that one of these balls really satisfies that sweet craving without leading to a big spike in blood sugar. I think the peanut butter and flax seed must help to slow the absorption of the sugars, releasing them more gradually into the blood.
Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven —
Thanks for sharing, Jeanne, we’re so glad you enjoy them! :)
I’ve been making these almost weekly for years now… thank you! And this is just me being lazy, but do you have a general idea of nutrition facts?
Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven —
We’re so glad you’re a fan, Kenzie! As for the nutrition facts, we’re sorry but we aren’t sure. We currently are not publishing nutrition facts on the site, as the nutrition calculators available are not 100% accurate, and we never want to publish anything that might be misleading. However, a lot of our readers love the My Fitness Pal nutrition calculator, so feel free to try that for an estimate. We hope that helps!
Hi Anna! We’re sorry but we are unsure of the nutrition facts/amount of calories in this recipe. We currently are not publishing nutrition facts on the site, as the nutrition calculators available are not 100% accurate, and we never want to publish anything that might be misleading. However, a lot of our readers love the My Fitness Pal nutrition calculator, so feel free to try that for an estimate. We hope that helps!
These are so yummy! I put the ingredients into myFitnessPal, here’s what it came out to per bite. (I used agave as I’m not a honey lover, and also used chopped bittersweet chocolate. I did include the chia seeds as well.)
210 calories
14.7 g fat (only 1.2 saturated)
71.5 g sodium
21.5 g potassium
20.7 g carbs (1.4 g fiber and 14.9 g sugar)
4 g protein
These are perfect when you need a little something and much tastier than some other options!
These are delicious! I’ve made these several times. I’ve even given them as gifts! As someone with a nut allergy, buying energy bars in the store is pretty much a non-starter. I make these with sunflower butter. I love the versatility of this recipe. This time I used dairy free dark chocolate chips and untoasted fine shredded unsweetened coconut (to save time). I find that in this recipe toasting the coconut didn’t add a whole ton for me. I’ve also added things like pumpkin seeds and chopped dates, though the original is still my favorite. I add one step at the end of the recipe because I like to eat these on the go and with the sunflower butter they are very sticky. After forming into balls, I lightly roll each ball in oat flour, this reduces the stickiness and makes them a more portable snack!
Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven —
Thanks for sharing, Jen! We’re so glad you’re a fan of these, and that’s so cool that you make them with sunflower butter! :)
Really excellent energy bites. I leave out the chocolate chips, because we prefer them less sweet. I have made these at least 20 times since I found the recipe, and this is our staple energy bite recipe. We <3 them!
Really excellent energy bites. I leave out the chocolate chips, because we prefer them less sweet and use crunchy peanut butter for the added fibre of the nuts. . I have made these at least 20 times since I found the recipe, and this is our staple energy bite recipe.
We <3 them!
My kids and I all love these little bites for a yummy snack. They love to help make them, too. We use sun butter because of a peanut allergy, and it works perfectly. Sometimes we add a bit extra if the mixture seems too dry to hold together.
I used myfitnesspal to calculate about 92-100 calories if you end up with 15 rolled energy balls at the end. This recipe is so good! I used cacao nibs and they added a tart element to all of the sweetness. Just 2 of these give me a boost of energy, getting me through the afternoon slump. Thanks for sharing!
Love! I made a few substitutions: instead of 1cup of oats I used 1 cup of cashews, almonds + pumpkin seeds (all raw + unsalted) into the food processor first. I also added 1 tbsp cacao powder (no sugar) and 1 tsp of coconut butter. I used just under the recommended 1/3 cup honey and these were almost perfect – just a tad too sweet for me! Next time, I’m going to decrease honey to 1/4 cup and try 1tsp of cinnamon. Thanks for the recipe – I’m loving making all the tweaks to find my perfect fit!
These have been a go-to for months now. Make them at least every other week (takes 10 mins). Constantly giving them away and always being asked for the recipe. They adapt well to substitutions (depending on my food mood) but I keep coming back to the original recipe. Thank you!
You may want to note that if making for a celiac, the oats need to be certified gluten free. Oatmeal itself has no gluten but are typically cross-contaminated with wheat when processed. My friend didn’t know when she made these for me. (I am celiac)
I only found this recipe online after years you made it :) but how delicious they are ! I hope you are still keep doing what you have done and enjoying every single day of cooking great food and sharing them. I am making these balls from China and shared with my friends…I am so thankful I found this site and I have tried several versions using similar ingredients before, I have to say this one tastes best!
Hope I can find more treasures here , and thank you so much for sharing them!
I was wondering if the could be kept unrefrigerated for a day or so. I need some high protein snacks for a trip. Would they be too soft? The recipe sounds delicious. I am looking forward to trying it.
These satisfy the urge for sweet and fills me up so I don’t eat other snacks. I freeze them in individual bites (snack bags) so they are easy to grab. Going to make another batch tonight.
I’ve been eating these daily for a few years, and I love them! My recipe has the exact same ingredients but slightly different measurements. I make them each Sunday and freeze them 2 at a time in snack sized ziploc bags. It’s perfect for grabbing when I need a snack during the week!
Quite possibly my favorite go to recipe ever! A friend directed me to your specific one and I’m just so happy with it – it’s marked as a favorite on my phone and make it at least once a month. Thank you for sharing it with the world!
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Jill! We’re glad you and the kiddos enjoy these, and that you found a soy butter you can use for them. And your variations sound delicious, thanks for sharing! :)
We have been making these for years. We make a double batch every two weeks. After we roll them we freeze them 4 per small Ziploc (2 balls for each of us) and then just grab and go each morning. We omit the chocolate chips. Have shared this recipe with countless numbers and everyone loves them!!!
We’re so glad to hear that, Anne, thanks for sharing with us! :D
I used maple syrup as the sweetener. Worked great! And since I was out of chocolate chips I chopped up a bar of dark chocolate quinoa puffs – tasted delicious!
What would be a substitute for ground flax seeds? Protein powder? Can’t wait to try these.
Hi Susan! Yes, you could use protein powder instead, or you could add more oats/nuts/dried fruit, etc., or a combination of those things. We hope you enjoy these!
These are so delicious, they never last long and I have to make a few batches at a time to keep up with demand. We take them on our whitewater rafting trips – first we freeze them then vacuum seal them and keep them in the ice chest. They are such a cold, delicious treat after a hot afternoon on the river!
Also, as a diabetic, I am always watching my sugar levels and I find that one of these balls really satisfies that sweet craving without leading to a big spike in blood sugar. I think the peanut butter and flax seed must help to slow the absorption of the sugars, releasing them more gradually into the blood.
Thanks for sharing, Jeanne, we’re so glad you enjoy them! :)
Just made this recipe and we love it!!
Thanks, we’re so glad to hear that!
Amazing snack
Thanks, Katie, we’re glad you enjoy them!
How long would these save? Could I make a batch and keep for a week or so?
Hi Karissa! These will keep in the fridge for about a week and in the freezer for a few months. We hope you enjoy!
Absolutely delicious
Thanks, we’re so glad you enjoy them!
I’ve been making these almost weekly for years now… thank you! And this is just me being lazy, but do you have a general idea of nutrition facts?
We’re so glad you’re a fan, Kenzie! As for the nutrition facts, we’re sorry but we aren’t sure. We currently are not publishing nutrition facts on the site, as the nutrition calculators available are not 100% accurate, and we never want to publish anything that might be misleading. However, a lot of our readers love the My Fitness Pal nutrition calculator, so feel free to try that for an estimate. We hope that helps!
Do you know the calorie content?
Hi Anna! We’re sorry but we are unsure of the nutrition facts/amount of calories in this recipe. We currently are not publishing nutrition facts on the site, as the nutrition calculators available are not 100% accurate, and we never want to publish anything that might be misleading. However, a lot of our readers love the My Fitness Pal nutrition calculator, so feel free to try that for an estimate. We hope that helps!
Can these be frozen??? They are so good I like to make double batches but now the kids are him I find myself eating too many as snacks!!
Yes, they can definitely be frozen! :)
Easy, thanks!
These are so yummy! I put the ingredients into myFitnessPal, here’s what it came out to per bite. (I used agave as I’m not a honey lover, and also used chopped bittersweet chocolate. I did include the chia seeds as well.)
210 calories
14.7 g fat (only 1.2 saturated)
71.5 g sodium
21.5 g potassium
20.7 g carbs (1.4 g fiber and 14.9 g sugar)
4 g protein
These are perfect when you need a little something and much tastier than some other options!
We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Markel! :)
I’ve made these with a slightly different recipe – they’re very tasty indeed! x Thanks for sharing. Jacqui
Is there an alternative for someone with a nut allergies?
Hi Daniel! You can just leave the nuts out and add more dried fruit and/or oats. We hope you enjoy!
Do yo use sweetened or unsweetened coconut flakes in these bites?
Hi Vivian! We use unsweetened. We hope you enjoy!
These are delicious! I’ve made these several times. I’ve even given them as gifts! As someone with a nut allergy, buying energy bars in the store is pretty much a non-starter. I make these with sunflower butter. I love the versatility of this recipe. This time I used dairy free dark chocolate chips and untoasted fine shredded unsweetened coconut (to save time). I find that in this recipe toasting the coconut didn’t add a whole ton for me. I’ve also added things like pumpkin seeds and chopped dates, though the original is still my favorite. I add one step at the end of the recipe because I like to eat these on the go and with the sunflower butter they are very sticky. After forming into balls, I lightly roll each ball in oat flour, this reduces the stickiness and makes them a more portable snack!
Thanks for sharing, Jen! We’re so glad you’re a fan of these, and that’s so cool that you make them with sunflower butter! :)
Can’t wait to make these! What kind of peanut butter do you use?
Awesome, we hope you enjoy them, Michelle! And we love Trader Joe’s peanut butter. :)
We make these for soccer tournament days as an easy snack between games. Son loves them (and I always sneak a few)
Awesome recipe and very tasty energy balls!
For those who use the metric system:
– 90g dry oatmeal
– 50g toasted coconut flakes
– 125g peanut butter
– 75g ground flaxseeds
– 90g chocolate chips
– 115g honey or agave nectar
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1 tablespoon chia seeds
Really excellent energy bites. I leave out the chocolate chips, because we prefer them less sweet. I have made these at least 20 times since I found the recipe, and this is our staple energy bite recipe. We <3 them!
Really excellent energy bites. I leave out the chocolate chips, because we prefer them less sweet and use crunchy peanut butter for the added fibre of the nuts. . I have made these at least 20 times since I found the recipe, and this is our staple energy bite recipe.
We <3 them!
Can you leave out the coconut?
Taste great and will get rid of a sweet craving.
Wonderful, so happy to hear it! :)
My kids and I all love these little bites for a yummy snack. They love to help make them, too. We use sun butter because of a peanut allergy, and it works perfectly. Sometimes we add a bit extra if the mixture seems too dry to hold together.
Wonderful, so happy to hear it! Glad that the sun butter has worked out! :)
I use mini chocolate chips! And add some nutritional yeast too, for even more nutrients.
I used myfitnesspal to calculate about 92-100 calories if you end up with 15 rolled energy balls at the end. This recipe is so good! I used cacao nibs and they added a tart element to all of the sweetness. Just 2 of these give me a boost of energy, getting me through the afternoon slump. Thanks for sharing!
I think you’re light on your calories.
Love! I made a few substitutions: instead of 1cup of oats I used 1 cup of cashews, almonds + pumpkin seeds (all raw + unsalted) into the food processor first. I also added 1 tbsp cacao powder (no sugar) and 1 tsp of coconut butter. I used just under the recommended 1/3 cup honey and these were almost perfect – just a tad too sweet for me! Next time, I’m going to decrease honey to 1/4 cup and try 1tsp of cinnamon. Thanks for the recipe – I’m loving making all the tweaks to find my perfect fit!
Awesome, sounds delicious! :)
These have been a go-to for months now. Make them at least every other week (takes 10 mins). Constantly giving them away and always being asked for the recipe. They adapt well to substitutions (depending on my food mood) but I keep coming back to the original recipe. Thank you!
You may want to note that if making for a celiac, the oats need to be certified gluten free. Oatmeal itself has no gluten but are typically cross-contaminated with wheat when processed. My friend didn’t know when she made these for me. (I am celiac)
However, they are very yummy!
Great no bake energy snack bites recipes.????☺??4 any one interested in it.******
How long will these last in the fridge?
Depends how fast you eat them!! :-)
There’s nothing really risky in them so probably 2 weeks.
Great recipe, except I found it a bit dry by the end of the bowl.
These turned out so delicious and flavorful!
I only found this recipe online after years you made it :) but how delicious they are ! I hope you are still keep doing what you have done and enjoying every single day of cooking great food and sharing them. I am making these balls from China and shared with my friends…I am so thankful I found this site and I have tried several versions using similar ingredients before, I have to say this one tastes best!
Hope I can find more treasures here , and thank you so much for sharing them!
I make these they are great pre workout snacks. I add a scoop of protein powder to mine for added proteins.
These are amazing
I was wondering if the could be kept unrefrigerated for a day or so. I need some high protein snacks for a trip. Would they be too soft? The recipe sounds delicious. I am looking forward to trying it.
I love these protein balls! I make them all the time. Super easy and the family loves them too.
So tasty loved them so much! Healthy yet delicious!!!
Hi! Any idea if these freeze well? Thanks! So excited for a healthy snack recipe! :)
Yes – I portion them out and freeze them, 2 in a snack size baggie. Better to eat when thawed, but they thaw quickly.
Made 18 decent size balls. Family loves them! Were trying out clean eating and this fits perfectly. YUMMM!!! ?
Thank you for this recipe! I substitute maple syrup for the honey and it’s also awesome.
These satisfy the urge for sweet and fills me up so I don’t eat other snacks. I freeze them in individual bites (snack bags) so they are easy to grab. Going to make another batch tonight.
what if we are allergic to nuts?
Hi. I made this; and input on MyFitnessPal under “mock freshii energii bites.” I estimate them at 165 calories for 25g per ball. Cheers, Josh
Bless you!!?
How many carbs?
I’ve been eating these daily for a few years, and I love them! My recipe has the exact same ingredients but slightly different measurements. I make them each Sunday and freeze them 2 at a time in snack sized ziploc bags. It’s perfect for grabbing when I need a snack during the week!
Quite possibly my favorite go to recipe ever! A friend directed me to your specific one and I’m just so happy with it – it’s marked as a favorite on my phone and make it at least once a month. Thank you for sharing it with the world!
I make these all the time …. So damn good!! Very comvenient when you’re on the go and just grab them from the fridge! Love love!