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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 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.
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.
Any suggestions on what to sub the oats out for? Hubby and I are doing a paleo diet and can’t have the oats. Plan to sub the peanut butter with almond butter but not sure what to swap out for the oats.
GREAT RECIPE!!! These turned out so well. My kids (at least one of them) tried them and loved them. I added some extras in mind like dried cranberries, pistachios, almonds, cinnamon and whey protein. I made my second batch tonight. This will keep me from spending money on protein bars and other pricey snacks.
I just made these and they are excellent! I read through most of the comments and took a couple of suggestions. I substituted 1 Tbsp of cocoa for the choc chips. I’m sure this saves on calories and sugar too? Also, I microwaved all the “wet” ingredients first and I think that helped it all mix together smoothly. (Next time I will heat in a pan on the stove….I don’t like to use the microwave.) It was barely enough honey though, next time I may add a bit more. I gobbled up about 3 teaspoons right away and found it filling. :-)
OMG!! THANK YOU!! Love these little guys! I ate half the batch before rolling into balls! good breakfast, snack, or before workouts !!! Going to make a double batch tomorrow!!
Really?? Just either make them or don’t make them but slamming her for posting the recipe and supposedly plagiarizing? Read it, make them or not and move on. Some people just have to bring in the negativity….smh…
a lot of people are asking for nutritional information. you can analyze the nutritional content of a recipe here: https://caloriecount.about.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php
I found this recipe on Pinterest. I’ve made it twice already, and YUM!!! I followed your recipe except for the chia seeds (am I going crazy, or were those recently added? I don’t remember them from the 1st time that I made them). And instead of balls, I pressed them into an 8×8 glass dish then cut them into bars. I will never buy store bought granola bars again! These remind me of my favorites, Sunbelt Chocolate Chip granola bars, except even tastier, and much, much healthier! Now I can’t wait to try them with cinnamon and raisins like a few others suggested.
Oh my goodness, these are amazing!! I could barely make them into balls bc I was busy just eating it out of the bowl. I brought some into work and everyone went crazy for them and asked if I could make them a batch. I even added a scoop of vanilla whey protein. I cant wait to try these with different flavors of pb. Thank you for this wonderful recipe!
The basis for this recipe was great! I added some chopped apples and shaved mini carrots to add some raw nutrition. I also used half almond butter and added some cinnamon. They are delicious! Even my boyfriend wanted some!! Thanks for posting!
Hi I came across your website off of pinterest and found this recipe I can’t wait to get the stuff to make them tomorrow. I have a serious sugar addiction that I have to break and I am hoping that something like this will satisify it. I am a snacker and you cant get any better than these little balls. I have recently started exercising again early in the morning and this will be great with my coffee. Will post the outcome after I try.
Quite right these are perfect little nuggets of goodness! I can get mini carob chips at the Natural Grocers near me – going to whip up a batch today!
P.S. I live in CO and am in Breck, snowshoeing at the Nordic Center often – THANK YOU (and Courtney) for wearing helmets when you ski – it blows my mind that there are still “fashion fools” out there that simply won’t don the protection.
Love these things!! They are so good. I do leave out the choc. chips only because I end up eating most of them myself, and I don’t want those extra calories. I also use cashew butter just because I love cashews. I also add a couple scoops of my vanilla protein powder. Taste is great!! I put them in my boys lunches for snacks and they love them.
I recently tried a recipe my mother found in her local paper. It is very similar to yours. I baked them for my 2-year old grandson who only likes “crunchy.” My recipe insstructs to leave out to dry. I have let them dry almost a week and though they are drying more–they are still like a soft cookie on the inside, they are still not crunchy. I got your recipe after asking for a crunchy non-bake cookie. I’m wondering if it is possible to have a crunchy unbaked recipe with the ingredients in the recipe.
So far so GOOD! YUMMY! I tried one recipe so far and loved the taste. I am real excited to try all the different varieties that can be substituted for one another. Some stick together better than others. The only way to find that out is to try this recipe I received from a co-worker, Kristin! Thanks Kristin now I can’t top eating them.
I made these balls for the first time this morning and I omitted the coconut and added an extra cup of oats. I also added a quarter of a cup of pecans bits and a quarter of a cup of sunflower seeds. I would also like to add a tip, to mix the wet ingredients together then at all the dry. it would make it easier when mixing all together
I made these tonight for my niece who will be visiting me tomorrow and they are delicious. Hardly any work putting together and clean up is easy. I did substitute 2tsp. of cocoa and 3 tsp. of powder creamer instead of the protein powder. Didn’t have any at hand.Thanks for the recipe.Cindy Wilson
Thanks for this recipe. I’m tired of buying protein bars that have questionable ingredients anyways.
I used 2 1/3 c of Bob’s Red Mill muesli in place of the oats/chocolate/coconumt. It has oats, but also many other grains, some dried fruit, and slivers of nuts. Very good!
I came across this recipe on Pinterest. I just whipped them together and I am a believer!! They are currently chilling in the fridge and I can’t keep from pick in at them! The toasted coconut along with the honey give it the perfect sweetness! I can’t wait to try different combinations! Thank you for sharing this healthy, sweet treat!
My husband made these and used ground almond instead of flax and instead of honey he used a mix of agave & maple syrup. He also added a mashed banana. He kept eating it before it got to the fridge for its 30 min. chill time. He also added a bit more peanut butter than recipe called for. These came out amazing!!!!!
Wow! These little bites are chalked full of power foods that help lower cholesterol! And guess what? They taste wonderful!!! I added a little bit of cocoa powder in mine and they turned out great! Breakfast, snack, dessert :)
I just made these except I didn’t use coconut, flax seed, or the chocolate chips and instead I added many other things like raisins, some sprinkles for a little bit of colour, corn flake cereal, and a number of other things and the taste great! Thanks for the recipe!!
Made these a few days ago and they are delicious. They remind me of those famous no bake cookies that have lots of sugar and butter in them…..don’t miss it at all. Even my hubby likes them and he doesn’t usually like my attempts at getting him to eat healthier snacks. Will try a little cocoa in them next time for a change-up on the recipe.
Would anyone happen to know or have a good estimate or nutrition facts .on these? Maybe just calories?
Yiannab —
I made these today but used quinoa flakes instead of the oatmeal, I didn’t add chocolate chips but subbed toasted hazelnuts instead, and used all maple syrup. I made 50 gram balls with these (used an ice-cream scoop) and got about 300 calories for one. I think next time I will use a cookie scoop and make them smaller:)
Man these things are addictive! This is the second time I’ve made his recipe and both times theyre a hit! they never last more than a few days in this house…
I make this about every 2 day… or else I run out! And EVERYONE in the house eats them. We like them a little better with the milled flax seed though, that way the seeds aren’t falling off and just a little less chocolate.
These bites will definitely give you energy. I made them with my homemade peanut butter, Honey Flax Peanut Butter. I just can’t get enough flax in my diet:
https://messnkitchn.blogspot.com/2013/03/honey-flax-peanut-butter-vegan-gluten.html
I just finished making these and they’re delicious! My girls loved them, too! I did a quick calorie count (with my rusty math skills) and each ball came out to be 116 calories. I made mine exactly as the recipe states except I left out the flaxseed (didn’t have any in the house). My recipe only yielded 18 balls (probably because of the omitted flaxseed).
Any suggestions on what to sub the oats out for? Hubby and I are doing a paleo diet and can’t have the oats. Plan to sub the peanut butter with almond butter but not sure what to swap out for the oats.
GREAT RECIPE!!! These turned out so well. My kids (at least one of them) tried them and loved them. I added some extras in mind like dried cranberries, pistachios, almonds, cinnamon and whey protein. I made my second batch tonight. This will keep me from spending money on protein bars and other pricey snacks.
THANK YOU!!!
is there any subtitute for the oats i have almond flour would that work and for the honey as well not a sweeter please how about almond sugar?
I just made these and they are excellent! I read through most of the comments and took a couple of suggestions. I substituted 1 Tbsp of cocoa for the choc chips. I’m sure this saves on calories and sugar too? Also, I microwaved all the “wet” ingredients first and I think that helped it all mix together smoothly. (Next time I will heat in a pan on the stove….I don’t like to use the microwave.) It was barely enough honey though, next time I may add a bit more. I gobbled up about 3 teaspoons right away and found it filling. :-)
OMG!! THANK YOU!! Love these little guys! I ate half the batch before rolling into balls! good breakfast, snack, or before workouts !!! Going to make a double batch tomorrow!!
Really?? Just either make them or don’t make them but slamming her for posting the recipe and supposedly plagiarizing? Read it, make them or not and move on. Some people just have to bring in the negativity….smh…
a lot of people are asking for nutritional information. you can analyze the nutritional content of a recipe here: https://caloriecount.about.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php
I found this recipe on Pinterest. I’ve made it twice already, and YUM!!! I followed your recipe except for the chia seeds (am I going crazy, or were those recently added? I don’t remember them from the 1st time that I made them). And instead of balls, I pressed them into an 8×8 glass dish then cut them into bars. I will never buy store bought granola bars again! These remind me of my favorites, Sunbelt Chocolate Chip granola bars, except even tastier, and much, much healthier! Now I can’t wait to try them with cinnamon and raisins like a few others suggested.
Those look so good. I’ve made ones similar to that but it has been a long time – this would be great to throw in my kids lunches!!
Oh my goodness, these are amazing!! I could barely make them into balls bc I was busy just eating it out of the bowl. I brought some into work and everyone went crazy for them and asked if I could make them a batch. I even added a scoop of vanilla whey protein. I cant wait to try these with different flavors of pb. Thank you for this wonderful recipe!
These are delicious!!! I have to make a triple batch!!!!
Nutritional facts please! I made them and family loves them but I would love to know the calories etc.
Any ideas what the nutritional value is?
Please send nutritional facts.
Thanks!
These are delicious! I’ve tried similar recipes and they were bland and needed more sweetness. These are perfect! Thanks!
how many calories are in east .
107 calories for each
What site do you use to figure out calories? Thanks.
I am curious about the difference between wheat bran or wheat germ?
The basis for this recipe was great! I added some chopped apples and shaved mini carrots to add some raw nutrition. I also used half almond butter and added some cinnamon. They are delicious! Even my boyfriend wanted some!! Thanks for posting!
Hi I came across your website off of pinterest and found this recipe I can’t wait to get the stuff to make them tomorrow. I have a serious sugar addiction that I have to break and I am hoping that something like this will satisify it. I am a snacker and you cant get any better than these little balls. I have recently started exercising again early in the morning and this will be great with my coffee. Will post the outcome after I try.
Quite right these are perfect little nuggets of goodness! I can get mini carob chips at the Natural Grocers near me – going to whip up a batch today!
P.S. I live in CO and am in Breck, snowshoeing at the Nordic Center often – THANK YOU (and Courtney) for wearing helmets when you ski – it blows my mind that there are still “fashion fools” out there that simply won’t don the protection.
These are so addictive and so good. I omit the coconut. I just made a batch and added corn flakes. Yummy!
These are great!!!! Instead of 1/2 cup chocolate chips — I bought the mini chocolate chips and used 1/4 cup. They were perfect!
Love these things!! They are so good. I do leave out the choc. chips only because I end up eating most of them myself, and I don’t want those extra calories. I also use cashew butter just because I love cashews. I also add a couple scoops of my vanilla protein powder. Taste is great!! I put them in my boys lunches for snacks and they love them.
I recently tried a recipe my mother found in her local paper. It is very similar to yours. I baked them for my 2-year old grandson who only likes “crunchy.” My recipe insstructs to leave out to dry. I have let them dry almost a week and though they are drying more–they are still like a soft cookie on the inside, they are still not crunchy. I got your recipe after asking for a crunchy non-bake cookie. I’m wondering if it is possible to have a crunchy unbaked recipe with the ingredients in the recipe.
So far so GOOD! YUMMY! I tried one recipe so far and loved the taste. I am real excited to try all the different varieties that can be substituted for one another. Some stick together better than others. The only way to find that out is to try this recipe I received from a co-worker, Kristin! Thanks Kristin now I can’t top eating them.
Linked from Pinterest. Can’t wait to try these! Thanks!
These energy bites are amazing!!!!
I made these balls for the first time this morning and I omitted the coconut and added an extra cup of oats. I also added a quarter of a cup of pecans bits and a quarter of a cup of sunflower seeds. I would also like to add a tip, to mix the wet ingredients together then at all the dry. it would make it easier when mixing all together
OH HOLY GOODNESS! I made these today and shared with my friend!!! DELISH! Thanks for posting.
I made these tonight for my niece who will be visiting me tomorrow and they are delicious. Hardly any work putting together and clean up is easy. I did substitute 2tsp. of cocoa and 3 tsp. of powder creamer instead of the protein powder. Didn’t have any at hand.Thanks for the recipe.Cindy Wilson
Thanks for this recipe. I’m tired of buying protein bars that have questionable ingredients anyways.
I used 2 1/3 c of Bob’s Red Mill muesli in place of the oats/chocolate/coconumt. It has oats, but also many other grains, some dried fruit, and slivers of nuts. Very good!
I came across this recipe on Pinterest. I just whipped them together and I am a believer!! They are currently chilling in the fridge and I can’t keep from pick in at them! The toasted coconut along with the honey give it the perfect sweetness! I can’t wait to try different combinations! Thank you for sharing this healthy, sweet treat!
My husband made these and used ground almond instead of flax and instead of honey he used a mix of agave & maple syrup. He also added a mashed banana. He kept eating it before it got to the fridge for its 30 min. chill time. He also added a bit more peanut butter than recipe called for. These came out amazing!!!!!
these are flippin amazing. I’m addicted!! :) love them!
Wow! These little bites are chalked full of power foods that help lower cholesterol! And guess what? They taste wonderful!!! I added a little bit of cocoa powder in mine and they turned out great! Breakfast, snack, dessert :)
These are the best ! No more bought granola bars in the house anymore ….
Brown rice syrup is also slower glycimic sticky sub for honey
I just made these except I didn’t use coconut, flax seed, or the chocolate chips and instead I added many other things like raisins, some sprinkles for a little bit of colour, corn flake cereal, and a number of other things and the taste great! Thanks for the recipe!!
Made these a few days ago and they are delicious. They remind me of those famous no bake cookies that have lots of sugar and butter in them…..don’t miss it at all. Even my hubby likes them and he doesn’t usually like my attempts at getting him to eat healthier snacks. Will try a little cocoa in them next time for a change-up on the recipe.
Would anyone happen to know or have a good estimate or nutrition facts .on these? Maybe just calories?
I made these today but used quinoa flakes instead of the oatmeal, I didn’t add chocolate chips but subbed toasted hazelnuts instead, and used all maple syrup. I made 50 gram balls with these (used an ice-cream scoop) and got about 300 calories for one. I think next time I will use a cookie scoop and make them smaller:)
Man these things are addictive! This is the second time I’ve made his recipe and both times theyre a hit! they never last more than a few days in this house…
I make this about every 2 day… or else I run out! And EVERYONE in the house eats them. We like them a little better with the milled flax seed though, that way the seeds aren’t falling off and just a little less chocolate.
A-MA-ZING!
so good……second time making them….i used dark choc covered pomegranate seeds…..yummyyyyyyyyy!
These bites will definitely give you energy. I made them with my homemade peanut butter, Honey Flax Peanut Butter. I just can’t get enough flax in my diet:
https://messnkitchn.blogspot.com/2013/03/honey-flax-peanut-butter-vegan-gluten.html
Hey, Do you know how many carbs these care each one? Ive been making them like each week, they are SOOOO good!!!! Thanks!!!
Just made these sweet little treats and they are amazing! So easy and very yummy. Adios granola bars….there’s a new snack in town!
Hi there I was wondering if you had the calorie/kj intake for these balls. They sound yummy…too yummy lol.
I just finished making these and they’re delicious! My girls loved them, too! I did a quick calorie count (with my rusty math skills) and each ball came out to be 116 calories. I made mine exactly as the recipe states except I left out the flaxseed (didn’t have any in the house). My recipe only yielded 18 balls (probably because of the omitted flaxseed).
Tastes great my husband loves them! I add crushed pecans as well. Wondering how many calories are in 1 ball, I inch…?