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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.
I used more peanut butter than the 1/3 cup this recipe calls for as I simply use common sense when mixing moist and dry ingredients to determine the best texture.
Since I substitute cocoa powder for the chocolate chips, I pour in some maple syrup in addition to the local honey. I also add dried fruit when I make these. This time I added a handful of golden raisins and some fresh blackberries I had picked yesterday afternoon.
I first made no-bake energy bites last spring as a source of energy before, during and after officiating soccer matches. Since they are simple to make and the store-bought variety are quite expensive this was a no-brainer for me.
They are delicious, loaded with protein and made with all natural ingredients. There are so many variations you could try to avoid taste boredom. For example, I once added a couple shots of Kavanaugh’s Irish Cream and they were quite yummy. Of course, I wouldn’t do this when using them during sports activities rather as a meal replacement.
Mole —
So basically you did a completely different recipe??
My friends are I nuts for these! I have not made them yet with the chia seeds or other seeds, since I did not have them but oh the recipe is so easy and quicker than any cookie recipe. I love how you can get really creative with them! thanks so much for a great snack for events, or going out for the day in the hot heat.
Just made two batches. One with 1/4 cup maple syrup instead of honey and the other batch substituted the sweetener with applesauce. Yummy! The first batch is good but a little too sweet for me. Excellent way to get our fiber, protein, & Omega 3’s!
Liz —
Thank you for posting about using apples to sweeten!
Do you have to make these with coconut? I’ve never been a fan but am dying for energy food recipes for on the go as a Teachers Assistant always on the go.
Just made these last night and have to agree with a prior comment about them being overly sweet. I will definitely be putting in less honey and more peanut butter next time. I’m not sure if I’ll even be able to finish the batch as the sweetness is really overwhelming. Love the idea though! I’m also curious how much sugar is in a serving with the recipe as is?
Very very yummy! But they were quite crumbly and it was impossible to roll into balls. Even if I put them into a pan as suggested, I’m afraid they will still fall apart when cut. Didn’t want to add additional PB since that would increase the calories. I looked up nutrition info, and it looks like they are about 121 cal each. But it was disappointing that the author didn’t respond to the many requestions for that info. Hope it can be fixed!
Sam —
Add a Tablespoon of water and they will roll into balls better.
I made these yesterday and boy are they delicious! The only ingredient I left out what is the coconut. Thank you so much for this recipe it was so easy!
My husband has never really liked other protein bite recipes that I’ve tried. I made this recipe last week and my entire family loved them. My husband asked me to make another batch, but this time, double the recipe. I really like recipes like this that I can tailor towards things my family and I love to eat. Thank you!
These are so good. The carb count is going to be high. I would not term these protein bites as some do. Basically cookie bites with the feel good energy coming from carb sources. Who can eat just one ?
Way too much flax seed and if you add chia seed it sort of tastes like eating a ball of bird seeds. I would cut the honey in half as well. I think 2 tbsp of flax seed is plenty. I would much rather taste the oats.
These are fantastic! I used almond butter and added 1/4 cup each of chocolate chips and dried cranberries. I also used maple syrup instead of honey and reduced it to 1/4 cup. Great recipe!
I cannot eat honey and don’t need the extra sugar. Do these hold together without the honey or can you recommend a non-sugary substitute? These look great. Do you have a similar recipe that is baked? Thanks!
These are a huge hit in my house! I have to double the recipe so they last the week. Few alterations: I cut the flax seed in half as it was causing a strange sour taste. I also split the PB in half and substitute in smooth almond butter. Sometimes I don’t have coconut on hand and will just increase the oats to make up for it. So good! Thanks for this delicious recipe!
Christa —
Make sure your flaxseed isn’t out-of-date. I’ve made the mistake of using old flaxseed that was rancid, which might cause the sour taste you’re describing.
I only read a few of the 1,979 comments, but I have to agree that the balls did not form well. I added about another third cup of peanut butter (Whole foods 365 creamy), plus heated the whole thing in microwave for 30 seconds . That helped with the ball formation. Tasted great!
This recipe is super easy…I have started making them to feed a group of people during race weekend (25+ people so use that multiply button).
They were met with rave reviews of awesome. The perfect pick me up for all my snackers on the run that don’t have time for a full meal during race day. But also wanted a healthier option that chips or candy.
I put 3 in a snack size zip lock bag, freeze them in batches, they somewhat thaw in the cooler on the way – made 3 batches at the increase of 3x the batch up there – and I’d return home with none.
I followed this recipe exactly as stated (using no sugar/no salt peanut butter and unsweetened toasted coconut) and they were not at all overly sweet (I despise overly sweet energy/protein bites). I did add 1/2 tsp of Ceylon cinnamon and they are absolutely delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
Hi!! I’ve been making these for years and they are always a crowd pleaser. However, I seem to remember the recipe using a couple of tbsp of coconut oil in addition to the peanut butter and heating the these and the honey before adding to the remainder of the indgredients. Chocolate chips obviously added once ‘dough’ has cooled. Am I remembering correctly? Thanks :)
I would make sure that you are using unsweetened coconut and unsweetened natural peanut butter. They are perfectly sweet with only the honey and chocolate chips as sweet elements.
I wonder if some of the people saying they are overly sweet used sweetened coconut or regular peanut butter that contains sugar. I can see the sweetness becoming overwhelming that way.
Highly recommend. I have one child who needs more calories, and another who I’m trying to steer toward healthier, more satisfying snacks. These work for both!
Hi! I’m not rating this particular recipe which I haven’t tried, but have made similar balls with raw oats, raw honey, creamy sunflower butter, semi-sweet chocolate, etc. Two comments: watch how the raw oats affect your digestion, especially if you’re old or have gut health issues. Also, I added up to 2 tablespoons of water to add moisture and stickiness. I rolled the balls before refrigerating. Excellent! They can even be cut in half.
Made these for my son and he loves them! I made 24 balls about 1.5 tbsps in size.
I used a nutrition calculator based on the recipe for everyone else also looking for the facts. Not claiming it’s exact because I obviously don’t use exact same ingredients as everyone else. But you can easily find nutrition information calculators for yourselves. Copy and paste works wonders.
Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1.5 tbsp
Servings: 24
Amount per serving
Calories 179
Total Fat 11.7g
Saturated Fat 7.4g
Cholesterol 5mg
Sodium 38mg
Total Carbohydrate 15.5g
Dietary Fiber 3.3g
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 4.7g
Calcium 12mg
Iron 4mg
Potassium 142mg
I love these! Is a serving size just 1 ball? Thank you.
ITS SOOOO GOOD I COULD EAT IT ALL DAY
I used more peanut butter than the 1/3 cup this recipe calls for as I simply use common sense when mixing moist and dry ingredients to determine the best texture.
Since I substitute cocoa powder for the chocolate chips, I pour in some maple syrup in addition to the local honey. I also add dried fruit when I make these. This time I added a handful of golden raisins and some fresh blackberries I had picked yesterday afternoon.
I first made no-bake energy bites last spring as a source of energy before, during and after officiating soccer matches. Since they are simple to make and the store-bought variety are quite expensive this was a no-brainer for me.
They are delicious, loaded with protein and made with all natural ingredients. There are so many variations you could try to avoid taste boredom. For example, I once added a couple shots of Kavanaugh’s Irish Cream and they were quite yummy. Of course, I wouldn’t do this when using them during sports activities rather as a meal replacement.
So basically you did a completely different recipe??
My friends are I nuts for these! I have not made them yet with the chia seeds or other seeds, since I did not have them but oh the recipe is so easy and quicker than any cookie recipe. I love how you can get really creative with them! thanks so much for a great snack for events, or going out for the day in the hot heat.
Just made two batches. One with 1/4 cup maple syrup instead of honey and the other batch substituted the sweetener with applesauce. Yummy! The first batch is good but a little too sweet for me. Excellent way to get our fiber, protein, & Omega 3’s!
Thank you for posting about using apples to sweeten!
Oh! And I used Lily’s dark chocolate chips no sugar for baking. I think better for diabetics too.
Love this recipe. I’m addicted to these things. They are so good.
Do you have to make these with coconut? I’ve never been a fan but am dying for energy food recipes for on the go as a Teachers Assistant always on the go.
I used two tablespoons of maple syrup instead of the honey and used Bake Belive white and semi sweet chocolate chips so yummy!
I made these and they are delicious!!!! I will definitely make them again.
As anther person mentioned- these were very dry. I’d add 1/4-1/2c more peanut butter and a bit more honey next time
Just made these last night and have to agree with a prior comment about them being overly sweet. I will definitely be putting in less honey and more peanut butter next time. I’m not sure if I’ll even be able to finish the batch as the sweetness is really overwhelming. Love the idea though! I’m also curious how much sugar is in a serving with the recipe as is?
Thank you for this recipe!
Very very yummy! But they were quite crumbly and it was impossible to roll into balls. Even if I put them into a pan as suggested, I’m afraid they will still fall apart when cut. Didn’t want to add additional PB since that would increase the calories. I looked up nutrition info, and it looks like they are about 121 cal each. But it was disappointing that the author didn’t respond to the many requestions for that info. Hope it can be fixed!
Add a Tablespoon of water and they will roll into balls better.
I made these yesterday and boy are they delicious! The only ingredient I left out what is the coconut. Thank you so much for this recipe it was so easy!
Hi, I tried making these and I’m wondering why my energy balls have a bitter aftertaste… Can someone please help me troubleshoot? :)
I personally find flax meal to have that bitter aftertaste in certain amounts. So I experimented and found that 2 Tablespoons works for my taste.
Loved these though they did not hold together very well. Next time I will maybe add a bit more peanut butter? Definitely will try again!
I love this recipe and it is delicious!
Question what is the serving size per person for this recipe?
Thanks in advance.
1-2 balls
I tried to cut the recipe in half but the balls are having a hard time sticking together , they are a little crumbly
My husband has never really liked other protein bite recipes that I’ve tried. I made this recipe last week and my entire family loved them. My husband asked me to make another batch, but this time, double the recipe. I really like recipes like this that I can tailor towards things my family and I love to eat. Thank you!
These are so good. The carb count is going to be high. I would not term these protein bites as some do. Basically cookie bites with the feel good energy coming from carb sources. Who can eat just one ?
How many are expected for a portion?
These are really good, I pressed them in a pan and warmed them up a couple of minutes at 350 degrees till chocolate chips melted
Way too much flax seed and if you add chia seed it sort of tastes like eating a ball of bird seeds. I would cut the honey in half as well. I think 2 tbsp of flax seed is plenty. I would much rather taste the oats.
So easy and delish!
These are fantastic! I used almond butter and added 1/4 cup each of chocolate chips and dried cranberries. I also used maple syrup instead of honey and reduced it to 1/4 cup. Great recipe!
I cannot eat honey and don’t need the extra sugar. Do these hold together without the honey or can you recommend a non-sugary substitute? These look great. Do you have a similar recipe that is baked? Thanks!
These are a huge hit in my house! I have to double the recipe so they last the week. Few alterations: I cut the flax seed in half as it was causing a strange sour taste. I also split the PB in half and substitute in smooth almond butter. Sometimes I don’t have coconut on hand and will just increase the oats to make up for it. So good! Thanks for this delicious recipe!
Make sure your flaxseed isn’t out-of-date. I’ve made the mistake of using old flaxseed that was rancid, which might cause the sour taste you’re describing.
How many carbs per bit
I only read a few of the 1,979 comments, but I have to agree that the balls did not form well. I added about another third cup of peanut butter (Whole foods 365 creamy), plus heated the whole thing in microwave for 30 seconds . That helped with the ball formation. Tasted great!
So good! Does anyone know the nutritional facts on these?
This recipe is super easy…I have started making them to feed a group of people during race weekend (25+ people so use that multiply button).
They were met with rave reviews of awesome. The perfect pick me up for all my snackers on the run that don’t have time for a full meal during race day. But also wanted a healthier option that chips or candy.
I put 3 in a snack size zip lock bag, freeze them in batches, they somewhat thaw in the cooler on the way – made 3 batches at the increase of 3x the batch up there – and I’d return home with none.
I followed this recipe exactly as stated (using no sugar/no salt peanut butter and unsweetened toasted coconut) and they were not at all overly sweet (I despise overly sweet energy/protein bites). I did add 1/2 tsp of Ceylon cinnamon and they are absolutely delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
what are the nutritional values??
thats important
What are the nutrition facts per ball???
Could you add a protein powder to these?
Can you please tell me the how many grams of sugar there are to a serving size. As well, the calories. Thank you in advance
May I have the food value of these energy balls
What are the calories of one?
Nutrients list?
Is this high in calories?
Does anyone know the nutrition the information for the recipe as stated? I am curious about the protein, carb and sugar information
Awesome recipe high five
Nutritional info?
Hi!! I’ve been making these for years and they are always a crowd pleaser. However, I seem to remember the recipe using a couple of tbsp of coconut oil in addition to the peanut butter and heating the these and the honey before adding to the remainder of the indgredients. Chocolate chips obviously added once ‘dough’ has cooled. Am I remembering correctly? Thanks :)
My honey had crystallized, so I heated it and then accidentally melted my choc chips. The whole family prefer it with melted chips. Happy accident!
Absolutely love these! Was wondering if anyone knows about calories, carbs, proteins and other nutrition facts
These are delicious! My kids love them too.
I would make sure that you are using unsweetened coconut and unsweetened natural peanut butter. They are perfectly sweet with only the honey and chocolate chips as sweet elements.
I wonder if some of the people saying they are overly sweet used sweetened coconut or regular peanut butter that contains sugar. I can see the sweetness becoming overwhelming that way.
Highly recommend. I have one child who needs more calories, and another who I’m trying to steer toward healthier, more satisfying snacks. These work for both!
Hi! I’m not rating this particular recipe which I haven’t tried, but have made similar balls with raw oats, raw honey, creamy sunflower butter, semi-sweet chocolate, etc. Two comments: watch how the raw oats affect your digestion, especially if you’re old or have gut health issues. Also, I added up to 2 tablespoons of water to add moisture and stickiness. I rolled the balls before refrigerating. Excellent! They can even be cut in half.
Made these for my son and he loves them! I made 24 balls about 1.5 tbsps in size.
I used a nutrition calculator based on the recipe for everyone else also looking for the facts. Not claiming it’s exact because I obviously don’t use exact same ingredients as everyone else. But you can easily find nutrition information calculators for yourselves. Copy and paste works wonders.
Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1.5 tbsp
Servings: 24
Amount per serving
Calories 179
Total Fat 11.7g
Saturated Fat 7.4g
Cholesterol 5mg
Sodium 38mg
Total Carbohydrate 15.5g
Dietary Fiber 3.3g
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 4.7g
Calcium 12mg
Iron 4mg
Potassium 142mg
Delicious, made exactly as written!