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Chewy, nutty, and packed with oats, this no-bake energy bites recipe makes a satisfying grab-and-go snack that’s easy to keep stashed in the fridge.
Every once in a while, I get ambitious and—rather dramatically—purge our kitchen of all processed junk food. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm isn’t shared by my kids, who come home from school starving, open the pantry, and yell, “Mom! There’s nothing to eat!” Enter these energy bites. They’re a perfect on-the-go breakfast, lunchbox stuffer, or afternoon pick-me-up with a cup of coffee.
This no-bake energy bites recipe is made with oats, nuts, peanut butter, and dates for a wholesome snack you can feel good about eating. I toast the oats and nuts in a skillet first—a quick extra step that brings out their nuttiness and gives the bites a deeper, toastier taste. The dates add natural sweetness and a pleasantly chewy texture.
“Wow, these are delicious! Not to mention a great way for me to get a healthy energy boost during the day.”
What You’ll Need To Make No-Bake Energy Bites
- Oats: Give the bites their chewy, substantial base. Quick-cooking oats work best because their finer texture helps the mixture hold together; if you only have old-fashioned oats, pulse them briefly in a food processor or blender to break them up.
- Pecans and Walnuts or Almonds: Add plenty of nutty flavor and crunch. The recipe calls for pecans plus your choice of walnuts or almonds, so use whichever you prefer.
- Ground Flaxseed or Wheat Germ: Adds a little body and blends easily into the oat mixture without changing the flavor much. If you don’t have either, substitute an equal amount of oats or nuts.
- Cinnamon & Salt: Cinnamon adds warmth, while salt balances the sweetness and seasons the mixture.
- Peanut Butter, Honey & Vanilla: Peanut butter and honey help bind the mixture together while adding richness and sweetness; vanilla rounds out the flavor. A little water loosens the mixture so everything combines evenly. Conventional creamy peanut butter gives the most predictable consistency, since natural peanut butter can vary quite a bit.
- Dried Dates: Add caramel-like sweetness and chewy bits throughout. Chop them finely so they soften and distribute evenly as the mixture warms.
- Unsweetened Shredded Coconut: Used to coat the outside of the bites, adding a subtle coconut flavor and keeping them from feeling sticky in your hands—plus it looks pretty.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
How to Make No-Bake Energy Bites
Toast the oats and nuts: Toast the oats and nuts in a dry skillet until lightly golden and fragrant. When they’re in the skillet, keep the oats and nuts moving as they toast, especially toward the end—they can go from golden to too dark pretty quickly.
Warm the peanut butter mixture: Return the skillet to low heat and stir together the peanut butter, dates, honey and vanilla. You’re not trying to cook it; a little warmth simply makes everything easier to mix together.
Mix, chill, and roll: Stir the warm peanut butter mixture into the oats and nuts until everything is evenly coated and the mixture holds together when pressed. Refrigerate for 5 to 10 minutes, just until cool enough to handle. If it’s still warm and sticky, give it a few more minutes. Shape into balls and roll in coconut.
Chill and store: Refrigerate the energy bites for a few hours until cold and firm, or pop them in the freezer if you’re short on time.
For more homemade snacks to keep on hand, try my blueberry granola bars or crispy honey nut granola bars. And if you’re looking for another easy make-ahead option, my overnight oats are great for busy mornings.
More Wholesome Oat Recipes You’ll Love
No-Bake Energy Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup quick-cooking oats (or old-fashioned oats, pulsed briefly in a food processor or blender to break them up)
- ½ cup finely chopped pecans
- ½ cup finely chopped walnuts or almonds
- 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed or wheat germ (okay to substitute more oats or nuts)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Scant ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup finely chopped pitted dates, from 6 to 8 large dates
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup water
- ¾ cup unsweetened finely shredded coconut, for rolling
Instructions
- Place the oats and nuts in a medium skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the oats turn slightly golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a medium mixing bowl and stir in the flaxseed, cinnamon, and salt.
- Place the pan back on the stove over low heat. Add the peanut butter, dates, honey, vanilla, and water. Stir until evenly combined (you’re not “cooking” the mixture; warming it just makes it easier to combine). Using a rubber spatula, scrape the mixture into the bowl with the oats/nuts. Stir until evenly combined. Refrigerate the mixture for 5 to 10 minutes, or until cool enough to handle.
- Place the coconut in a shallow bowl. Roll the oat mixture into tablespoon-size balls, then roll in the coconut to coat. Place the balls in the refrigerator, uncovered, to set until cold, a few hours (or about 45 minutes in the freezer). The bites will keep in a covered container for up to a week in the refrigerator.
Notes
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you’re following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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Just made these for a potluck and I’ll bring the recipe so others can see what’s in them! I subbed maple syrup for the honey, and used almond butter instead of peanut butter as I was out of PB. But next time I will use peanut butter because I bet it gives it more flavor to the balls and I love peanut butter. I wet my hands after rolling about 7 balls, and that helped with the stickiness. I love that they’re healthy and can easily be made vegan (maple syrup sub). For fun, I put mini chocolate chips in a couple, and tried them and although I love chocolate, it tasted odd (very surprising, lol) Great recipe, not too sweet, thank you!
Hi Jenn,
I’ve made these many times and love them! However, I’ll be giving birth any day and looking for a short cut as I prepare. Could these be pressed in a pan for small bars rather than rolling all the balls? If so, parchment paper? What size pan? Thanks so much!
Glad you like them! I think you could press them into a pan and cut them into bars although I can’t guarantee that they’ll hold together as well as the balls. I’d suggest an 8 x 8-inch pan and lining it with parchment is a good idea. I’d love to hear how they work out (and best of luck with your upcoming addition)! 🙂
Jenn,
Still loving your recipes. For some reason I cannot find unsweetened coconut in grocery stores here. Ok to use sweetened coconut? One other question any way to use chocolate chips in this recipe? Any info appreciated!
Yes and yes. Just keep in mind that using sweetened coconut and chocolate chips will make them sweeter (not that that’s necessarily a bad thing). Please LMK how they turn out if you try them with these tweaks!
Love these and ladies over here for playing Majong also loved them and took the recipe. I used maple syrup instead of honey. Walnuts not almonds. Whole flax seeds. All else as per recipe.
I am always looking for healthy snacks for when the grands, 3 & 5, come to visit. This looks like it will fit the bill. We could make these together!
We always have Craisins on hand. Could they be used instead of the dates?
Sure Del, I think crasins would work here (I do think the energy bites will turn out a bit more tart with them, but still good). Hope the grandkids enjoy!
These are great. It’s nice to have a healthy snack on hand. I think they really do give you energy too.
These sound wonderful. Would natural peanut butter work in this recipe? It’s the only type we ever buy as it doesn’t contain any extra unwanted ingredients (sugar, palm oil, etc.).
Should be fine, Jen – although they won’t be quite as sweet. I’d love to know how they turn out. 🙂
I made them with natural peanut butter and they were delicious. FYI
I also just made them with all natural peanut butter and they are SO good!!
These are AMAZING! Perfect for an on the go treat and greeat for at work snacking. I work a lot of crazy hours sitting behind a desk so sometimes snacking gets pretty unhealthy and thoughtless. These help me stay focused and only takes a couple to last me for a few hours.
These tasty little energy morsels have become a family favorite! I make up a batch & watch them disappear, knowing there’s nothing but healthy & sweetness in every bite. They were a perfect addition to a recent Snowshoeing trip up in Breckenridge. Everything from the ingredients list, recipe instructions & final taste test was a cooks delight! Highly recommend!
Delicious on-the-go snack! The recipe dirtied up a few more dishes than I’m used to when making energy bites/bars, because of processing the old fashioned oats and toasting/warming the other ingredients, but it was very good and I will definitely be making it many times in the future!
I was anxious to make these as I thought they would be a perfect quick snack for my 14 year old son between school and hockey practice. He loves them! Beats the expensive store-bought options hands down! I have taken a big batch to the ice rink on tournament weekends and his teammates could not get enough. I have also included a batch of these with every meal I have taken to a friend in need. Great for new moms! I have varied the nuts based on what I have in the house (cashews are good too). I have only used flaxseed as I forget to buy wheat germ. No changes or substitutions. As with all Jen’s recipes I’ve tried, they come out looking exactly like her pictures. I am always confident when I try new things on this website that I won’t be wasting my time or expensive ingredients! Thank you, Jen