Who’s excited for No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Bites? I am!
You will love these easy-to-make treats that are not only healthy for you, but tastes great as well. It is like eating your favorite granola bar but minus the unpronounceable preservatives…plus, it won’t make a dent in your grocery bill. Because they are homemade, you can control the ingredients you put in them. The base recipe mainly consists of heart-healthy oats along with flax seeds, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids, phytochemicals, and fiber. Oh, did I mention that I like to add a little bit of chia seeds to provide a natural slow releasing energy boost along with protein to keep you full until your next meal? I love the combination of shredded coconut, mini semi-sweet chocolate, and butterscotch chips for extra yum factor.
To bind all this deliciousness together, a mixture of peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract is added. Although, I will warn you that things might get a little sticky when forming it into balls. My suggestion is to wash your hands but don’t dry it off. Somehow the wetness helps things from sticking to the hand. The great thing about this recipe is that you can use different kinds of nut butters and sweeteners instead of the usual peanut butter. You can even add chopped nuts, spices, and dried fruits to customize them to your liking. The possibilities for substitutions are endless.
No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Bites // Photo: @sherriesavorsthecity
I don’t know about you but I am a big snacker. So, these energy bites come in handy whenever I want an easy breakfast, afternoon pick-me-up, a post-workout snack, or a sweet dessert. I usually make one batch a week and keep in the refrigerator. They keep very well. While it is easy for me to devour a dozen of these energy bites at one sitting (yes, they are that good!), two to four pieces per day is ideal. After all, moderation is the key to maintain a healthy and happy lifestyle.
No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Bites // Photo: @sherriesavorsthecity
Let’s start making these petite and portable beauties…
- 1¼ cup old-fashioned rolled oats, raw
- ¼ cup Bob's Red Mill raw whole flaxseed or ground golden flax seed
- 1 Tablespoon chia seeds
- ¼ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup mini or regular butterscotch chips
- ⅔ cup sweetened or unsweetened shredded coconut
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup peanut butter
- ⅓ cup honey or agave nectar
- 1 teaspoon good quality vanilla extract
- In a large bowl, combine together oats, flax seeds, chia seeds, semi-sweet chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut, and kosher salt. Set aside.
- In a small microwave safe dish, put the peanut butter in it.
- Heat on high for 10 to 15 seconds to melt the peanut butter. FAB TIP: I like to heat up the peanut butter slightly to loosen it up and makes it easier to incorporate with the rest of the ingredients.
- Add the honey and vanilla extract.
- Pour this mixture over the oat-flax-chia mix.
- Use a rubber scraper to combine. FAB TIP: I find that using my hands works best to evenly combine everything.
- Use your hands to roll them into tightly packed balls that is around 1" in diameter. (It makes around 12-14 balls) FAB TIP: Wash your hands and don't dry them off. The wetness helps it from not sticking to your hands.
- Lay it onto a parchment lined sheet pan.
- Let it set in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Store in an airtight container and keep it refrigerated until ready to eat.
I love these energy bites so much that I am sharing three additional flavors that you can create with this one base recipe. The flavors was inspired by the KIND fruit and snack bars that I dearly love.
TASTY VARIATIONS:
Vanilla-Cashew-Blueberry
Dried Blueberries, Cashew Butter, and Roasted Cashews // Photo: @sherriesavorsthecity
Substitute 1/2 cup peanut butter for 1/2 cup cashew butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract for 1 teaspoon vanilla paste. Omit the semi-sweet chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and shredded coconut. Instead, add 1/2 cup roughly chopped dried blueberries and 1 cup finely chopped roasted & unsalted cashews. The rest of the ingredients and procedure remains the same.
Vanilla-Cashew-Blueberry Energy Bites // Photo: @sherriesavorsthecity
Dark Chocolate-Almond-Cherry
Dried Cherries, Dark Cocoa Powder, Almond Butter, and Toasted Almonds // Photo: @sherriesavorsthecity
Substitute 1/2 cup peanut butter for 2/3 cup JIF almond butter. Omit the semi-sweet chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and shredded coconut. Instead, add 1/4 cup dark cocoa powder, 1 cup roughly chopped dried cherries, and 1 cup finely chopped blanched, sliced, and toasted almonds. The rest of the ingredients and procedure remains the same.
Dark Chocolate-Almond-Dried Cherry Energy Bites // Photo: @sherriesavorsthecity
Maple-Pecan-Cinnamon
Real Maple Syrup, Ground Cinnamon, and Toasted Pecans // Photo: @sherriesavorsthecity
Substitute 1/2 cup peanut butter for 1/2 cup JIF almond butter and 1/3 cup honey for 1/3 cup maple syrup. Omit the semi-sweet chocolate chips and shredded coconut. Instead, add 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon and 1 cup finely chopped toasted pecans. The rest of the ingredients and procedure remains the same.
Maple-Pecan-Cinnamon Energy Bites // Photo: @sherriesavorsthecity
I am thankful to my dear friend, Rosie, for introducing me to these deliciously addictive treats. Ever since my first bite, it’s been my personal mission to concoct as many different flavors and versions as I possibly can. So, don’t be afraid to be creative and you will be surprised how fun and simple it is to make guilt-free snacks that are the perfect fuel for the on-the-go munching.
Assorted Flavors of Energy Bites // Photo: @sherriesavorsthecity
I hope you enjoy these all-natural energy bites as much as I do. Please let me know if you try any of these recipes. I would love to hear some feedback!
Savor every moment,
Sherrie
