5 Energy Bite Recipes You’ll Love
By Nicole Kiley, MSc, RD
Looking for a new tasty snack option? Try making energy bites! Energy bites (balls) are a great snack option because they are nutritionally balanced, versatile, and easy to prepare. True to their name, energy bites can be energy (calorie) dense. For this reason, they serve as a nourishing snack option during a long hike, after physical activity, or for those always-moving children of yours!
Here are 5 of our favorite energy bite recipes! Feel free to make them your own. Looking for additional protein? Add a couple tablespoons of protein powder. Dig the crunch? Swap the creamy nut butter for crunchy. Need some added fiber? Roll your finished energy bites in a light layer of chia or hemp seeds. Get creative! The options are limitless!
Apple Chai Energy Bites
Serves 20
Ingredients
1 ½ cups rolled oats
½ cup almond butter
¼ cup honey
1 ½ cup dried apple, chopped
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions
• In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients with a wooden spoon. If the mixture is too dry, add additional honey. If too wet, add additional oats.
• Using a tablespoon, scoop dough and roll into ball using palm of hands.
• Store in an air tight container or gallon-size bag in the refrigerator or freezer. May store in the refrigerator for 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Cranberry Almond Energy Bites
Serves 16
Ingredients
1 cup rolled oats
½ cup almonds, chopped
½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed
½ cup almond butter
¼ cup honey
1 Tablespoon chia seeds
½ cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped
Instructions
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake oatmeal, almonds and coconut for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring after 5 minutes. Allow mixture to cool.
• In a small saucepan, heat the nut butter on low. Stir continuously with wooden spoon until runny. Remove from heat and add baked mix along with flaxseed, honey, chia seeds and cranberries to bowl.
• Form balls using palm of hands and place on baking sheet with wax paper. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
• Store in an air tight container or gallon-size bag in the refrigerator or freezer. May store in the refrigerator for 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Mango Energy Bites
Serves 20
Ingredients
1 ½ cup raw walnuts or cashews (or mixed)
1 cup firmly packed dried unsweetened mango
10 pitted dates
2 Tbsp. hemp seeds
1/3 cup unsweetened finely shredded coconut
Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and arrange nuts on a baking sheet. Toast for 8 to 12 minutes, or until light golden brown and fragrant. Set aside.
• While nuts are baking, add dried mango to a mixing bowl and cover with warm water. Let soak for 5 to 7 minutes. Drain mango and lay on a paper towel, patting off excess moisture. Set aside.
• Add nuts to a food processor and mix into a fine meal. Remove from bowl and set aside.
• Add pitted dates and soaked, dried mango to the food processor and mix until rough paste/sticky dough forms.
• Add nut meal back in, along with hemp seeds, shredded coconut, and sea salt. Mix until it forms a moldable dough. Add more coconut or hemp seed if it feels to sticky or wet. Add more dates if it’s too dry.
• Scoop out rounded tablespoon amounts and roll into a ball with the palm of your hands. Then roll in shredded coconut or hemp seeds, or a mixture of both.
• Enjoy immediately. Store in an air tight container or gallon-size bag in the refrigerator or freezer. May store in the refrigerator for 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Oat Energy Bites
Serves 24
Ingredients
1 cup rolled oats
½ cup dark chocolate chips
½ cup ground flaxseed
½ cup natural crunchy peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions
• Combine oats, chocolate chips, flaxseed, peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract together in a bowl. Form into balls using hands and arrange on baking sheet with wax paper. Freeze energy bites until set (1 hour).
• Store in an air tight container or gallon-size bag in the refrigerator or freezer. May store in the refrigerator for 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Pumpkin Pie Energy Bites
Serves 20
Ingredients
1 cup rolled oats
¼ cup flaxseed meal
1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ cup natural peanut butter
¼ cup organic canned pumpkin
2 Tablespoons maple syrup
1 Tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
• Add all ingredients to bowl and mix with wooden spoon. Once mixture is thoroughly combined, refrigerate for 15 minutes.
• Roll mixture into 1-inch balls using the palm of your hands.
• Store in an air tight container or gallon-size bag in the refrigerator or freezer. May store in the refrigerator for 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
