No Bake Energy Bites 12 Ways – switch up your snack lineup with these easy recipes for the perfect healthy on-the go snacks. Best of all, simple to customize and make ahead for school or work lunchboxes. Refined sugar free, gluten free and nut free options. Plus video.
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Energy bites and granola bars are one of our favorite healthy snack recipes to make.
They not only taste like dessert, I love that you can customize them with ingredients you have on hand.
We usually make a big batch of No Bake Energy Bites on meal prep Sunday to last us throughout the week. I mean, you really can’t go wrong with how quick and easy they come together.
Plus, these recipes require no cooking or baking and provide a tasty solution for a quick boost of nutrition.
A few of our favorites include:
With the busy school season ahead, this post has been a long time coming. It combines my favorite no bake energy bites along with some tips in case you guys are looking for more variety in your snack or lunchbox arsenal.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED FROM YOUR PANTRY FOR THESE ENERGY BITES
One thing I really like about no bake energy bites? They are made with simple pantry ingredients that you can swap out according to what you have on hand.
Be sure to check your labels if you have any food allergies or sensitivities and use gluten free or nut free ingredients as needed.
WHAT INGREDIENTS DO I NEED TO MAKE ENERGY BITES?
- oats (use gluten free if necessary – my favorite is Bob’s Red Mill)
- sticky sweetener like maple syrup, honey, brown rice syrup or organic agave
- natural nut or seed butter (almond, peanut, cashew, sunflower or pumpkin seed butter)
- dried dates or apricots
WHAT ELSE CAN I USE TO MAKE THESE ENERGY BITES?
- pure vanilla extract (recommended for adding flavor)
- ground cinnamon (my favorite)
- pinch of Himalayan or sea salt (cuts down on sweetness)
- almond meal or oat flour
- avocado oil or melted coconut oil
- shredded coconut
- protein powder
- ground flaxseeds, chia seeds
- chopped nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans etc.)
- pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds
- dried fruit (preferably unsweetened or with less sweetener – cranberries, raisins, blueberries, cherries etc.)
- chopped chocolate or chocolate chips (optional)
SOME HELPFUL TIPS & TRICKS WHEN MAKING THESE NO BAKE ENERGY BITES
- pack and roll your energy bites tightly into 1 – 1.5 ” sized balls – (about one – two tablespoons of dough)
- chilling the dough prior to rolling helps the dough stick together
- if you don’t feel like rolling them into balls – press the dough into a square baking pan lined and cut into bars after chilling
- wet hands slightly to help the dough stick together
- heat nut butter with 2 teaspoons of avocado or coconut oil to make it more liquidy – this is especially necessary if you are using nut butter near the bottom of the jar
- different brand of nut butters yield slightly different consistency and results, adjust as needed. I usually like to use organic and / or natural nut / seed butters
- add more liquid (nut butter / sweetener / oil ) if dough seems too dry
- swap out shredded coconut for ground flaxseeds, almond meal or oat flour
- feel free to add protein powder, hemp seeds and / or chia seeds for an extra boost of nutrition
- pulse softened dried dates, prunes or apricots with some water in your food processor if you don’t want to add any liquid sweeteners
- a pinch of sea salt helps to cut down sweetness and adds flavor
3. Apple Cinnamon Energy Bites
4. Apricot Energy Bites – recipe below
5. Banana Nut – recipe below
6. Carrot Cake – recipe below
7. Coconut Almond Butter Energy Bites – recipe listed below
9. Lemon – recipe below
10. Oatmeal Raisin Energy Bites – recipe below
12. Turtle Pecan – recipe below
No Bake Energy Bites
No Bake Energy Bites 12 Ways – the perfect easy and healthy snack for on the go! Best of all, no refined sugar and super easy to customize and make ahead for packing into school or work lunchboxes. With gluten free and nut free options. Plus video.
Ingredients
Go to link for 5 Ingredient Energy Bites: https://lifemadesweeter.com/no-bake-peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-energy-bites/
Go to link for Almond Joy Energy Bites: https://lifemadesweeter.com/stuffed-almond-joy-energy-bites/
Go to link for Apple Cinnamon Energy Bites: https://lifemadesweeter.com/apple-energy-bites/
Apricot Energy Bites
- 1 cup dried apricots
- 1/2 cup cashews
- 1/4 cup almonds
- 3 tablespoons dried unsweetened coconut
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Banana Nut Energy Bites
- 1/3 cup natural creamy almond butter slightly heated
- 2 tablespoons liquid honey
- 1 small (1/4 cup) extremely ripe banana, mashed
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups rolled oats gluten free as needed - I use Bob's Red Mill
- pinch of salt
- 1/4 cup chopped cashews (or walnuts)
Carrot Cake Energy Bites
- 1/2 cup pitted dried dates
- 1/3 cup dried apricots or raisins
- 1/2 cup pecans or walnuts
- 1 1/2 cups grated carrots
- 1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Coconut Almond Butter Energy Bites
- 2/3 cup creamy almond butter slightly heated
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil melted
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1 cup gluten free old fashioned oats
- 12 whole almonds for garnish, optional
Go to link for Cranberry Energy Bites: https://lifemadesweeter.com/no-bake-cranberry-coconut-energy-bites/
Lemon Energy Bites
- 1 cup dried apricots
- 1/2 cup cashew butter
- 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut divided
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1/2 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 cup gluten free rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons shredded unsweetened coconut
Oatmeal Raisin Bites
- 2/3 cup natural creamy almond butter slightly heated
- 1/3 cup liquid honey
- 1 2/3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats gluten free as needed - I use Bob's Red Mill
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseeds
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup raisins
Go to for Pumpkin Energy Bites: https://lifemadesweeter.com/pumpkin-energy-bites-no-bake/
Turtle Pecan Energy Bites
- 3/4 dried pitted dates
- 1 cup pecans
- 2 tablespoons almond or cashew butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 12 pecan halves optional for garnish
Instructions
Go to link for 5 Ingredient Energy Bites: https://lifemadesweeter.com/no-bake-peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-energy-bites/
Go to link for Almond Joy Energy Bites: https://lifemadesweeter.com/stuffed-almond-joy-energy-bites/
Go to link for Apple Cinnamon Energy Bites: https://lifemadesweeter.com/apple-energy-bites/
For the Apricot Energy Bites
Place the cashews and almonds in a food processor and pulse until roughly chopped. Add the remaining ingredients and pulse until combined into a sticky "dough" like consistency.
Form and roll dough tightly (wet hands slightly if needed) into 1" - 1.5" balls.
- Store in airtight container in refrigerator or freezer until ready to enjoy.
For the Banana Nut Energy Bites
- In a large bowl, mix together heated nut butter, honey and banana until smooth.
Stir in the remaining ingredients until well combined.
Wet hands slightly and form dough tightly into 1" - 1.5" balls. If dough doesn't stick together add 1/2 tablespoon water (or melted coconut oil) at a time until dough comes together or place dough in the fridge for 30 minutes prior to forming dough balls so it's easier to handle.
- Store in airtight container in refrigerator or freezer until ready to enjoy.
For the Carrot Cake Energy Bites
Place the apricots, dates and nuts in a food processor until roughly chopped. Add the remaining ingredients and pulse until combined into a sticky "dough" like consistency.
Form and roll dough tightly (wet hands slightly if needed) into 1" - 1.5" balls.
Store in airtight container in refrigerator or freezer until ready to enjoy.
Go to link for Cranberry Energy Bites: https://lifemadesweeter.com/no-bake-cranberry-coconut-energy-bites/
For the Lemon Energy Bites
Place the apricots, cashew butter and 1/4 cup of shredded coconut in a food processor until roughly chopped. Add the remaining ingredients except for the reserved coconut and pulse until combined into a sticky "dough" like consistency.
Form and roll dough tightly (wet hands slightly if needed) into 1" - 1.5" balls. Roll into the remaining 1/4 cup of shredded coconut, if desired.
Store in airtight container in refrigerator or freezer until ready to enjoy.
For the Coconut Almond Butter Energy Bites
In a large bowl, mix together heated nut butter and coconut oil until smooth. Stir in the remaining ingredients until well combined.
Wet hands slightly and form dough tightly into 1" - 1.5" balls. If dough doesn't stick together add 1/2 tablespoon water (or melted coconut oil) at a time until dough comes together or place dough in the fridge for 30 minutes prior to forming dough balls so it's easier to handle.
- Store in airtight container in refrigerator or freezer until ready to enjoy.
For the Oatmeal Raisin Energy Bite
In a large bowl, mix together heated nut butter and honey until smooth.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients until well combined.
Wet hands slightly and form dough tightly into 1" - 1.5" balls. If dough doesn't stick together add 1/2 tablespoon water (or melted coconut oil) at a time until dough comes together or place dough in the fridge for 30 minutes prior to forming dough balls so it's easier to handle.
Store in airtight container in refrigerator or freezer until ready to enjoy.
Go to link for Pumpkin Energy Bites: https://lifemadesweeter.com/pumpkin-energy-bites-no-bake/
For the Turtle Pecan Energy Bites
- Place the dates and pecans in a food processor and pulse until roughly chopped. Add the remaining ingredients (except for the pecan halves and pulse until chopped well).
Form and roll dough tightly (wet hands slightly if needed) into 1" - 1.5" balls. Press one pecan halve in the middle of each energy bite.
Store in airtight container in refrigerator or freezer until ready to enjoy.
Eva @ Eva Bakes says
Johnna says