Energy Bites (aka No Bake Cookie Balls!)
No Bake Energy Bites, or what my kids call Cookie Balls! Packed with tons of protein, fat and superfoods. My kids favorite healthy snack.
Table of Contents
Energy Bites aka No Bake Cookie Balls
These energy bites are one of my kid’s favorite snacks. In our house, they’re called cookie balls! So much healthier than a cookie, with no baking required!
Also, they’re packed with tons of protein, fat, and superfoods. A guilt-free way to give the kids a treat (they don’t even know the difference!). My very favorite dark chocolate to use is Hu Kitchen Dark Chocolate Gems. They have the BEST ingredients list! Code TASTESLOVELY for 15% off.
Tips, Tricks, & Substitutions
You can customize these tons of ways, but this exact formulation is my go-to.
- Nut Butter: My favorite nut butter to use is my mixed nut butter. So delicious! But any nut butter works, store bought or homemade. Always get a nut butter where the only ingredients are nuts and salt. If it has added oil (especially palm oil), the nut butter doesn’t set up properly when using for these energy bite cookie balls.
- Nut Free: If you need this to be nut free, be sure to use sunflower seed butter or coconut butter. And substitute sunflower seeds for sliced almonds. Same quantity for all substitutions.
- Coconut Free: If you need this to be coconut free, you can leave out the coconut flakes. Substitute either more oats or more nuts. And use avocado oil or ghee for coconut oil. Same quantity for all quantities.
- Collagen Peptides: You can really use any protein powder. Just keep in mind if it’s a flavored protein powder (like chocolate), this will alter the taste. My go to protein powder is collagen peptides. This is also optional. If you don’t have any protein powder you can just leave this out. No need to substitute anything else.
- Vegan/Plant Based: If you need these to be vegan/plant based, make sure you use a vegan/plant based protein powder. Keep in mind flavored protein powders will alter the taste a bit.
- Chia Seeds/Hemp Hearts/Flax Meal: All 3 of these are superfoods, and contain tons of fiber and antioxidants! You’ll be using a total of 6 tablespoons of these add-ins. If you only have 1 or 2 of them, for instance just chia seeds and hemp hearts but no flax meal, just use 3 tablespoons of chia seeds and hemp hearts to reach the 6 tablespoons needed.
- Sweetener: You need to use a “wet” sweetener for these, since it helps bind them and keep them moist. My favorite is pure maple syrup. I get mine at Costco. You could also use honey, unless you have a baby under 1 year old since honey is recommended to avoid until the baby is 1. Agave would work too! Or date paste. Same quantities for all sweeteners.
- Sticky: The mixture is a bit sticky, so get ready to have some sticky hands! You can also wet your hands to make it a bit less messy when rolling the dough.
- Eating + Traveling: You can eat this cold from the fridge, they get a bit harder when cold. They’re a little too hard to eat frozen from the freezer. They’re also fine to pack in lunches and be at room temperature. They get softer and a bit stickier when at room temperature. But still delicious!
The Perfect Baby Food!
Since I chop them in the food processor, it’s a perfect, super healthy baby food! My baby Luke is 7 months and he loves these things! As always, make sure you contact your pediatrician to make sure these ingredients are right for your baby.
Watch Recipe Video
Energy Bites (aka Cookie Balls!)
No Bake Energy Bites, or what my kids call Cookie Balls! Packed with tons of protein, fat and superfoods. My kids favorite healthy snack.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/3 cup nut butter or seed butter
- 1/4 cup collagen peptides
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup toasted coconut flakes
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons hemp hearts
- 2 tablespoons flax meal
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
Equipment
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to your food processor. Pulse for 30-60 seconds until chopped and combined.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Measure out 1 tablespoons balls (or larger if preferred!), and roll into balls. Place on the baking sheet.
- Refrigerate the balls for at least 30 minutes until firmed up. Then transfer to an airtight container.
- Will keep in the fridge for at least 2 weeks, or in the freezer for at least 1 year.
- As always, lots of tips, FAQs and substitution info in the Recipe Notes below!
Notes
Nut Butter: My favorite nut butter to use is my mixed nut butter. So delicious! But any nut butter works, store bought or homemade. Always get a nut butter where the only ingredients are nuts and salt. If it has added oil (especially palm oil), the nut butter doesn't set up properly when using for these energy bite cookie balls.
Nut Free: If you need this to be nut free, be sure to use sunflower seed butter or coconut butter. And substitute sunflower seeds for sliced almonds. Same quantity for all substitutions.
Coconut Free: If you need this to be coconut free, you can leave out the coconut flakes. Substitute either more oats or more nuts. And use avocado oil or ghee for coconut oil. Same quantity for all quantities.
Collagen Peptides: You can really use any protein powder. Just keep in mind if it's a flavored protein powder (like chocolate), this will alter the taste. My go to protein powder is collagen peptides. This is also optional. If you don't have any protein powder you can just leave this out. No need to substitute anything else.
Vegan/Plant Based: If you need these to be vegan/plant based, make sure you use a vegan/plant based protein powder. Keep in mind flavored protein powders will alter the taste a bit.
Chia Seeds/Hemp Hearts/Flax Meal: All 3 of these are superfoods, and contain tons of fiber and antioxidants! You'll be using a total of 6 tablespoons of these add-ins. If you only have 1 or 2 of them, for instance just chia seeds and hemp hearts but no flax meal, just use 3 tablespoons of chia seeds and hemp hearts to reach the 6 tablespoons needed.
Dark Chocolate: My very favorite dark chocolate to use is Hu Kitchen Dark Chocolate Gems. They have the BEST ingredients list! Code TASTESLOVELY for 15% off.
Sweetener: You need to use a "wet" sweetener for these, since it helps bind them and keep them moist. My favorite is pure maple syrup. I get mine at Costco. You could also use honey, unless you have a baby under 1 year old since honey is recommended to avoid until the baby is 1. Agave would work too! Or date paste. Same quantities for all sweeteners.
Sticky: The mixture is a bit sticky, so get ready to have some sticky hands! You can also wet your hands to make it a bit less messy when rolling the dough.
Eating + Traveling: You can eat this cold from the fridge, they get a bit harder when cold. They're a little too hard to eat frozen from the freezer. They're also fine to pack in lunches and be at room temperature. They get softer and a bit stickier when at room temperature. But still delicious!
Serving: 1 energy bite, Calories: 122, Total Carbs: 8g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 8g, Fiber: 2g, Net Carbs: 6g
Did you make this recipe?Please Leave a comment and give this recipe a rating!
12 Comments on “Energy Bites (aka No Bake Cookie Balls!)”
I just made them and they are INCREDIBLE. As a nursing mama, they’re very helpful to have on hand for a healthy munchie that’s good for milk supply! I’m so glad I made a double batch because my kids and husband love them too! I subbed some cashews and walnuts because I didn’t have walnuts and blended in my Ninja, but was a little too thick so I added a bit of water to blend smooth. Then mixed it with some baby oatmeal to thicken it back up and give to my 10 months old for breakfast tomorrow! This is going on repeat for sure. Thank you, friend!! ❤️
Aww thank you, Amanda! I am so happy to hear this!
I am trying to cut down on the amount of store bought Keto treats and these are such a great alternative! Thanks for another great recipe!!
Love this, Samantha! So happy you like these!
THESE ARE HEAVEN! Natalie your recipes are always the BEST.
Made these and am so impressed with the flavor and with the nutritional punch they pack!
Tastes like a cookie but better, somehow?! The whole family loves them and I am going to make another batch soon just for the freezer to pull out when I have a craving!
One tip for anyone who makes these – after 30 mins of fridge time mine were still pretty squishy. 30 mins more and they were perfectly set…so don’t worry if yours take a bit to harden up!
Cara! This is so sweet! I am so glad they turned out so well. Great tip on the extra time in the fridge!
Incredible! My 2 year old loved them. I also loved them! We almost ate the whole batch in one day! So easy to make and love I can add all the ingredients in at once and blend! Your notes sections was very helpful! Love how easy it is to substitute different nuts. I didn’t have any sliced almonds or toasted coconut, so I used sunflower seeds and pecans and they turned out great! Such a quick and filling snack! Thank you!
Hi Chante! This is amazing! I am so glad you found the recipe notes helpful! And I LOVE that your 2-year-old loved them too!
Is there. Possible substitution for the rolled oats?
Good question! I’ve been trying to think of a way to make these keto-friendly. Maybe use all toasted coconut flakes? I’ll think on this a bit more!
This is a great recipe! Yum! I actually was scrolling comment for the same thing, a substitute for oats. I ended up using almond flour and turned out perfect!
Love to hear this! So glad you enjoyed this recipe!