30 Minute Meals
Peanut Butter Energy Bites
Prep
15 minutes
Yield
14
🥜 These Peanut Butter Energy Bites are no-bake perfection! Protein-packed, naturally sweetened, and ready in 15 minutes for healthy snacking!
These addictive peanut butter energy bites are seriously so good. They don’t involve any cooking or baking time. Prep these quickly at the beginning of the week and have a healthy snack for your busy week ahead.
❤️ Why You’ll Love These Peanut Butter Energy Bites
No-Bake Convenience: You don’t have to bake these – just mix them up, roll them, and voila!
Naturally Sweetened: Dates and a touch of honey provide natural sweetness without refined sugar overload.
Protein-Packed: Peanut butter, hemp seeds, and chia seeds deliver sustained energy without the crash.
Kid-Approved: Even picky eaters love these bite-sized treats that taste like dessert.
🍲 Ingredients
Natural Peanut Butter – Peanut butter provides plant-based protein (about 8g per 2 tablespoons) and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats that help stabilize blood sugar and provide sustained energy. It’s rich in vitamin E (a powerful antioxidant), magnesium for muscle and nerve function, and niacin (vitamin B3) for energy metabolism. The combination of protein, healthy fats, and fiber helps you feel satisfied between meals while supporting cardiovascular health.
Hemp Seeds – These little brown seeds are nutritional powerhouses containing all nine essential amino acids, making them a complete protein source. Hemp seeds provide omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the ideal ratio for human health, supporting brain function and reducing inflammation. They’re also rich in magnesium, iron, zinc, and vitamin E while being easily digestible and gentle on the digestive system.
Chia Seeds – Chia seeds contain quercetin, a powerful antioxidant that may help reduce risk of several health conditions including heart disease. Just one ounce provides 11 grams of fiber (nearly half the daily requirement), plus calcium for bone health, phosphorus for energy production, and omega-3 fatty acids for brain and heart health. When combined with liquid, chia seeds form a gel that helps slow digestion and provides steady energy release.
Medjool Dates – Dates provide natural sweetness along with essential minerals like potassium (more than bananas), magnesium, and copper. They contain fiber that helps slow sugar absorption, preventing blood sugar spikes while providing quick energy. Dates also offer antioxidants including flavonoids and carotenoids that protect cells from damage, plus they’re a natural source of iron for healthy blood.
👩🍳 How to Make Peanut Butter Energy Bites
- In a food processor, add ALL of the ingredients except the dark chocolate chips. Pulse until combined.
- Transfer to a medium-sized bowl.
- Fold in the milk chocolate chips.
- Use a small scoop or use a spoon to scoop into “ping-pong” size balls, approximately 2 tbsp. worth.
- Roll the energy bites out with your hands until smooth.
- Set all bites onto a plate with parchment paper.
- Add extra coconut flakes or dark chocolate chips on top.
- Refrigerate for 30 – 45 minutes then transfer to an airtight container in the fridge.
🪄 Tips and Tricks
- Texture Control: If the mixture is too dry and won’t hold together, add one tablespoon of water or honey at a time until it binds properly.
- Sticky Hands: Lightly wet your hands when rolling balls to prevent mixture from sticking to your palms.
- Customize Freely: Add vanilla extract, cinnamon, cocoa powder, or your favorite spices to create unique flavor profiles.
- Mix-In Ideas: Dried cranberries, chopped nuts, coconut flakes, mini chocolate chips, or cacao nibs all work beautifully.
- Meal Prep Strategy: Make a double batch on Sunday for grab-and-go snacks throughout the week.
- Flavor Development: These actually taste better after 24 hours as flavors meld together in the refrigerator.
🗒 Variations
- Nut Butter: Almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter works for nut-free versions.
- Seeds: Flax seeds or pumpkin seeds can replace hemp or chia seeds for different nutritional profiles.
- Sweetener: Maple syrup or agave can replace honey for vegan versions.
- Binding Agent: If mixture won’t hold, add coconut oil or more nut butter to help bind ingredients.
- Chocolate: Use cacao nibs for less sugar, or white chocolate chips for sweeter variation.
🗒 Best served with
- Vegan Protein Smoothie – Peaches & Cream Recipe
- How To Make Greek Yogurt
- Fresh Fruit Salad
- Plant-Based Maqui Berry Juice
👝 How to Store Leftovers
Store peanut butter energy bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. If freezing, allow them to thaw in the fridge for 30 minutes before enjoying for best texture and flavor.
🤔 Common Questions
The mixture may be too dry. Add liquid (water, honey, or melted coconut oil) 1 tablespoon at a time until the mixture binds when pressed together.
Yes! Use sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter for a nut-free version that’s safe for school lunches.
Absolutely! Any chocolate chips work – dark, milk, semi-sweet, or even white chocolate, based on your preference.
Yes! Kids love these bite-sized treats. Just check for nut allergies and use seed butter alternatives if needed.
Yes! Add 2-4 tablespoons of your favorite protein powder. You may need to add extra liquid to maintain proper consistency.
Chilling firms up the texture and helps them hold their shape. The natural fats in nut butter soften at room temperature.
Yes! Simply replace honey with maple syrup or agave nectar for completely plant-based energy bites.
Yes! Peanut butter energy bites are naturally gluten-free as long as all your ingredients are certified gluten-free.
Peanut Butter Energy Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ¾ cup coconut flakes
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 1 banana ripe
- 2 – 3tbsp. honey
- 3 tbsp. whole brown flax seeds
- 1 tbsp. chia seeds
- 1 tbsp. hemp seeds
- 1 tbsp. vanilla
- ¼ cup dairy-free milk chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a food processor, add ALL of the ingredients except the dark chocolate chips. Pulse until combined.
- Transfer to a medium-sized bowl.
- Fold in the milk chocolate chips.
- Use a small scoop or use a spoon to scoop into “ping-pong” size balls, approximately 2 tbsp. worth.
- Roll the energy bites out with your hands until smooth.
- Set all bites onto a plate with parchment paper.
- Add extra coconut flakes or dark chocolate chips on top.
- Refrigerate for 30 – 45 minutes then transfer to an airtight container in the fridge.
Lovely, my favorite recipes!
they are soo good
Cool, my kids love energy balls, they like it when I add more chocolate bits haha
haha me too! only way to do it
How long will these last?
all those details are in the notes of the recipe card!