These energy bites are the perfect snack to grab and go! Completely customizable and take just minutes to make!
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These energy bites are perfect for a busy schedule.
These rolled oats energy bites are perfect to make ahead and have prepped for your busy schedule. I like to make a bunch of these quick bites, put them in the freezer, and then take them out one-by-one. I’ll always pack these as a healthy snack to avoid getting overly hungry between meals. Plus, these perfect little morsels are filled with protein and fiber to keep you fuller longer.
How do I make energy bites?
First, mix everything together
Start with a base of rolled oats. Then, add in all other ingredients of your choice. Customize this recipe template with your favorite nut butter, add-ins, liquid, and sweetener.
Instead of running to the store, head over to your pantry and see what ingredients you have on hand to throw in for the “add-ins of your choice” portion. Everything from cereal to nuts to a broken chocolate bar is welcome in these guys. Feel free to use just one add-in ingredient or a mixture of several.
Then, stick the mixture in the freezer
Chilling for 20-30 minutes makes the mixture easier to roll. If you’re short on time you can skip this step and go right into rolling the bites–but expect sticky hands!
Finally, roll the mixture into bites
Use your hands to roll into balls. This recipe will make for 12 large bites or 24 smaller bites.
Are these energy bites gluten-free?
The ingredients used in these energy bites do not contain gluten! Now, the only caveat here is the oats. While oats themselves are a gluten-free grain, they are often processed in facilities that work with wheat products containing gluten. For this reason, if you are dealing with a gluten intolerance or allergy–be sure to buy oats labeled as “gluten-free”.
Customize for the holidays.
It’s easy to create create festive, colored bites for different holidays. Simply add 1/4 cup of oats into a bowl with 15-30 drops of food coloring and give it a stir. Try red and green food coloring for Christmas or red and blue for the Fourth of July. Then, simply roll your finished balls in the food-colored oats.
What should I add into my energy bites?
This recipe serves as a template for you to get creative customize to your liking. You get to choose up to 1/2 cup of “add-ins of your choice”. If you are doing a mixture of ingredients, you want to measure out 1/2 cup total, not a 1/2 cup of each item. So I recommend grabbing a 1/2 cup measuring cup and add over ingredients until the 1/2 cup is full.
Here’s a few favorite “add-in” ideas you might try:
- Coconut Matcha Bites: matcha powder, coconut flakes, chia seeds (get recipe here)
- Pumpkin Energy Bites: starring fall-favorite, pumpkin puree (get recipe here)
- Chunky Monkey: mashed banana, chopped walnuts, chocolate chips
- Berry Bites: dried blueberries, dried cranberries, goji berries
- Nuts about Nuts: sliced almonds, chopped pecans, chopped cashews
- Omega-3 for Me: chia seeds, ground flax seed, chopped walnuts
- Chocolate Coconut: shredded coconut, chocolate chips, and chia seeds
- JOJO’s Chocolate Bites: chopped up bites of JOJO’s guilt free dark chocolate
If you come up with a cool flavor combo for this recipe, I would love to see!
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Energy Bites Recipe Template
These energy bites are the perfect snack to grab and go! Completely customizable and take 5 minutes or less to make!
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats or quick oats
- 1/2 cup add-ins of your choice (chocolate chips, dried fruit, shredded coconut, hemp seeds, chia seeds, ground flaxseed, chopped nuts, or a mixture!**)
- 1/2 cup nut or seed butter of your choice (peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, sun butter)
- 1 tablespoon liquid of your choice (plant-based milk, dairy milk, water, coconut oil)
- 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
Instructions
- Add oats, add-ins, nut or seed butter, and liquid to a large bowl. Stir to combine. Mixture should be slightly sticky but still crumbly.
- Add in honey or maple syrup, 1 tablespoon at a time, to reach desired sweetness. Stir until mixture starts to come together in a sticky ball. If mixture is still too dry, add in 1-2 more tablespoons of liquid.
- Place bowl in the freezer for at least 30 minutes to chill, then roll mixture into balls using hands.
- Store in the fridge until ready to eat. Store any leftovers in fridge for up to 1 week or the freezer for up to 3 months.
Notes
**This recipe serves as a template for you to get creative customize to your liking. You get to choose up to 1/2 cup of "add-ins of your choice". If you are doing a mixture of ingredients, you want to measure out 1/2 cup total, not a 1/2 cup of each item. So I recommend grabbing a 1/2 cup measuring cup and add over ingredients until the 1/2 cup is full.
See full blog post above with more ideas for "add-ins" to mix into these energy bites.
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1 large energy biteAmount Per Serving: Calories: 120Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 13gNet Carbohydrates: 11gFiber: 2gSugar: 6gProtein: 4g
Note: Nutrition may vary depending on ingredients used. Estimated nutrition is for 12 bites.
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Hi, I want to give these a try but confused on the add ins. Is it 1/2 cup of each add in or 1/2 cup in total?
Hi there! Thanks for reaching out! So sorry for the confusion — it would be 1/2 cup total of any add-ins, but within that you can do a mixture of whatever ingredients you like to fill the 1/2 cup. (i.e. 1/4 cup chocolate chips and 1/4 cup shredded coconut)
Please let me know if you need me to clarify any further and let me know how it turns out if you try 🙂
~Mackenzie
Thx! I figured that was it. Can’t wait to give it a try.
Yay great! Hope it turns out super yummy! 😋
[…] "Oats are an ingredient that has been in the heart-health spotlight for a while," says Mackenzie Burgess, registered dietitian nutritionist and recipe developer at Cheerful Choices. "Research continues to show cholesterol-lowering effects from regularly consuming this fiber-rich food. More specifically, the soluble fiber in oatmeal may help reduce our LDL-cholesterol. Try mixing up your typical oats routine and soak them overnight with different flavor additions or combine them into easy energy bites." […]