These little bites are the best thing ever. Who doesn’t love the chocolate treat that is not only healthy for you, but also tastes great? From my own experience I know that there are those times when you just HAVE to have something sweet. Those times I turn to these little round cuties.
The great thing about these energy bites is that they have some healthy ingredients like oats, flax seeds, raw honey, chia seeds and coconut oil. So many good stuff in one bite! Oh, and did I mention you don’t even need to turn on the oven to make these? Quick, easy, nutritious – just perfect for a snack or a quick on-the-go breakfast.
This is such a versatile recipe, and the ingredients can be easily added or changed depending on your family’s favorites. If you don’t have (or like) dried cranberries, you can replace them with other dried fruits. Add more dried fruits if you want to leave out the chocolate. Also feel free to omit the outer coating.
This is my latest favorite snack and sometimes breakfast if I’m in a hurry. They are so good and give me the energy I need for the day.
Don’t you want to pop a few of these cuties in your mouth and satisfy your sweet tooth without feeling guilty? Oh, yeah, I want. Sorry guys, I need to boost my energy! 🙂
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/3 + 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut , divided
- 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries , roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1/4 cup chopped chocolate or mini chocolate chips
- dash of salt , to taste
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/3 cup honey , raw
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup almond flakes , lightly toasted and crushed
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, stir together the oats, cocoa powder, 1/3 cup coconut, ground flaxseed, cranberries, chia seeds, chocolate and salt.
- In another small bowl, melt the peanut butter, honey and coconut oil in the microwave in 10 second increments, stirring after each increment until completely melted and combined. Stir in vanilla. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir well until fully combined.
- In a small shallow bowl, stir together the almond flakes and 1/4 cup coconut. Using wet hands, roll the oat mixture into balls (mine were about 1-inch in diameter) and then roll them around in the bowl of coconut and almonds for the outer coating. Place in the refrigerator to set.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
65 Comments
Vicky
January 25, 2015 at 12:46 amThis is another great and delicious recipe. Thank you Jovita!
Jovita
January 25, 2015 at 8:05 amYou’re so sweet Vicky, thank you!
Elena
October 3, 2018 at 6:22 pmHi, i was wondering what the nutritional info is on these? Like how many calories per ball? I love them so much and i can’t get enough!
Laura Petrone
July 28, 2017 at 9:34 pmI have tried this recipe and they were very good a have to say my favorite. I love this energy ball concept. As far as I can tell compared to homemade granola bars which their recipe usually calls for honey and other sugar, such as brown, these energy balls are much better and very versatile to many tastes. Thank you.
Jovita
July 30, 2017 at 7:02 pmThanks for stopping by to leave a comment!
Ralisa
March 25, 2015 at 9:12 pmYou have a wonderful blog. In time, I think you will be very popular! I enjoy many of your recipes, keep up the good work. Greetings from Romania!
Jovita
March 27, 2015 at 8:33 amThank you Ralisa, you’re so sweet!
Sophie
March 30, 2016 at 9:47 pmI found your recipe on pinterest, I made it today, all the family loved it !
Jovita
March 31, 2016 at 10:45 amThanks for reporting back Sophie! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Rene'
April 28, 2016 at 1:36 amI am traveling with these. Would it be ok to freeze, thaw in the vehicle a bit and refreeze?
Rita Anastasiou
June 25, 2016 at 1:15 amThese look like the perfect snack for us chocoholics! Thank you for the recipe 🙂
Jovita
June 30, 2016 at 1:32 pmRita, you’re so sweet! Thanks! 😉
Megan
August 2, 2016 at 4:56 pmThese look quite delicious! How strong is the peanut butter flavour in these energy bites? I’m not a huge fan of peanut butter, wondering if I could substitute almond butter?
Jovita
August 7, 2016 at 7:29 amMegan, it’s 1/2 cups so you can really feel it ? Try to make these with almond butter and tell me how it goes!
Liset
October 3, 2016 at 12:36 pmThank you for this new addiction… fingerlicking good and easy to make!
Jovita
November 26, 2016 at 12:22 pmAfter all those years these bites are still among my favorites ones!
BRITTNEY
October 31, 2016 at 3:46 amHow many calories per ball for about 1 inch in size
Jovita
November 26, 2016 at 12:22 pmYou can count them yourself Britney because you have all the ingredients on hand 🙂
Tolly
January 10, 2017 at 9:03 pmI just made these and they are fantastic! I substituted almond butter for the peanut butter and it worked just fine. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Jovita
January 18, 2017 at 10:18 amI am so glad you liked these, Tolly!
Shelley
February 1, 2017 at 6:24 pmI don’t count calories but my friends are asking for approx calorie count ? Would you know roughly how many?
Jovita
February 2, 2017 at 9:46 amAbout 110 calories per bite 🙂
Awesome
February 4, 2017 at 5:54 pmCan I make these without the chia seeds and flax seeds?
Jovita
February 12, 2017 at 7:19 pmYou can easily leave chia seeds out. What about flax seeds, they have to be substituted with something then. I would recommend ground oats but I haven’t tried such a version myself 🙂
Sheryl
May 4, 2017 at 4:44 amI didn’t have chia seeds or flax seeds. I coarsely ground up sunflower seeds and they turned out beautifully. Thanks for the recipe…loved it!
Mary Beth
February 4, 2017 at 10:51 pmThese are delicious! I didn’t have dried cranberries so I used raisins, and I didn’t have the almond flakes so just used coconut. They remind me of no bake cookies but they are healthy!
Jovita
February 12, 2017 at 7:08 pmRaisins and coconut flakes work too, Mary! I am happy you liked these little guys 🙂
Anita
February 18, 2017 at 2:56 amThank you for this recipe, they taste lovely!
Jovita
February 18, 2017 at 9:49 amYou’re welcome! 😉
Kimberly
March 26, 2017 at 5:04 amWhat is the nutrition info for these
Jovita
March 26, 2017 at 12:04 pmIt’s about 110 calories per bite 😉
Ariell
June 30, 2017 at 1:06 amThis sounds great! Excited to try them. Just a question: it says “1/3 almond flakes”. I assuming you mean 1/3 cup?? Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!
Jovita
July 13, 2017 at 7:16 amSorry for the late answer, as I see you have already made them 🙂 Yes, it’s 1/3 cup by the way. I’m going to edit the recipe 🙂
Ariell
June 30, 2017 at 5:33 amThank you for this recipe! They were tasty. But I found them too sweet for me so I ended up adding more peanut butter and cocoa powder to balance out the honey
Jovita
July 13, 2017 at 7:12 amI am glad you enjoyed these! 🙂 The perfect amount of sweetness is different for everyone but your idea of adding more PB and cocoa is great!
Maja
July 24, 2017 at 1:53 amThese look so yummy! How long can they keep in fridge? and freezer?
Jovita
July 30, 2017 at 9:04 pmThey should be good for up to two weeks in a fridge or even more in a freezer 🙂
Darcy
July 28, 2017 at 1:14 amDo you happen to have nutrional facts for these?
I’m in the process of making these, they are setting in the fridge at the moment but I’m sure they are tasty:)
You instructions were very easy to follow:)
Jovita
July 30, 2017 at 8:18 pmI would count them for you Darcy but, unfortunately, I can’t remember how many balls the recipe makes 🙂
Janie
August 17, 2017 at 12:51 pmAbsolutely delicious! I’m sure I’ll be making these many times – thanks very much!
Jovita
August 21, 2017 at 6:37 pmI am happy to hear that you liked these, Janie!
Michelle
September 30, 2017 at 11:00 pmThese are a keeper. I substituted coconut syrup for the honey, ground the oats a bit, used dark chocolate chopped up and added hemp hearts. I think these are our new go-to, thanks so much!!
Jovita
October 2, 2017 at 12:56 pmYour changes look great, Michelle. Thanks for the comment! 🙂
Rachel
December 23, 2017 at 6:15 amis there any way to swap out peanut butter? what else can be used as a binder?
Jovita
December 27, 2017 at 4:53 pmI am not sure, Rachel. I would google for nut-free energy bites / balls and see what people use if I were you 🙂
Amy
February 11, 2018 at 9:17 pmThese are delicious, and easy to make! I have made them twice in the past few weeks for husband to take with him snowboarding, and we’ve also packed them in our lunches. Thank you for sharing. ❤
Jovita
February 12, 2018 at 8:47 pmYou are welcome, Amy! I am glad you loved them 🙂
Amaylah
March 19, 2018 at 5:22 pmHi Jovita,
Just wondering how many servings this makes?
Thanks 🙂
Jovita
February 23, 2021 at 4:11 pmIt makes about 25 balls 🙂
Laura
April 8, 2018 at 9:11 pmLove them. They taste awesome. So easy to make. Will make them often. Would be great when I’m out playing golf for a healthy snack.
Jovita
February 23, 2021 at 4:10 pmThese bites are really awesome 🙂
Would love to know of any calories, nutritional value etc. these are so awesome
May 11, 2018 at 1:26 pmWould love to know of any calories, nutritional value etc. these are so awesome
Jovita
February 23, 2021 at 4:10 pmThe nutritional value is up now so you can have a look 😉
Sydne
June 10, 2018 at 6:04 pmHow long do these usually take to set? I’m excited to try!
Jovita
February 23, 2021 at 4:09 pmI would say about an hour at least 🙂
Vonnie
March 21, 2019 at 10:45 pmWill it be too sweet if I use sweetened coconut? Almond flakes are sliced almonds right?
Jovita
February 23, 2021 at 4:07 pmI am not sure if it will be too sweet or won’t because everyone likes a different level of sweetness 🙂 Yes, almond flakes are sliced almonds.
sonali
October 23, 2019 at 2:33 amI tried these and they are simply delicious. Perfect balance of flavours. love them
Jovita
January 13, 2020 at 8:42 pmI still make them quite often 🙂 They are really awesome!
Ingrid Whitworth
February 16, 2020 at 3:57 pmMy favorite recipe! They’re so tasty, the recipe is incredibly versatile, and they’ve come in handy when some of our hikes ended up being longer than anticipated. I just doubled the recipe for another hike and our nephew and his friends devoured them! They loved them so much, they wanted the recipe.
Jovita
March 6, 2020 at 8:17 pmThank you so much for getting back to leave a comment, Ingrid! It’s just made my day 🙂
Al
February 28, 2021 at 6:24 pmI’v been making this terrific recipes for several years now and dropped back in to reprint my worn copy! It’s a standout!!! A few additional tips:
1 – dried apricots are just as tasty as cranberries
2 – hemp hearts can substitute or join the ground flax seeds
3 – (my best tip!) instead of rolling them out at the end – which is a little messy and time consuming – line an @ 7 x 9 pyrex/pan with wax or parchment paper – sprinkle 1/2 the ‘outer coating’ mix on the bottom, pour in the fully combined ‘mixed’ ingredients, flatten it with a spatula, put in the remaining 1/2 of ‘outer coating’ mix, flatten some more with the spatula – cover and put in freezer to set for 20 min. Then slice and move into the fridge to store. Best not leave in the freezer too long or its hard too cut into squares.
Jovita
March 1, 2021 at 10:11 amThank you so much for the comment! Your tips are great, especially the last one. If you are making the bites for yourself at home and don’t care too much about appearance, then this method is awesome! 🙂
Sarah
July 10, 2021 at 1:48 pmThis recipe rocks! These bites are a huge hit in our home and with our friends. Absolutely delicious, wholesome and so easy!! Thank you!
Jovita
July 13, 2021 at 9:11 pmYour comment just made my day, Sarah! I’m so happy your family and friends enjoy these bites 🙂