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No-Bake Energy Bites Are the Perfect On-the-Go Snack for Summer

Jun 27, 2016 10:00 AM

Sep 2, 2016 05:41 PM

Coconut oat energy balls in a green bowl

Turning your oven on in the summer is just asking to convert your house into a sauna. No matter how badly you want to bake cookies during a heat wave, having to deal with the boost in temperature is a deterrent at best.

However, this doesn't necessarily mean you have to go cookie-less in the summertime. If you're in need of a sweet treat, but want to avoid the oven at all costs, energy bites are a quick no-bake treat for you.

Coconut oatmeal balls in a green bowl on a striped towel.

Jessica Bose/Food Hacks Daily

Energy bites are like cookies but more filling and satisfying. These protein-rich treats are made with a base of only three ingredients: oats, nut butter, and a liquid sweetener. After you have your base ingredients, just stir in any combination of flavorful add-ins. The add-ins can be anything from nuts and seeds to dried fruit and coconut—it's highly customizable!

Add-in Ideas

Here are some basics ingredients you can start off with:

nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews, peanuts, pistachios)
seeds (chia seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin kernels)
dried fruit (cranberries, golden raisins, cherries, blueberries, mangos, apricots)
chocolate (dark chocolate, white chocolate, yogurt chips, cocoa nibs, M&M's, cocoa powder)
other (coconut flakes, rice cereal, vanilla extract)

Just pick a few and get that sound good together and get to work! The combinations are endless. If you need help deciding on a flavor combination, versus just experimenting, check out Eat This's article for creative flavor combos that work particularly well together.

In this article, I'll be making the following two energy bite flavors as examples:

Cranberry Almond: peanut butter, honey, chopped almonds, dried cranberries, chia seeds, shredded coconut
Almond Joy: peanut butter, honey, chopped almonds, cocoa powder, shredded coconut, dark chocolate chips

One Simple Recipe

You can use this simple recipe to make a base for any type of no-bake energy bite. If you're making more, double it; for a small batch, cut it in half. The ratio of the amounts of ingredients should remain the same, however.

1 c. rolled oats
1 c. add-ins (see above)
½ c. nut butter (for a nut-free version, use sunflower seed butter)
1/3 c. liquid sweetener (honey, agave, maple syrup, or coconut nectar)

Assorted measuring cups filled with various healthy ingredients, including oats, nut butter, and seeds.

Jessica Bose/Food Hacks Daily

Combine All Ingredients

In a large bowl, combine the base ingredients with the add-ins.

Mixed ingredients for a healthy oat-based snack, including peanut butter, honey, dried fruits, nuts, and oats.

Cranberry Almond.

Mixed ingredients including oats, almonds, flaxseed, peanut butter, and chocolate chips in a bowl.

Almond Joy.

Cranberry Almond.

Almond Joy.

Stir until all of the ingredients are fully combined. The mixture should stick together easily enough to press into a ball. If the "dough" is too crumbly, add more sticky ingredients such as peanut butter or honey. If it is too wet, add more oats.

Bowl of mixed cookie dough with a spatula.

Jessica Bose/Food Hacks Daily

Jessica Bose/Food Hacks Daily

Scoop or Roll

Use a small cookie scoop to scoop the bites onto a sheet pan.

Oatmeal cookie dough balls on a baking mat.

Jessica Bose/Food Hacks Daily

If you don't have a scoop, no problem! Feel free to roll the bites into rounds with your hands. Each bite should be contain about 2 Tbsp. and be 2 inches in diameter.

Healthy energy bites made from oats and nuts.

Jessica Bose/Food Hacks Daily

If you'd like, you can coat your bites in toppings such as coconut shreds, crushed nuts, sprinkles, or cocoa powder. To do so, place your chosen topping in a shallow bowl and roll the bites in the topping.

Coconut energy balls on a baking mat with a bowl of shredded coconut.

Jessica Bose/Food Hacks Daily

Coconut-coated energy balls arranged on a baking sheet.

Jessica Bose/Food Hacks Daily

Refrigerate for 20 Minutes

Place the sheet pan of bites in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes or until they firm up. Then, enjoy a bite or two (or three) of some tasty energy!

Storage

These bites keep best covered, in the refrigerator. I like to make two times the normal recipe at once. Then, I'll freeze half and refrigerate the other half. That way, all I have to do is defrost a batch when I run out!

Oatmeal cookies with nuts and chocolate chips in a white bowl.

Jessica Bose/Food Hacks Daily

A Quick Bite to Keep You Going

These energy bites are the perfect on-the-go snack. They're handy like granola bars but smaller and more portable. Energy bites are the perfect snack to keep you going at work or to keep hunger at bay when your kids are in school. They also make phenomenal hiking snacks. You can enjoy them anywhere you go!

No matter how hot it gets this summer, you don't have to break a sweat to make these energy bites. So grab your favorite ingredients and get mixing. A bite of energy is right around the corner.

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