No-Bake Energy Bites

These have become a go-to staple in our household. I make a big batch of these amazing little balls on a regular basis. (They freeze wonderfully.) They are so handy for a quick breakfast-on-the-go option, after-school snacks and to toss into lunchboxes. They are wholesome, healthful and a huge hit with our entire family ... one of my kids' favorite homemade treats.

 

The flavor and texture of these remind me of a cross between no-bake cookies and chewy peanut butter power bars.  It takes only a matter of minutes to mix up the ingredients. Then, after thirty minutes of chilling the "dough" in the fridge, you roll the mixture into balls and you're done! Keep a batch of these in the fridge/freezer and you'll have a quick energy-booster to grab on the fly. I double or triple the recipe most of the time because they are so well-loved in the JD house. I think you'll love them, too, and I'd adore hearing from you once you try them.

Yields 2 - 2 1/2  dozen "bites" (balls). 

Ingredients:

1 cup dry oats (I use 1/2 quick oats and 1/2 cup old-fashioned)
1/2 cup ground flax seed or wheat germ
2/3 cups toasted coconut (I toast mine on low in a dry skillet for a few minutes)
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons peanut butter
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup honey (and maybe a little more, as needed)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Combine all of the ingredients in a medium bowl.

(You'll probably have to press and keep smashing everything down with the back of a spoon or rubber spatula as you're mixing to really blend everything well, but it will come together.)

Let chill in the fridge for thirty minutes.

Using your hands, shape into balls (about the size of traditional meatballs ... around 1").  You will really want to squeeze and mold these tightly to get them into a ball shape.  If your mixture seems too dry to shape, squeeze in a little more honey or add in a little more creamy peanut butter. 

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week or in the freezer for up to a month.

ANGELA'S NOTES:  If you don't have wheatgerm or flax seed on hand, you can substitute more oats. Chopped nuts/dried fruit work great as add-ins and can even replace the chocolate chips if you'd prefer to eliminate that ingredient.  Rice cereal can be added in, as well, in place of some of the oats or wheatgerm/flax seed.  Also, I use 1/2 cup chunky all-natural peanut butter and 2 tablespoons regular creamy peanut butter.  (You really need some creamy peanut butter in there or the mixture is just too dry.) 

 

Recipe adapted from Gimme Some Oven.
02/04/16: Updated post body and photos.