Quick and Healthy Energy Bites

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These energy bites are my favorite afternoon pick-me-up snack, post-workout treat, or dessert.  The beauty of this recipe is that you can play around with the ingredients to your liking.  You can make the oats gluten-free, change the seeds, the nut butter, switch out the chocolate chips for white chocolate and add in some craisins…the possibilities are endless!

I like to have a batch of these ready to go at all times in my fridge for an easy and filling snack with tons of nutrients. I am hungry all. the. time. and spending an hour or so once a week to prepare my snacks has really helped me.

I love that the ingredients are so inexpensive, especially the oats. One box of oats purchased for $2 can make several batches of energy bites, and I can mix and match dried fruits and nuts I find on clearance. I never feel like “omg, there’s nothing to eat in the house except these things I’ve eaten so many times already” since the combinations are different literally every time.

I didn’t include this in the recipe since I’ve only done this a few times and am still messing with it, but sometimes I like to add a tablespoon or two of coconut oil to the syrup/butter mixture and melt it in. Since coconut oil hardens when it cools, it can help bind the energy balls together in the fridge. Plus, it adds another layer of good fats into your food!

Ingredients:

1/3 cup raw nut butter (for this batch I used homemade cashew butter, but you can use any, even peanut butter)

1/3 cup maple syrup or agave nectar (you can use honey for a non-vegan option)

1 1/2 cups oatmeal (Old-fashioned, not instant)

1/4 cup raw seeds (I used pumpkin)

1/2 cup chocolate chips (I find vegan chocolate chips at Costco)

1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (optional)

Melt syrup and nut butter.  While that is melting, mix together dry ingredients.  Pour in syrup/butter mixture, mix together until all oatmeal is moistened.  This mixture will resemble wet granola.

Roll into 1″ balls (these are sticky!) and place on a pan.

Refrigerate until firm (or enjoy right away).   Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

If you have a fun healthy workout snack, please leave a comment!  I’m always looking for good snack options! 🙂

Happy Friday!