No-Bake Energy Bites Recipe

I am a busy mom, so a healthy snack that gives me a pick-me-up is a perfect idea for someone like myself who is running around trying to do too many things at once!  Whether it is getting the kids to school in the morning or trying to squeeze in chores between everything else that needs to get done, I don’t always have time to sit down for a meal.

I originally started experimenting with this recipe by using a few tablespoons of almond butter, a drizzle of honey, and slowly adding in some dry ingredients in a small bowl to make a single serving of delicious “cereal” in the morning.  The recipe below is very versatile, so be creative – all you really need to do is find a good balance of wet and dry ingredients.  I used to purchase raw food bars, and it is nice to be able to make my own, with my own choice and selection of ingredients.

This recipe is peanut safe, because my daughter has a severe nut allergy, so all of the ingredients are peanut safe (including the chocolate chips).  However, I often see energy bites with peanut butter and other products that contain nuts, which you can certainly use.  (Do be careful even if using a different kind of nut butter, because even non-peanut butters are often processed with peanuts.)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dry oatmeal (I use quick oats)
• 1 cup coconut flakes (can be sweetened or unsweetened, depending on your preference)
• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (we use Ghiardelli because it is peanut safe)
• 1/2 cup almond butter (or any nut butter)
• a sprinkle of chia (I use Salba Smart organic chia) or flax seeds
• 1/4+ cup honey
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Directions

Mix the dry ingredients first, and then add the wet.  I add the honey last, by drizzling it over the mixture, because it can make the recipe very sweet, so I add it little by little until I get just the right consistency.

I actually store this in the fridge as sort of “granola” type form in a container, but you can also use your hands to roll the mixture into little balls or bites.

You can really use whatever ingredients you like, as the nut butter and honey will hold the mixture together as long as you have the right ratio of wet and dry.

This makes for a nice boost any time of day, and it makes a tasty snack especially when you are on the go!

Enjoy!