Chocolate No Bake Energy Bites are made with 6 pantry staples in 15 minutes. They're soft, chewy, and satisfy the deepest chocolate cravings. These energy balls taste rich and indulgent, but they're secretly nutritious, just like my chocolate energy bars!
Energy bites healthy energy balls
When I think of the perfect, healthy snack of all time...I think of an energy ball! These cuties are like the super healthy version of brownie bites. They have the same effect too...as in, you can't eat just one.
They really satisfy my sweet tooth and chocolate cravings, yet there's no refined sugar OR processed chocolate in them! Nope. Just unsweetened cocoa, combined with dates, maple syrup, and a few other pantry ingredients.
Yay! A naturally sweetened, chocolate snack that I can actually feel good about eating.
Energy bite ingredients
- pitted dates
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- rolled oats
- unsalted cashews (or any nut)
- almond flour (almond meal)
- maple syrup
- (optional) salt
These energy bites are brownie bites with benefits
- made with minimally processed ingredients
- naturally vegan
- sweetened with dates and maple syrup
- no cholesterol
- a source of fiber, iron, protein, and potassium
How long do energy bites stay fresh?
When stored in an airtight container, energy bites can retain optimal freshness 3-5 days either at room temperature or in the refrigerator. You'll notice after that, they can become dry and crumbly.
In our house, these babies never last beyond 36 hours, because I devour them, one by one, every couple hours.
Yet, somehow I always forget to double the recipe. (shrugs shoulders)
Energy bites are convenient
- meal prepped snack in 15 minutes
- no baking and no freezing necessary
- kid-friendly
- packable snack
- fulfills chocolate cravings without refined sugar
- eat for breakfast, or a midday snack, or pre/post workout
How to make energy bites
*see full recipe below
1. Place all ingredients (except maple syrup) in a food processor.
2. Process mixture until a dry, fine mixture forms.
3. Add maple syrup through the top opening; pulsing to form moist, coarse crumbles.
4. Turn crumbly dough out from food processor into a bowl. Lightly compress it with your hands or a spoon to make a cohesive lump of dough.
5. Portion dough into bite-sized balls with your hands or a portion scoop.
6. Roll each ball between your hands to create a uniform surface and compacted ingredients
Energy Bites Recipe Notes and Tips
Ingredients
Pitted Dates: You're probably most familiar with dates sold in U.S. grocery stores. They are 1) Deglet Noor pitted dates and 2) Medjool dates (with pits).
I love both types of dates and will use what I have on hand for this recipe. If you use Medjool dates, just be sure to remove the pits!
Oats: I use old fashioned rolled oats because I always have them in my pantry. Use any dry oats you like.
Cocoa: I prefer "unsweetened" cocoa for this recipe...nothing else.
Almond Flour or Almond Meal: I find it doesn't matter which one you use...the two are interchangeable in this recipe.
Nuts: Use any nuts you like! I personally prefer them raw and unsalted since they are less processed than roasted, salted, etc.
Nut Butter: I didn’t use nut butter for this recipe, but you can easily substitute the nuts for an equal amount of peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, etc.
Dessert: Turn these energy bites into a delicious dessert by dipping into a silky chocolate ganache and allowing it to set up in the refrigerator.
Recipe Tools
I recommend using a food processor with a minimum power of 600 watts for this recipe. Here's my tried and true, long-standing favorite model.
I don't know of any "mini" processors that are cut out for a recipe like this. They simply lack the power to break the ingredients down into the right texture.
The Vitamix blender also works for this recipe. Just make sure you have your tamper at the ready because you'll need it to keep the ingredients moving.
Energy Bite Recipe Tips
Tip #1: Blending
When you initially process the dry ingredients, the mixture will seem very dry and not cohesive at all.
Not to worry. The purpose of this step is to blend the dates, nuts, and oats into a crumbled texture.
The mixture will become cohesive during the next step.
Tip #2: Handling the dough
When processed, the mixture will turn into a malleable dough. You’ll be able to handle it with a stainless steel portion scoop, or with your hands.
When rolling the dough into balls, you'll find it adheres to itself nicely and the balls are easy to form.
Tip #3: How to store energy bites
Once rolled into balls, these bites really don't stick to each other or get messy. In fact, the opposite is true, especially after they've sat overnight.
This makes them like...miracle bites!
So it's not really necessary to separate them with parchment or wax paper, but you're welcome to do so.
Energy Bite Add-Ins
Add any of these ingredients to make your energy ball dough more interesting!
- coconut flakes
- chia seeds
- hemp seeds
- ground flaxseed
- chocolate chips
- unsweetened coconut
Tools needed for this recipe
- 7 cup food processor (fitted with the chopping/mixing dough blade) OR Vitamix blender
- (optional) ½ Tbsp portion scoop or 1 Tbsp portion scoop
- small mixing bowl
- airtight storage container
More healthy snack recipes
No Bake Energy Bites
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup Pitted Dried Dates, pitted
- ¼ cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- ¼ cup Old Fashioned Rolled Oats, uncooked
- ¼ cup Unsalted Cashews, or any nut
- 2 tablespoons Almond Flour, or almond meal
- ⅛ teaspoon Sea Salt, optional
- 1 tablespoon Maple Syrup
Instructions
- In a 7 cup food processor fitted with the chopping/mixing dough blade attachment, add DATES, COCOA, OATS, CASHEWS, ALMOND FLOUR, and (optional) SALT; process mixture until dry, coarse crumbles form [*Note, it will seem very dry, but don't worry, it'll come together in the next step]
- Pour MAPLE SYRUP into top opening of food processor; pulsing the mixture until it forms cohesive crumbles.
- Transfer mixture to a bowl; gently compress it with your hands or a spoon to make a more cohesive dough.
- Portion dough into bite-sized balls with your hands or a portion scoop.
- Roll each ball between your hands to create a uniform surface and compacted ingredients.
- Enjoy immediately, or store up to 5 days in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
RECIPE VIDEO
Traci's Recipe Notes
Equipment
- 7-cup food processor fitted with mixing blade
NUTRITION
Nutrition data provided as courtesy estimates using unbranded ingredients from a nutrition database. Please consult preferred resource for precise data.
Roxana says
Great recipe! Simple and delicious. Will be making again. My daughter is vegan and I am always looking for good recipes and this one is a keeper.
The Kitchen Girl says
So glad to hear it, Roxana! Thanks for taking the time to let me know. Feel free to share my other vegan recipes with her 🙂
Heather says
Thanks for the recipe, they are delicious! I'm glad to find a way to get in my dates during these last days of pregnancy and they will sure make for a great labor snack!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks so much, Heather! Labor snack...I love it. These satisfy even my most serious chocolate cravings 🙂
Trish Bozeman says
I agree, it's so important to have snacks like this on hand so you don't reach for sugary treats. We love having these in our house because the toddler loves them and they travel well too. Amazing!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Trish! They're like little miracle snacks, aren't they?! 🙂
Tracy says
These are my favorite kind of grab n go snacks, too! I know they're going to be long lasting and perfect for something that'll give me just the right amount of sweet without the refined sugars. Another great, one, Traci!
Traci Antonovich says
Aww thanks, Tracy! You will go crazy for these! I literally cannot keep my hands off of them 🙂
Marisa F. Stewart says
YUM!! Those chocolate energy bites look delicious and better yet they are no bake and easy to make. Our grandsons would love these little snacks. When they visit I'd rather have something nutritious than something that has empty calories. And who am I kidding? I would be making them as much for me as for them. Great recipe.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Marisa! Yep, I'd have to hide these from the kids LOL...I srsly cannot stop popping them all day long! 🙂
Kirsten/ComfortablyDomestic says
I am a FIEND for energy bites! They're my favorite snacks when I'm craving something sweet. The fact that these are CHOCOLATE have me all sorts of excited to try the recipe. Thank you!
Traci Antonovich says
Haha thanks Kristen! You'll LOVE these then 🙂
Dana says
Love these gems! Not only do they sate my occasional sweet tooth, but they act as a nice little energy booster. AND. I can eat a few of them without feeling bad about it 😉 WIN.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Dana! Love hearing that! 🙂
Kris says
These little balls of yumminess really are miraculous. Love how the dough just comes together and is so easy to form the balls. And the flavor combination of natural ingredients can't be beat. This is just the perfect go-to delicious (and healthy) snack. Always looking for a great recipe like this. Thank you so much!
Traci Antonovich says
Aww thanks Kris! I really appreciate hearing this 🙂 I have a real soft spot for these treats too!
Debra says
This recipe is calling my name. Love stumbling upon something that uses wholesome ingredients and requires little work/time. I would have to put these in the freezer so as not to eat them all in one sitting!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Debra! I'll have to try the freezing tricks b/c I CANNOT keep my hands off these babies! 🙂
Rachel says
These sound fantastic & I can’t wait to make them! However cashews mess with my stomach...can you please recommend a different nut that would go well with the rest of the flavors?
Traci Antonovich says
Hiya friend...great question! I would use just about any nut b/c these are very chocolaty. Macadamia, walnuts, pecans, more almonds...all would be great! I just added notes to the recipe...thanks for asking this 🙂 So, I have to tell you...as you were posting your question, we were enjoying some 'tiny' popcorn and I totally thought of you guys. How cool is that? xoxoxoxo
Rachel says
I just made these with macadamia nuts and they are FANTASTIC - thank you!
So funny about the tiny popcorn, honored that you thought of us 😉 xoxo
Traci Antonovich says
Yay Rachel! I thought you might enjoy these. I cannot stop eating them. When I run out, I make more LOL! Just realized...they'd be great with popcorn 😉
Gloria says
We are having a grandkids "sleepover" for 2 nights in a couple of weeks. This would be the perfect treat for them to help me make. I know they would enjoy them, and I am going to need all the energy I can find by the time they go home.
Traci Antonovich says
How perfect, Gloria! Yes, these are virtually kid proof in that they'd be hard to mess up LOL. Hope you enjoy...and hope they give you energy 🙂
Kelly Anthony says
These chocolate no bake energy bites will make the perfect after school snack for my girls. I buy something similar but these would be a lot cheaper to make.
Traci Antonovich says
Yay thanks Kelly! Love hearing that...it's exactly what I had in mind 🙂
Marisa F. Stewart says
I sure needed these energy bites today. I had so much to do I skipped lunch and then snacked on something that I won't admit to. The chocolate would have satisfied my craving and the rest of the ingredients would satisfy my sweet tooth. I'm printing out the recipe and making it tomorrow.
Traci Antonovich says
Awww thanks Marisa! I sure wish you had them today too...hope you enjoy tomorrow! 🙂
Kristine says
This is a such great recipe! I almost always have these ingredients on-hand making it a perfect and easy thing for me to whip up. I'll be making these tasty little treats again, thanks!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Kristine! Yes, the ingredients are everyday things we always have...love it! 🙂
Colleen says
So much goodness in these! A perfect healthy treat that still feels like an indulgence.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Colleen! Yes...we love healthy indulgence! 🙂
Tara says
Oh yum! I love how easily these energy bites come together and that they are no bake. Definitely perfect for those chocolate cravings.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Tara! Yes, they're SO easy! 🙂