No Bake Sweet and Salty Energy Bites satisfy my chocolate-y, pretzel-y, peanut butter-y cravings – made with only healthy ingredients. A must-have for snack time. Enjoy with a drink like my Homemade Almond Milk, or dip them in Homemade chocolate whipped cream.
As much as I love peanut butter chocolate chip granola bars, I’m currently in love with something round and mini.
More specifically, something round and mini that tastes like peanut butter and chocolate and pretzels all rolled up together in a cute little ball that can be devoured in two bites.
I like to call them sweet salty energy bites, and oh by the way, did I mention that they’re healthy?
Healthy is a given around this space I call a REAL FOOD BLOG, but when you’re talking about chocolate and pretzels and even peanut butter, it warrants making the distinction.
You know as well as I do that there are PLENTY of chocolate-y, pretzel-y, peanut butter-y goodies out there that are NOT healthy, and I don’t want anyone reading this thinking we gorge ourselves on said not-healthy-goodies all day every day (because Sundays are just ONE day and it’s the weekend so it doesn’t really count anyway, right?).
But these sweet salty energy bites are very healthy. So let’s make a bunch and snack on these instead, okay?
No Bake Energy Bites
Not only are these energy bites deliciously healthy, but they are also:
- Quick and Easy
- Makes a great snack and perfect for school lunches
- Freezer friendly
- Gluten-free friendly
Ingredients for Sweet and Salty Energy Bites
Wet Ingredients
- Coconut Oil. One of my favorite ingredients of all time thanks to its healthy profile. The fact that it’s solid at room temperature is worth noting too, which means these bites stay round and mini even after they’ve been in a lunch box all day.
- Honey. Honey goes so well with everything else. It also plays a supporting role of ‘energy bite glue.’
- Peanut Butter. My preferred nut butter since it’s what I usually have on hand, but you can easily use any other nut or seed butter (almond butter or sunflower seed butter, for example)… Sweet and salt energy bites don’t discriminate.
Dry ingredients
- Oats. Whatever kind you have will work (quick oats, rolled oats, old fashioned oats, gluten free oats) because we’re going to whiz them up in the blender first anyway (I use a Blendtec like this one.)
- Coconut. Start with shredded coconut, if only to make your life easier, because you are going to whiz these too. Unsweetened coconut is preferred since we’re adding honey, but if you only have sweetened in the pantry, go for it.
- Flax. An amazing super healthy super food that packs protein, fiber and healthy fat into these tiny protein balls of goodness (my favorite brand). When your eyes are closed and you’re savoring the salty and sweet moment of bliss, only to pop your eyes open to wonder how in the world something so good could possibly be so good for you, remember the ground flaxseed.
- Pretzels. Use whatever you have because (shocker) we’re using the blender. My Blendtec and I are BESTBUDS and anytime I can use it to make cooking (a.k.a. my life) easier, I’m all over it.
- Chocolate. Entirely optional here, but it kicks the sweet up a notch and a must-do if you’re feeling indulgent. Use mini-chips IN the energy bites themselves or dunk the finished energy bites in chocolate. Either way, it’s chocolate. You can’t go wrong.
Psst! Want another great option? Try finishing this recipe with a pinch of finishing salt! I love Ava Jane’s Kitchen because it doesn’t have microplastics (gross, right?) and it’s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a bag for just 1¢!! Just add a pinch to each energy bite for extra flavor! (Get your penny bag of salt on this page.)
Is there gluten in no bake energy balls?
If you are looking to make these energy balls gluten free, you’ll just need to be sure that you are using certified gluten free oats, and gluten free pretzels (you can find gluten free foods at Aldi).
How do you make no-bake energy bites?
Now here comes the magic. You can either mash it all up in a medium bowl with a spoon OR use your stand mixer (I personally like to use my stand mixer.). In either case, I also like to use a cookie scoop for cute, uniform-sized energy bites!
- In a stand mixer (or a bowl), combine the coconut oil, honey and peanut butter until they are well combined and the mixture is smooth.
- Using a blender (or food processor), measure out 1/2 cup of pretzels. Pulse until they are half crumbly and half small pieces, about 5-6 rounds.
- Without rinsing out the blender, add the oats, shredded coconut and flaxseed. Pulse about 5-6 rounds.
- Using the paddle attachment, turn the mixer on low and mix all the ingredients together until they are well combined and sticky.
- Using a cookie scoop, scoop out balls onto a cookie sheet. Freeze for 30 minutes.
Note: Store in the fridge or freezer, although the freezer is preferred if you’ll be packing these in lunches.
More Recipes for Healthy Snacking
- Homemade Fruit Leather & Fruit Rollups
- No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
- Homemade Lunchables
- 5 Minute Chocolate Hummus
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Hummus
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Sweet salty energy bites that satisfy chocolate, pretzel and peanut butter cravings, yet are made with only healthy ingredients. A must-have for snack time.
- Prep Time: 45 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 30–35 bites 1x
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ cup peanut butter (watch the ingredients)
- 1 cup oats
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- ½ cup milled flaxseed
- 1 cup pretzels
Instructions
- In a stand mixer (or a bowl), combine the coconut oil, honey and peanut butter until they are well combined and the mixture is smooth.
- In a blender (or food processor), measure out 1/2 cup of pretzels. Pulse until they are half crumbly and half small pieces, about 5-6 rounds. You basically don’t want large chunks of pretzel, but you don’t want teeny tiny crumbs either. Using the markings on the outside of the blender (or a measuring cup), measure out 1/2 cup of crushed pretzels. Repeat this process with more pretzels if you don’t quite reach 1/2 cup. Add the pretzels to the bowl with Team Wet.
- Without rinsing out the blender, add the oats, shredded coconut and flaxseed. Pulse until the oats and coconut are crumbled together in small pieces, about 5-6 rounds. Pour Team Dry into the stand mixer.
- Using the paddle attachment, turn the mixer on low and mix all the ingredients together until they are well combined and sticky.
- Using a cookie scoop, scoop out balls onto a cookie sheet. When the cookie sheet is full, pick up each ball with your hands, squish the contents together and shape into a ball. Place the ball back onto the cookie sheet and freeze for 30 minutes.
- Store in the fridge or freezer, although the freezer is preferred if you’ll be packing these in lunches.
Notes
For an extra indulgent treat (and to make the balls prettier), dip them in chocolate and roll in extra crushed pretzels.
Instead of rolling by hand, I used a measuring spoon sized at a tablespoon. I would pack the tablespoon, then push one side of the tablespoon and the treat would come out. Was easier than rolling by hand. Hope this helps others.
Thanks for the tip Wayne!
Hmm, I think this recipe has me mixed up a bit. Ingredients say 1 cup but instructions say 1/2 cup. How much pretzel gets added to Team Wet? Thanks
I am confused by this too. In the ingredients list it said 1 cup but in the instructions below it said to measure out only 1/2 cup, and it said it twice. So I went with 1/2 cup. Was I wrong?
Hi Spring, The recipe calls for 1 cup total un processed pretzels but when they are processed it shrinks down to about 1/2 cup. Hope that helps!
Delicious and very moreish! I really, really love this recipe, super yummy! Thanks for that!
★★★★★
Hi, I live in Sweden where pretzels are not (would you believe) readily available in most grocery stores. Could I substitute with salty cheese type crackers? Also, my husband is allergic to flax – could I use chia instead?
I think both substitutions would work, although I’d try to use a non-cheese cracker, if you can.
BECAUSE YOU RECOMMEND MAKING/COOKING FROM SCRATCH, I’M SURPRISED YOU USE PRE-GROUND FLAX SEED. EVERYTHING I’VE EVER HEARD TELLS ME TO BUY WHOLE & GRIND AS NEEDED OR YOU LOSE THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE. COMMENTS ? LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING THESE LITTLE DELIGHTS. THANKS FOR YOUR IDEAS !
It’s not as easy to find whole flaxseed in my area, Toni. 🙂
Wow Tiffany. You are in Georgia and I am in North Carolina. We are almost 4 hours from Atlanta. I can ONLY find whole flax seed — not the milled.
These are truly delicious. I had a hard time getting them to form into balls. They kept falling apart. I ended up adding more honey, which I didn’t want to do because of the extra sweetness and the extra calories, but it worked. They are definitely better if you freeze them.
I used a cup of pretzel pieces but maybe it should have been 1/2 cup. In one place it says one cup and another it says 1/2 cup. Next time I think I will add some dried cranberries. I did the calculations for 24 pieces and for 36 pieces.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 24 OR 36
Amount Per Serving
calories 140/93.4
Total Fat 10 g/6.6g 15 %/10%
Saturated Fat 5 g/3.3g 23 %/15.18%
Monounsaturated Fat 1 g/<1g (.6g)
Polyunsaturated Fat 1 g/<1g (.6g)
Trans Fat 1 g/<1g (.6g)
Cholesterol 0 mg 0 %
Sodium 34 mg 1 %/<1g (.6g)
Potassium 14 mg/9.24 0 %
Total Carbohydrate 12 g/8g 4 %/2.64%
Dietary Fiber 2 g/1.32g 10 %/6.6%
Sugars 6 g/3.96g
Protein 3 g/1.98g 6 %/3.96%
Vitamin A 0 %
Vitamin C 0 %
Calcium 2 %/1.32%
Iron 7 %/4.62%
★★★★
I grind flax in the coffee grinder. So yummy and fresh
That’s a great way to do it Spring! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
These energy bites are AMAZING!!! I couldn’t believe how healthy they are considering the great taste. You, my dear, have officially changed my life. 😁
LOL – I’m happy to help! 🙂
I used almond butter and carob powder substitutes and got 36 bites. Just went into the freezer but the just mixed bite was WOW.
★★★★★
Aren’t they so good?!
I Really wanted a healthier sweet to make and didnt have coconut or flax seed meal, but added a tbl spoon on chia seed and extra granola to make up for the absence of flaxseed. Not exactly ball shaped but soo good and the perfect combination of sweet and salty!
★★★★★