No-Bake Chocolate Chip Energy Bites

These no-bake chocolate chip energy bites are a great snack, sweet treat to pack for lunch, or dessert on the go. You can customize the ingredients for any dietary preferences and add any of your child’s favorite ingredients. 

Because they’re so easy to customize, it’s a great way for your child to enjoy a great source of protein and fiber.

What You’ll Need

These energy bites are packed with nutrition – protein, fiber, healthy fats, and loads of micronutrients. AND they are unbelievably easy to make. Here’s what you’ll need:

Peanut Butter (or any nut butter)

Peanut butter is the glue that keeps these no-bake energy bites together. Although it’s a necessary ingredient for the balls to hold their shape, feel free to switch up the type of nut butter! 

Almond butter, cashew butter, or even granola butter all work well in this recipe. Even better, make it allergy-safe by using SunButter.

Peanut butter not only gives these energy bites a great taste, but is the main source of healthy fat and protein in this recipe! Each ball provides 4 grams of protein, making it a great way for even picky eaters to get their protein in. 

Oats

Old-fashioned and steel cut oats both work well in this recipe. To make the texture of the energy bites extra chewy, blend the oats into a fine oat powder. 

Oats are a great source of high fiber carbohydrates, which is the long-lasting energy kids need. This is what puts the “energy” in “No-bake chocolate chip energy bites”. 

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds help give this recipe extra calories, fiber, fat, and protein. Specifcially, the omega-3 fats within chia seeds have been linked to improved brain and heart health. 

If you don’t have chia seeds, flax seeds, poppy seeds, or sesame seeds give a similar texture and health benefits!

Maple Syrup

Add some sweetness without all the added sugar! Maple syrup can easily be replaced with honey, agave, or even blended dates.

Chocolate Chips

The fun part! Adding chocolate chips to these no-bake energy bites is what helps peak their interest. Kids are more willing to try a new food (like these energy bites) if they see a preferred food (chocolate chips) served with it!

If your child is not interested in chocolate chips, try using some of their favorite foods as a substitute. [see below for options]

Switch Up the Ingredients

The key to this recipe is that your child has internal motivation to eat this snack, because of the preferred (tasty) foods present. If chocolate chips or peanut butter aren’t their thing, switch it up! 

A few additional toppings that work really well in this recipe include: 

• Coconut Flakes
• Walnuts
• White Chocolate Chips
• M&M’s
• Crushed Pretzels
• Peanuts
• Sprinkles
• Cinnamon
• Pecans
• Mini Marshmallows

How Your Kids Can Get Involved

As always, I recommend that you involve your children in the cooking/baking as much as possible. 

Their involvement with the creation of food makes them WAY more likely to actually eat the food. The agency and confidence they get while making food gives them more confidence to try new foods!

Some ways to get your kids involved with the No-Bake Chocolate Chip Energy Bites include:

• Measuring the ingredients 
• Mixing the ingredients (by hand or with a spoon!)
• Brainstorming alternative topping ideas 
• Forming the dough into balls

Other Quick Kid-friendly Recipes You’ll Love

High Protein Guacamole

Chocolate Chip Baked Oats

High Protein Herb Dip

Banana & Spinach Pancakes

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