You will love these Healthy Bliss Balls or Energy Bites! They're easy snacks that are perfect for a sweet tooth, made with wholesome ingredients. These bite-sized balls are no bake, easy to make and make for the perfect healthy dessert or afternoon snack.
These delicious energy bites are the perfect cross between a quick-me-up and a wholesome dessert. They taste like mini-no-bake cookies, and they're so simple to make. Make a double batch and save them to enjoy throughout the week.
You may also enjoy these baked oatmeal cups, this protein overnight oats recipe, these chocolate baked oats, this keto granola recipe, or these frozen yogurt and granola bars.
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❤️Why we love this recipe
- Made with nutritious ingredients. These little energy bites are wholesome snacks made with honey as a natural sweetener, and other than that, you only need a few other natural ingredients to bring them together.
- Great to eat when you need an energy boost or a healthier sweet treat. These power balls can give you an extra boost, and they're a great option for when you're craving something sweet.
- Great for meal prep. Leftovers will store for up to 2 weeks, so you can make them and keep them around for a long time for great snack on-the-go.
🥜Ingredients
Here are the ingredients we used for this recipe. You can find more information for substitutions below.
- Rolled oats
- Roasted & unsalted peanuts
- Kosher salt
- Honey - Make sure it's a runny variety, so that it combines with the peanut butter easier.
- Peanut butter
- Vanilla extract
- Mini chocolate chips - Optional and delicious.
- Coconut oil - To combine with chocolate for helping them melt smoothly.
- Dark chocolate - For melting and topping the bites.
- Flaky sea salt - Optional, for topping the bites.
Visit the recipe card for the full quantities and nutritional information.
✨Substitutions & variations
We made peanut butter bliss balls, but substitutions can be made to suit your diet type. Maybe you're just looking for different flavors. Here are a few different ways to make these energy bites.
- Vegan bliss balls - The basic ingredients for these snacks are plant-based ingredients. However, they are sweetened with honey, which is not considered vegan. Swap honey for maple syrup, or agave. You will also want to be sure you're using vegan-friendly chocolate.
- Add more nuts, seeds, and nutrients - Feel free to add more nutrients by way of chia seeds, hemp seeds (also known as hemp hearts), flax seeds goji berries, or cacao nibs.
- Coconut flavored - Add some shredded coconut flakes to the mixture and to top the energy bites off.
- Protein bliss balls - Add vanilla protein powder or any other protein powder that you want.
- If you have a peanut allergy or prefer a different nut butter, you can use almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter, and swap the peanuts for your favorite nut.
- Chocolate energy bites - Add some unsweetened cocoa powder or raw cacao powder for a more chocolatey flavor.
- No added sugar - Feel free to sweeten with your favorite sugar free sweetener. We love Swerve confectioners (affiliate link) or sugar free maple syrup, and use sugar free chocolate in this recipe.
🔪Prep work
- Cut melting chocolate into small pieces.
- Chop nuts for topping and set aside.
- Measure out all remaining ingredients.
📋Instructions
In a mixing bowl, combine peanut butter and honey, melt in the microwave for 30 seconds, then add in vanilla extract and mix. Set aside. (Image 1)
In a food processor, add the rolled oats, peanuts, and salt. (Image 2)
Pulse to create a finer texture, with a few small pieces in the mixture, roughly 50 pulses. (Image 3)
Add the oat mixture to the peanut butter mixture, (Image 4) use a rubber spatula to combine, then add the mini chocolate chips (Image 5) and combine again. (Image 6)
Note: If you like the chocolate dispersed throughout and fewer chocolate chips, mix in the chocolate chips right away as shown below. The residual heat from the warm peanut butter and honey mixture will gently melt the chocolate chips. Otherwise, allow the bowl to cool off for 10-15 minutes for a more "chocolate chip" like texture.
Allow the mixture to rest for 30 minutes, giving the oats time to absorb the peanut butter and honey. After 30 minutes, use a small cookie scoop to roll the mixture into 16 pieces, (Image 7) and use your hands to form the shape. (Image 8)
In a microwave-safe bowl, add chocolate and coconut oil. (Image 9)
Melt in 15-second increments, stirring in between until the mixture is completely melted and pourable. (Image 10)
Melt peanut butter if desired, and drizzle the bites with the melted chocolate and peanut butter. Then top with more mini chocolate chips, crushed peanuts, and flaky salt. Transfer to the fridge to set up for 10-15 minutes. Enjoy!
✨Tips & tricks
- Sweeten to taste. If making this recipe for the first time, add less honey, and then more to taste.
- Allow the mixture to rest once combined. This allows time for the oats to absorb the peanut butter and honey and will ensure the bites don't become crumbly bits that fall apart. We want them to hold their shape.
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💭Frequently Asked Questions
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
To freeze, transfer to a baking sheet with parchment in a single layer. Freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. They will keep for 6 months. Defrost on the countertop or in the fridge overnight.
More Recipes To Consider
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📖 Recipe
Bliss Balls
Equipment
- food processor
- Rubber Spatula
- small cookie scoop
- baking sheet
- parchment paper
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup roasted peanuts
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼-1/3 cup honey (to taste, use runny honey)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- 1 ounce dark chocolate (for melting, optional)
- peanut butter, peanut pieces, mini chocolate chips, and flaky sea salt for topping (optional)
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, heat peanut butter and honey in the microwave for 15-30 seconds, until melted. Stir in the vanilla extract and set aside.
- In a food processor, pulse oats, peanuts, and salt together until your desired texture is achieved.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and fold them together with a rubber spatula. Then, fold in the chocolate chips. Allow the mixture to rest for 30 minutes.
- After the mixture has had a chance to rest, use a small cookie scoop to separate it into roughly 16 pieces. Use your hands to roll them into a round ball shape, then transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Melt chocolate and coconut oil in the microwave in 15-second increments, stirring in between until melted. You can also melt more peanut butter until it is easily pourable.
- Top the balls with melted chocolate, peanut butter, flaky salt, mini chocolate chips, and crushed peanuts. Set in the fridge to firm up to 10-15 minutes, then enjoy!
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. To freeze, transfer to a baking sheet with parchment in a single layer. Freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. They will keep for 6 months. Defrost on the counter top or in the fridge overnight.
Notes
- This recipe makes 16 pieces. 1 serving is 2 bites.
- The peanut butter, peanut pieces, mini chocolate chips, and flaky sea salt for topping the energy bites are not included in the nutrition facts.
- Feel free to swap peanuts and peanut butter for your favorite nut and nut butter of your choice.
- If you want a more "chocolate chip" like texture in the bliss balls, allow the peanut butter and honey mixture to cool for 10 minutes before adding any chocolate chips.
- Don't skip letting the mixture rest before rolling them into balls, as resting gives the oats time to absorb the other ingredients. If you skip resting, the mixture will be dry and crumbly and they won't form into a ball shape well.
- For vegan energy bites, be sure to use vegan chocolate, and swap the honey for maple syrup, or agave.
Nutrition
These nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy and are only estimates. We cannot guarantee the accuracy.
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