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    Gastronotherapy » Recipes » Breakfast

    No Bake Energy Balls

    Modified: Nov 25, 2025 · Published: Apr 11, 2024 by MaryAnne · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    These no bake energy balls are the perfect snack when you need something quick, delicious, and healthy, but you want to feel like you're eating dessert. With 7 simple ingredients like rolled oats, coconut, peanut butter, and flax seeds, these energy bites will leave you feeling satisfied.

    Protein energy bites arranged on a plate.

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    Anyone who knows me knows I'm never without snacks. I've always got goodies like healthy chocolate cookies, chocolate avocado mousse and black bean cookies on hand. Call it a crutch, call it wanting to be prepared, but I've always got a variety of snacks stashed in my purse/bag/backpack.

    These no bake energy balls are the best kind of snack: a little savory, a little sweet, no bake, lots of texture, and they fill me up so I'm not hungry again an hour later. And they're portable! I hope you love them as much as I do.

    Jump to:
    • ⭐️ Why These Energy Balls are the Best
    • 🍫 Ingredient Notes
    • 📝 Variations & Substitutions
    • 🥣 How To Make No Bake Energy Bites
    • 👩🏼‍🍳 Expert Tips
    • 🍪 More Snack Recipes
    • Energy Balls Recipe

    ⭐️ Why These Energy Balls are the Best

    • A little nutty, a little sweet, a little coconut-y, and a LOT of deliciousness
    • Protein balls with just 7 simple ingredients
    • Healthy breakfast, snack, or dessert that's a good source of protein & fiber, dairy-free, and very satisfying
    • No bake, portable, and easy to make energy bites

    🍫 Ingredient Notes

    Recipe ingredients arranged on a table.
    • Old-fashioned rolled oats - Avoid using instant oats, as the texture will be too chewy.
    • Flaked unsweetened coconut - You can toast your coconut ahead of time, but make sure that it's completely cool before using it, or your chocolate chips will melt.
    • Natural peanut butter - I use the unsweetened kind of peanut butter, so the ingredients are literally just peanuts and salt. If you use sweetened peanut butter, you can skip the maple syrup.
    • Maple syrup - Honey can be used as a substitute (for non-vegan folks), or see my list of popular substitutes for maple syrup.
    • Flax seeds - High in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids; you can use chia seeds as well
    • Semi-sweet chocolate chips - Use your favorite brand of semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips.

    📝 Variations & Substitutions

    • Make energy bars: Line an 8"x8" baking dish with parchment paper. Transfer the mixture into dish and press down with your fingers or a rubber spatula; chill for 30 minutes. Grab parchment on two opposite sides, lift bars out of the pan, and place on a cutting board. Cut into bars using a sharp knife.
    • Use your favorite nut butter. Although peanut butter is my preferred nut butter, I know some folks have peanut allergies. Therefore, you can easily substitute the peanut butter with almond butter or cashew butter for a similar flavor.
    • Gluten-free version: Substitute with gluten-free oats
    • Vegan energy balls: Use vegan chocolate chips

    🥣 How To Make No Bake Energy Bites

    Rolled oats and unsweetened coconut in a food processor.

    Place the rolled oats and unsweetened coconut into the bowl of a food processor and pulse for 1 to 2 minutes, until coarsely ground.

    Energy ball mixture combined in a food processor.

    Add peanut butter, maple syrup, flax seeds, vanilla extract, salt, and chocolate chips. Pulse mixture for another 1 to 2 minutes, until the mixture starts to come together.

    Transfer mixture into a small mixing bowl and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

    Rolled balls arranged on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

    Use a 1" cookie scoop to make the protein balls uniform in size, and roll into balls using the palms of your hands; place on prepared baking sheet. (If the mixture isn't coming together well, add 1 tablespoon of water or maple syrup and stir until well combined.)

    Plant based energy balls with oats, peanut butter, and coconut.

    Chill energy balls until firm, at least 30 minutes, or place in the freezer for 15 minutes.

    👩🏼‍🍳 Expert Tips

    • Storage: Place balls in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
    • How to freeze: Place in a freezer-safe container and store for up to 3 months. To thaw, place in the refrigerator overnight.
    • Chill for 30 minutes. This will help your energy bites firm up before serving them.
    • Use a cookie scoop. This will ensure balls that are all the same size.

    🍪 More Snack Recipes

    • Fudgy black bean cookies arranged on a plate.
      Fudgy Black Bean Cookies
    • glass of creamy flaxseed pudding topped with blueberries and shredded coconut.
      Easy Flaxseed Pudding (Flax meal Pudding) - Creamy & Vegan
    • Two cups with vegan chocolate avocado mousse and topped with whipped cream.
      Avocado Chocolate Mousse (Creamy Vegan Chocolate Avocado Pudding)
    • Healthy flourless cookies arranged on a blue plate.
      Peanut Butter Banana Cookies (5 Ingredients)

    Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with me through social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook.

    Subscribe to my email newsletter to get a FREE e-book of 15 Healthy Weeknight Recipes, and get new recipes delivered to your inbox every week!

    Protein energy bites arranged on a plate.

    Energy Balls Recipe

    Author: MaryAnne
    These no bake energy balls are the perfect snack when you need something quick, delicious, and healthy. With 7 simple ingredients like rolled oats, coconut, peanut butter, and flax seeds, these energy balls will leave you feeling satisfied.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 0 minutes mins
    Chilling Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 15 balls
    Calories 128 kcal

    Equipment

    • Food processor

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant)
    • 1 cup flaked unsweetened coconut
    • ⅓ cup natural peanut butter (unsweetened)
    • 3 Tablespoons maple syrup
    • 2 Tablespoons flax seeds (or chia seeds)
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
    • ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

    Instructions
     
    Prevent your screen from going dark
     

    • Place the rolled oats and unsweetened coconut into the bowl of a food processor and pulse for 1 to 2 minutes, until coarsely ground.
    • Add peanut butter, maple syrup, flax seeds, vanilla extract, salt, and chocolate chips. Pulse mixture for another 1 to 2 minutes, until the mixture starts to come together.
    • Transfer mixture into a small mixing bowl and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • Use a 1" cookie scoop to make the protein balls uniform in size, and roll into balls using the palms of your hands; place on prepared baking sheet. (If the mixture isn't coming together well, add 1 tablespoon of water or maple syrup and stir until well combined.)
    • Chill energy balls until firm, at least 30 minutes, or place in the freezer for 15 minutes.

    Video

    Notes

    • Storage: Place balls in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
    • How to freeze: Place in a freezer-safe container and store for up to 3 months. To thaw, place in the refrigerator overnight.
    • Chill for 30 minutes. This will help your energy bites firm up before serving them.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 128kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 3gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.003gCholesterol: 0.2mgSodium: 43mgPotassium: 119mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Vegan & Vegetarian Breakfast Recipes

    • Creamy blueberry banana smoothie with almond milk.
      Blueberry Banana Smoothie (Creamy & Filling)
    • Sweetgreen copycat harvest bowl arranged on a table.
      25 Vegetarian Fall Recipes
    • flaky apple turnovers with homemade filling.
      Brown Butter Apple Turnovers with Puff Pastry
    • Healthy chocolate cookies arranged on a cooling rack.
      Healthy Chocolate Cookies (vegan & gluten free)

    Comments

    1. Patti Fortlage says

      June 30, 2024 at 11:55 am

      5 stars
      Something I am learning about myself is I prefer low risk high reward recipes, LOL. In other words, simple to make and extremely delicious to eat. These are just that. Full disclosure, I don't like to cook and barely more do I like to bake. This recipe is my dream. It is so simple and yet SO TASTY!!

      Reply
      • MaryAnne says

        June 30, 2024 at 12:38 pm

        Thanks so much, Patti! Low-risk/high-reward recipes are the best, and I really love these energy balls, too. I keep a batch in the freezer at all times! 🙂

        Reply
    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Hi! I’m MaryAnne, the writer, recipe developer, and photographer behind Gastronotherapy, where you'll find mostly meatless, veggie-forward recipes with big flavor, simple ingredients, and plenty of room for dessert.

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