No-Bake Peanut Butter Oat Energy Bites
Power your adventures with these wholesome, naturally sweetened bites. Crafted from five simple ingredients, they are the ideal portable boost for busy days.
Servings 16
Calories 82kcal
Equipment
- Food processor or high-speed blender
- Small heat-safe bowl
- Baking sheet
- Silicone spatula
- Small dish
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup about 170 g pitted Medjool dates
- ⅓ cup creamy unsalted peanut butter
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons hemp hearts for coating
Instructions
- Hydrate the Dates: Place the pitted dates into the small bowl and cover them with hot water. Let them soak for about 15 minutes to soften, which ensures a smooth, uniform texture. After soaking, drain all water completely.
- Prepare the Coating: While the dates are softening, spread the hemp hearts in an even layer across the small dish. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to create a non-stick surface for the finished bites.
- Process the Mixture: Combine the drained dates, rolled oats, unsalted peanut butter, and ground cinnamon in the bowl of your food processor. Pulse several times to break down the ingredients, then process continuously until a thick, sticky dough forms. Pause to scrape down the sides with a spatula as needed.
- Form the Bites: Scoop the dough into tablespoon-sized portions. Roll each portion firmly between your palms to form 16 compact spheres.
- Coat and Set: Gently roll each energy bite in the dish of hemp hearts until it's evenly coated. Place the coated bites onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Chill to Firm: Transfer the baking sheet to the refrigerator and chill for at least 20 minutes. This allows the bites to firm up, making them perfect for handling and storage.
Notes
Storage: Keep the energy bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months for a longer-lasting snack option.
Ingredient Variations: For a different flavor profile, you can substitute the peanut butter with creamy almond butter or sunflower seed butter. The hemp heart coating can be swapped for chia seeds, ground flax seeds, or finely shredded coconut.
Troubleshooting: If the mixture appears too dry and crumbly in the processor, add a teaspoon of water at a time until it comes together. Conversely, if the dough is too sticky to roll easily, place the entire processor bowl in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to let it firm up before shaping.
🍽️ Nutrition Facts (per serving, 1 bite)
- Calories: 82
- Total Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.6 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.8 g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 1.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Sodium: 2 mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 12 g
- Dietary Fiber: 2 g
- Total Sugars: 8 g
- Includes Added Sugars: 0 g
- Protein: 2.5 g
- Vitamin D: 0 mcg
- Calcium: 14 mg
- Iron: 0.7 mg
- Potassium: 125 mg