Need a quick little snack when you’re craving something sweet? These chocolate peanut butter energy bites are an easy favorite. They take just a few minutes to mix together, require no baking, and have that classic chocolate and peanut butter combination that’s pretty hard to beat.
Keep a batch in the fridge for an easy grab and go snack, or stash some in the freezer so you always have a treat ready when you need one.
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup honey or brown rice syrup
- ¼ cup natural peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- Pinch of salt
Directions
Step 1: Mix Everything Together
First, grab a medium bowl and add the oats, honey (or brown rice syrup,) peanut butter, cocoa powder, and salt. Stir everything together until you have a soft, sticky dough. If the mixture looks a little dry or isn’t holding together well, don’t worry. Simply add a little more honey, a teaspoon at a time, until the mixture is moist enough to roll easily.
Step 2: Shape the Energy Bites
Once your mixture is ready, lightly wet your hands (this helps keep the sticky dough from clinging to your fingers.) Next, use a tablespoon sized cookie scoop to portion out the mixture. Roll each portion between your palms until you have a smooth little ball and place them on a parchment lined baking sheet. Continue until you’ve used all of the mixture.
Step 3: Chill and Enjoy
Once all of your energy bites are shaped, place them in the refrigerator for a little while to firm up. After they’ve chilled, they’re ready to enjoy whenever you need a quick and easy snack.
Easy Ways to Change Them Up
If you want to switch things up, there are a few simple ways to customize these energy bites.
Choose your oats: Old-fashioned rolled oats give the bites a little more texture and chew, while quick-cooking oats create a softer, more uniform texture.
Add some protein: For a protein boost, replace some of the cocoa powder with chocolate protein powder. However, I’d recommend keeping at least some cocoa powder in the mixture so you don’t lose that rich chocolate flavor. If the protein powder makes the mixture too dry, simply add a little extra honey until everything sticks together again.
Make them even easier: If you’d rather skip the mixing bowl, you can add all of the ingredients to a food processor and blend until a dough forms. This method creates a smoother texture and works especially well if you prefer your oats to be broken down a little more.
A Quick Peanut Butter Tip
Before you get started, there’s one little peanut butter tip worth knowing. Natural, drippy peanut butter works best because the natural oils add moisture and help hold the energy bites together. If the peanut butter you’re using is thick or dry, you may need to add a little extra honey to get the right consistency.
Step 4: Store for Later
Finally, transfer your finished energy bites to a covered container and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Want to make a batch ahead of time? You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. That way, you’ll always have a quick breakfast, afternoon snack, or chocolate-peanut-butter treat ready whenever the craving strikes.
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