5-Ingredient No-Bake Cookie Energy Bites

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Bowl of Chocolate Cookie Energy Bites topped with peanut butter

Friends, are you ready for a throwback? These intensely delicious energy bites are adapted from a recipe I posted way way back in 2012 for No-Bake Cookie Bars, shortly after Minimalist Baker began. #memories

The concept was simple: Throw a bunch of really good tasting ingredients like chocolate chips, peanut butter, and dates into a food processor and see what happens. The result? It tasted like a straight-up NO-BAKE COOKIE. Yes, the no-bake cookie of your childhood (or my childhood, at least).

Since then I’ve been craving the familiar flavors of a classic no-bake cookie but wanted to do a healthier remix and keep things as simple as possible. So I once again threw a bunch of really good tasting (but slightly more wholesome) ingredients into a food processor and hoped for the best. The result? It, ONCE AGAIN, tasted like a no-bake cookie.

Even better news? Just 5 ingredients, 10 minutes, and 1 food processor required. Let’s do this!

Sea salt, oats, medjool dates, peanut butter, maple syrup, and cacao powder

Dates provide the sweet, sticky base for these bites. Cacao or cocoa powder supplies the chocolaty goodness. And peanut butter adds moisture and that classic no-bake cookie flavor.

Rolled oats prevent them from being too sticky. And bonus points: Raw oats supply resistant starch to keep your gut bacteria happy!

And then a little sea salt and optional vanilla are added for a pop of extra flavor. Swoon!

Food processor with pitted dates, oats, cacao powder, and peanut butter

Making these energy bites is as simple as blending up the ingredients in a food processor and pulsing until the mixture gets clumpy.

Food processor with dough for No Bake Energy Bites

Then it’s rolled into balls and ready to enjoy!

Setting a No Bake Cookie Energy Bite onto a tray

We hope you LOVE these energy bites! They’re:

Chocolaty
Peanut buttery
Fudgy
Naturally sweet
Quick & easy
& Reminiscent of no-bake cookies!

They’re perfect for storing in the fridge or freezer and enjoying any time a chocolate or snack craving strikes!

More Energy Bite Recipes

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!

Oats, cacao powder, and peanut butter next to a bowl of Chocolate Energy Bites

5-Ingredient No-Bake Cookie Energy Bites

A deceptively wholesome take on no-bake cookies in energy bite form! Just 5 ingredients and 10 minutes required for these chocolaty, peanutty, naturally sweetened treats!
Author Minimalist Baker
Print
Bowl of Chocolate Cookie Energy Bites topped with peanut butter
4.95 from 38 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 12 (Energy bites)
Course Dessert/Snack
Cuisine Gluten-Free, Vegan
Freezer Friendly 1 month
Does it keep? 2 Weeks

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cup medjool dates (~14 dates as recipe is written, measured after pitting // if dry, soak in warm water for 15 minutes, then drain and pat dry)
  • 1/4 cup organic cacao or cocoa powder (or sub carob for chocolate-free / caffeine-free)
  • 2-3 Tbsp peanut butter (or sub other nut or seed butter — results may vary)
  • 1/4 cup rolled oats (if grain-free, try subbing chopped roasted nuts like peanuts or almonds)
  • 1 pinch sea salt (more or less depending on saltiness of your nut butter)
  • 1/8 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Instructions

  • To a food processor add pitted dates, cocoa or cacao powder, peanut butter (or other nut/seed butter), rolled oats, salt, and vanilla (optional).
  • Note: If you don’t have a food processor you can try using a blender, but dates can be tough for blenders due to their sticky nature, so use a low speed if possible and pulse rather than blending.
  • Pulse until the mixture is well blended and starts to clump together (~30 seconds – 1 minute). If it’s too dry or crumbly and it doesn’t stick together when pressed between two fingers, add more nut butter or pitted dates (just ensure your dates are sticky and fresh, or it will only further dry out the mixture.)
  • Scoop out 1 ½ Tbsp amounts (we love this scoop) and gently roll into balls. As the original recipe is written, ~12 balls.
  • Enjoy immediately or store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer up to 1 month. Let come close to room temperature before enjoying for best texture (in our opinion). Top with extra peanut butter for a “frosting” effect. You probably won’t regret it.

Video

Notes

*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with the lesser amount of unsalted peanut butter and without optional ingredients.
*Adapted from our original No-Bake Cookie Bar recipe.

Nutrition (1 of 12 servings)

Serving: 1 energy bite Calories: 108 Carbohydrates: 23.8 g Protein: 1.9 g Fat: 1.7 g Saturated Fat: 0.4 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.38 g Monounsaturated Fat: 0.73 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 7 mg Potassium: 256 mg Fiber: 2.9 g Sugar: 18.9 g Vitamin A: 41.72 IU Vitamin C: 0 mg Calcium: 24.79 mg Iron: 0.64 mg

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  1. Mel says

    Somehow I ended up on this recipe page and immediately felt the need to make these energy bites. I’m so glad I did! What a delightful treat with a perfect balance of flavours. My mixture was a little bit dry initially, but after adding some date syrup to add more moisture, they held together well. They made a wonderful gift and were incredibly easily to make. Thank you team

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Mel! Thanks so much for the lovely review!

  2. Catalina says

    Hey there! It’s me again haha. Just wanted to say that I’ve made this recipe a few times now and today I froze the dough until quite firm and shaped it into a log. Then, I rolled it in a mix of ground walnuts and chocolate sprinkles, and finally, cut it into little pieces (they look like gnocchi). Oh my! I’ll be making this recipe until the day I die, thank you once again :) <3

  3. Catalina says

    I made these yesterday but I made them a little smaller. I followed the recipe to a T and they were incredible. Rolled half in shredded coconut and the other half in chocolate sprinkles… they taste so decadent and rich (also by themselves, ofc) you could never imagine they’re on the healthier side of the force!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoy the recipe, Catalina. Thank you for sharing! xo

  4. Janice says

    I was looking for a quick dessert. This recipe was so easy. I added a tbs of maple syrup to make it hold together. Very tasty!

  5. Alex says

    Just the right amount of sweet. Made these before and they were gone fast, making them again today to take camping for when the sweet tooth hits!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Carolina! Thank you for the lovely review! Next time, would you mind leaving a star rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! xo

  6. Lauren W. says

    I can’t believe how quickly these come together…that being said, be warned that they disappear equally as fast, because that’s how good they are! This recipe also served as my introduction to the “naturally sweet” powers of dates. Very good.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Woohoo! We’re so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Lauren. Thank you for the lovely review! xo

  7. Jen says

    Super easy and so delicious! I made these exactly as directed and they came out wonderfully. Can’t wait to eat more tomorrow!

  8. Nadine says

    Great recipe! I used half dates and half prunes and they came out very tasty! Thanks for all your hard work in testing and posting recipes. Greatly appreciated!

    • Elizabeth Klun says

      This sounds genius! My 11 year old has to have prunes and prune juice everyday. I bet using half prunes in this would be a great way to mix it up!

  9. Sue says

    I made this today. Super easy and so delicious! Thank you! My sister and I plan to make a ton of them and freeze them.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thanks so much for the lovely review. We are so glad you enjoyed them! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo

  10. Joëlle says

    Gorgeous!! I added linen seeds and cajou nuts, just a spoonful, and I did a mix of figues and dates because I didn’t have enough of them. Absolutely delicious, I did them smaller and had about 20 of them. Thanks for this great recipe!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing those unique additions, Joëlle. We are so glad you enjoyed them! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo

  11. Sherrie says

    Just made these and they are AMAZING!!
    So easy .. So Healthy .. So delicious…..
    Much more flavor that I expected..They are not going to last very long..

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thanks so much for the lovely review, Sherrie. We are so glad you enjoy them! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo

  12. Marjory Kopp says

    These are excellent! I added a few more dates and about 2 Tbsp. of water to get the batter to stick together better. I also used carob powder instead of cacao. Thanks for the recipe!

  13. Deb says

    Hi Dana
    Love your recipes!
    I’ve made these a few times and they are fantastic “picker uppers” ( if that’s a word!)
    I’m wondering if you can sub dates for prunes?
    Or even 1/2:1/2…
    Thanks
    Deb

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’re so glad you enjoy them, Deb! Thanks so much for the lovely review! We think prunes could work, but maybe reduce the oats (if needed) so they aren’t dry.

  14. deb clay says

    Made as posted, ran out of dates and added one teaspoon of maple syrup for a bit more moisture due to dates. Was so good thanks for always sharing these great recipes.

  15. Megan O says

    I made these for the first time and was surprised by how easy and delicious they were. I couldn’t get my hands on medjool dates so I used delget dates instead. It *did* impact the texture and it was a little dry so I added a splash of non dairy milk after I had blended the mixture and could see it was dry. Be careful to not add too much liquid. I also had a large box of quick oats instead of rolled which I used instead and it was fine. Probably not the same texture wise but still good!

    At the end I rolled them in hemp seeds just for fun!! I will be making these again !

  16. Caroline Lowry says

    these are so simple and so perfect. in my second batch i was low on oats so added hemp seeds and they turned out delish. now i’m turning to some peanut butter fudge. look out! 💕💕

  17. Celia Woodhull says

    These bites are incredible! I’ve never liked the taste of dates, but the cocoa powder and peanut butter completely masked them! Will definitely be making again.

  18. L Kairis says

    Quick and easy way to get some all natural energy into your kids before a soccer game. My 6 year old downed 6! (Sort of a big mistake bc he was on fire for energy but also on fibre fire after☺️. Oh well… He was “fiber fueled”!)

  19. Abby says

    Loved these. A healthier version of the classic no-bakes that my mom used to make, and very very tasty! I will probably be making these again soon!

      • Caroline says

        I have made these so many times!!!
        with some variations, like using almond pulp(from making homemade almond milk:)
        I also love to add some orange zest to the original recipe, or some dried minced fruit like apricots and cranberries.
        Little healthballs!
        ✨✨✨✨✨

  20. Blessing Okpala says

    Your videos are beautiful and the recipes look amazing. I am a fellow food blogger and I am struggling with making videos that looks really clear and crisp like yours. I know this isn’t really food related but wondering if you could help.
    Thank you.

  21. Nicole says

    I made these for a camping trip and the whole group loved them. They came together super quickly the morning of the trip too, very easy. The mixture was initially a bit dry but rather than more pb or dates I added a splash of maple syrup. I rolled them all in shredded coconut after too for fun.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Maybe, if it’s not too runny. We’d say start with 1/3 cup and add more until it’s sticky and resembles the photos.

  22. andrea says

    great recipe. I make so many of these power bars I put them in a 8 by 8 glass baking dish with lid and store in the fridge and cut out squares as I want them. Way easier than rolling out a bunch of balls.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Great idea! Thanks for sharing, Andrea! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Aw, yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Mary Beth! Thanks so much for your kind words and lovely review!

  23. Robin says

    Great instructions and great snack! I didn’t have regular cocoa powder so I used instead a adaptogenic blend of maca, ashwaganda and cocoa powder (it’s Pukka Organic Latte – Cacao Maca Majesty mix, which has cinnamon and some other spices) – delicious! These are perfectly satisfying. Usually I could eat sweets til I’ve overdone it, and I’m finding I can enjoy just one of these at a time.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Love that idea! I’ve actually made adaptogenic energy bites before that sound similar to your modifications and LOVED them. Glad you enjoyed them, Robin!

  24. Shannon says

    So good! Love Minimalist Baker and this is so easy and delicious. Used my tablespoon for a scoop and called truffles :) thanks so much!!

  25. Juliana says

    That was so simple and great! I halved the recipe since I didn’t have enough dates, just added more peanut butter and some coconut oil because it was too sticky!

  26. Amy says

    Just made these with my toddler and they are wonderful. I wound up having to add an additional 2tbsp of peanut butter (5 total) and my mixture was very dry so added about 3tbsp maple syrup and that added the moisture I needed. I did soak my dates so maybe the quality was not as good as others. Thanks for another fantastic and healthy recipe : )

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thanks for sharing, Amy! The quantities will change if you soaked your dates and how big / what type they were. Glad it worked out!

  27. Abbie says

    Made these in a nutribullet – required a bit of stirring and trying to get the dry ingredients to the blade, but they turned out really well, were yummy and very easy to roll (not gooey or anything) so minimal mess. Will make again

  28. JennyL says

    This is it! The magical combination of a few simple ingredients to the BEST raw cooke/energy ball/bite ever! And I have made hundreds of these guys. Really delicious and cookie-like while still being made of real food ingredients. Thank you!

  29. L says

    I followed the recipe exactly and they turned out great! I’ve always been intimidated by this type of recipe but it was super easy and really delicious.

  30. Josephine says

    Hello Dana,
    First of all thank you. Your recipes are the absolute best. What you do is life changing for me (a dairy-free Coeliac who loves to bake!)

    Would it be possible to sub the oats for buckwheat flakes (I’m one of the 40 percent of Coeliacs who reacts to oats (whether or not they’re certified gluten free).

    Thanks once again. So grateful for your work.

    Best wishes

  31. Sara says

    Looks yummy! Any suggestions for a peanut/nut butter substitute? I’m allergic to peanuts and most nuts, but haven’t found a way to sub out nut butters in energy balls yet.

  32. Leah says

    I just made these with some leftover coconut rolled dates I had. Instead of oats (I didn’t have any except steel cut) I used some coconut flour and I also added a few teaspoons of espresso powder. They came out wonderful! Rich and velvety and hits the spot!

  33. Cenz says

    I just made these as a quick afternoon snack to hold me over until dinner and they were great! I used Soom Silan (date syrup) in place of the dates which worked perfectly at 1 teaspoon per 2 dates (7 teaspoons total). I only ended up needing 2 tablespoons of peanut butter. I was a little surprised at how tiny they were after diving the mixture evenly into 12 (they ended up being not much larger than a dime), but still very tasty!

  34. Betsy says

    oh YES I make something just like this all the time with some chopped peanut pieces in there too and they are honestly just like Snickers!

  35. Sarah says

    Any idea how to use sugar (and maybe applesauce) instead of dates? First, dates are kind of expensive compared to sugar. Second, dates aren’t always available everywhere.