We’re 7 days into the new year. How’s it going so far?
I don’t know if you made any resolutions, but perhaps these wholesome, easy-to-make energy bites can help you stick with any healthy eating-related goals. They’re packed with protein, healthy fats, and fiber, and they taste like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!
Yes, all of your dreams can come true. Let me show you how!
These energy bites require just 7 ingredients, 15 minutes, and 1 bowl to make!
The base is peanut butter, maple syrup, protein powder, and oats. Flaxseeds and chia seeds are added for plant-based protein and fiber plus a serving of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids!
The “jelly” in this recipe comes from dried fruit. I personally love dried strawberries, cherries, and blueberries, but virtually any dried fruit will do.
I hope you all love these energy bites! They’re:
Easy to make
Chewy + Delicious
Peanut Buttery
Fruity
Full of protein (~5 g protein per bite!)
Salty-sweet
& Super healthy!
These would make the perfect on-the-go snack or healthy dessert. They pack easily and keep in the freezer for at least 1 month! I personally love reaching for 1 or 2 in the afternoon with tea. They’re the perfect little pick-me-up.
Aren’t into PB&J? Try my Mango or Peanut Butter Cup variations!
Super into PB&J? Try my PB&J Muffins, PB&J Chia Pudding, and PB&J Snack Bars!
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. We’d love to see your energy bites in action. Cheers, friends!
No-Bake PB & J Energy Bites
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup creamy salted peanut butter (or almond, cashew, or sunbutter)
- 1/4 cup maple syrup (or sub finely chopped dates)
- 2 Tbsp vegan protein powder* (optional - just omit if you don’t have any)
- 1 1/4 cup gluten-free rolled oats*
- 2 1/2 Tbsp flaxseed meal
- 2 Tbsp chia seeds
- 1/4 cup dried fruit (i.e. dried strawberries, cherries, blueberries, cranberries)
Instructions
-
To a large mixing bowl, add peanut butter, maple syrup, protein powder, rolled oats, flaxseed meal, chia seeds, and dried fruit of choice. Mix until well combined. If too dry/crumbly, add more peanut butter or maple syrup. If too sticky or wet, add a little bit more oats or flaxseed meal.
-
Chill in the refrigerator for 5 minutes. Then scoop out 1 1/2 Tbsp amounts (I like using this scoop) and roll into balls. The "dough" should yield about 13-14 balls (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size).
-
Enjoy immediately and store well-sealed leftovers in the refrigerator for 1 week or in the freezer up to 1 month (or more).
Notes
*If gluten-free and cannot tolerate oats, try subbing a mixture of chopped nuts, shredded unsweetened coconut, and more dried fruit.
*For protein powder recommendations, check out my Vegan Protein Powder Review post, which notes Bob's Red Mill Protein Powder as my favorite!
*Adapted from the lovely Gimme Some Oven.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate.
Nutrition Per Serving (1 of 14 bites)
- Calories: 125
- Fat: 1.1g
- Sodium: 45mg
- Carbohydrates: 13.8g
- Fiber: 1.8g
- Sugar: 5.9g
- Protein: 4.4g
Is there anything I can sub for chia seeds…I think my son is allergic, so I try to avoid them if possible.
We think hemp seeds would work well! Let us know if you give it a try!
I’ve been making these on repeat for my son who has been looking for healthier snacks that provide some fuel for his sports practices but still feel like a treat. He is learning more about how to make wise choices that taste good but make you feel good, too (something his mom and dad are still working to learn!) – this recipe is the perfect example for him. I’ve made 25+ recipes from this site – almost all winners – but this is in my top three. Thank you! (PS I use a chocolate protein powder and do everything just as written – occasionally a batch feels a bit dry so I just drizzle in a little syrup and it comes right together!)
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Jessica! We’re so glad you enjoy our recipes and that your son has a healthier snack =)
Just made these – so easy and delicious! Thanks for the recipe :)
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Gabby. 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
We used to buy protein “balls” from a meal prep store and thought they were OK. I was looking for something similar that I could make at home. I did not modify a thing when I made these. They took me all of 5 min to make and I brought some to my dad’s office as a surprise. My dad and husband LOVED these! I will be making these again soon! Thank you!
Yay! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Bethany! We’re so glad they both enjoy these!
Should we cook/bake the oat first or it is used just raw?
Raw
Great base recipe that can get creative with…different dried fruits, whatever nuts and seed that trip your trigger…love this, will make it often.
So glad you enjoy it, Mary! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
I work at 12 everyday. This morning, after working out and showering and getting ready, I realized I only had 25 minutes to make and eat some food before I had to be at work. I knew there was no way in heck I could swing that. So, I googled “15-minute vegan energy bites,” and because the Internet, and minimalist baker, is glorious, this was the first result. It took me less than 10 minutes to throw everything together, I popped it in the fridge, and finished some other things I had to do while they chilled. I took a bite and HOLY FRICK. These are good. I mean, REALLY, really, good. I, someone who does not even like sweet things in the morning (or ever) is sold. I not only have a way to start using my protein powder (smoothies are yuck), I have also found my new quick breakfast, as well as a snack for our upcoming road trip! Cheers to minimalist baker ??
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Courtney! So glad you enjoyed these! xo
Have u tried this recipe with quinoa flakes instead of oats?
We haven’t tried that, but it might work! The texture will likely be different and you may need to add additional sweetener or dried fruit to compensate for oats being sweeter. Let us know if you give it a try!
These are gorgeous. I used nip & nut cherry bakewell almond butter (sadly limited edition) that might have taken them to the next level!
How these could last in the fridge for a week is a mystery to me. I offered them to my kids and hubby and they are almost all gone. Next time I’ll do a double recipe and hide some so I can enjoy them for a few days :p
I made these with my toddlers and they were shoving the mix into their mouths before we could even get them formed into balls. We used dried cherries and raw almond butter plus a little pink Himalayan salt. Can’t wait to try with different fruits and/or cacao nibs. Great recipe and great for little kids!
Very tasty and very easy! I did not use the protein powder and otherwise followed the recipe, using raisins as the dried fruit since they were readily available. I must have been cautious with my scoops because I ended up with 18 balls, but I don’t see a problem with that! :) I’ve got 10 of them freezing, 7 in the fridge, and ate one right away to confirm they were good. They’ll be an awesome snack at work!
So flavorful, quick, and easy! I used the Bob’s Red Mill Vegan Vanilla Protein Powder (which I really like) and dark maple syrup. It ended up quite sweet, but still good. I’m storing the bites in the freezer because I like the frozen no-bakes texture.
These were so tasty and easy to make! So much cheaper than store-bought energy bites, too. Can’t wait to enjoy these for my morning snack during the week!
They taste delicious!
But I must be doing something wrong l, because they won’t hold together for me. I’ve tried adding additional almond butter and flax seed. Any suggestions!
Thanks!
Did you follow the recipe or make any changes?
I added a splash of water if the mixture started feeling dry while forming the balls. It really helped!
These energy bites are delicious! I didn’t have any dried fruit on hand, so instead I used organic dark chocolate chips. PB+chocolate is the best combo ever! Will definitely keep making these.
This is one of my kids and my favorite recipes ever! So good, so filling and so delish! Thanks
Yay!
I’ve used Quaker Instant oatmeal with Apple added some raisins and it worked great. Along with rest of ingredients it called for.
These are so GOOD. Next time I will make a double batch. I used golden raisins and omitted the protein powder and they tasted great! Dried strawberries so good (and more pb&j like). Where can I buy those?
Here!
Delicous and so easy!! I used peanut butter and dried cherries. Great combination.
Huge hit with my daughter so we have made them again and again….
Sweet and easy! I’m always looking for quick snacks in the morning when I’m on the go. If you love peanut better, this is the recipe for you!
I’ve made these twice and they turned out so well both times. I used natural peanut butter instead of the creamy stuff, added half a teaspoon of salt to make up for that sub, substituted honey for the maple syrup, and skipped the protein powder because I didn’t have any. The only thing I found was I had to keep them chilling in the fridge for a bit longer than 5 minutes, about 10 did the trick. They got pretty sticky once the mixture warmed up. That might have been because of the swaps I did. A great recipe, thanks!
Im so glad I found this recipe! Its always so exciting when you have all of the ingredients (or most) on hand already. I used raisins for the dried fruit but I didn’t have flaxseed meal but just added a little bit more Bobs Redmill protein powder and they were scrumptious! I was thinking of adding a couple balls to my almond banana shake in the morning too!
Thanks for all your great recipes!
Made these this weekend. I subbed dates for the syrup and tossed them in the food processor for a minute, then rolled them in hemp seeds for a little extra protein. They were so delicious and were perfect little energy boosts when we started flagging on our 17 mile hike! Thank you!!
I own a fitness studio and made these for all of my staff — everyone loved them! Perfect blend of salty and sweet, and love that we get protein in every bite. I’ll definitely be making these again.
I just gave this a go. So simple and delicious. Thanks ! :)
Just gave this recipe a go. Really simple and tasty. Thanks :)
Hi! Love your recipes :) Where do you find your dried strawberries? I can’t find them where I live and was wondering if you had a brand you like that I could order online. Thanks!
Hi! Most bulk stores have them! Alternatively, you could purchase online!
Loved these! Would be best to use fresher jar of almond/peanut butter as the oil would help these stick together better. I used the bottom of the jar, so these were a bit drier but were great when eaten straight from the fridge.
Just made these, and they are FABULOUS. Used Enjoy Life chocolate chips instead of fruit. My son and husband keep asking me for “one more”…..and then “just one more”…….and then “this is the last one”. Thanks for this fantastic recipe!
Aloha, Dana!
Great recipe to satisfy a sweet tooth!! I added dried cherries and some vegan chocolate chips… O.M.G! Also had to sub honey since I wrongly thought I still had maple syrup on hand. Came out delicious and I am super excited to try a bunch of variations in the near future!
Thanks again,
Alli
Yum! Definitely needed to add honey (we’re not vegan) to our batch :)
Just made these! Haven’t even formed into balls yet but I couldn’t resist trying them. Yum! I used Honey because we are not vegan and I added some dates I had left over. So easy and good!!!!
would it be possible to substitute honey for the maple syrup in this recipe? excited to try them out! :)
Hi Chelsea! That should work! If you give it a try, report back on how it goes! :D
Do yourself a favor and make these!!! Yes yes and yes. They are perfect. YUM!
I love these :) I just made these yesterday – they formed perfectly and taste amazing. I’m going to have one before my workout this evening and try one of your smoothies for afterward.
Awesome recipe!
These are my new favorite things in the entire world. You are a genius. Your recipes are like 80% of my diet. People say “oh it must suck to be dairy and wheat free” NOPE
I used half peanut butter, half almond butter. It’s delicious and so easy! Perfect little sweet snack at work!
Thank you. Simple & Delicious. I used Red Raspberry Preserves instead of dried fruit and a bit of honey instead of maple syrup .
Dana! You’re AWESOME! -from California :)
Just made these today with cranberries, Orgain vanilla protein powder, an for two tablespoons wheat germ (since was a little wet). They are amazing and will be a staple from now on! I agree with the person above regarding nutritional info – I think it’s a little under estimated…just FYI to anyone counting calories/points. They are too good!
This is certainly getting bookmarked for make to add to my daughters school lunches~ (okay, and mine as well)
So easy to make & very delicious! :)
Made these, and ever since, always have home-made power balls (that’s what we call them in our house) of some sort in the fridge ready to go. We use peanut butter or almond butter, lots of seeds and nuts, sometimes raisins, sometimes chocolate chips, vegan protein powder, coconut, honey or maple syrup…the combinations are endless. Thank you!
Dana, you have a way of making simple ideas work well. This is really fantastic. It’s pretty much a granola bar in ball form, if you think about it. I used to make your granola bar recipe all the time (with the toasted almonds and all), and it’s delicious but kind of a pain. This, while not quite as good because of the “fake” taste of the protein powder, is significantly easier to throw together (and I had all the ingredients in my pantry already). I will probably start making batches of these for my kids and me to use as quick snacks.
I used raisins and Bob’s Red Mill vanilla protein powder. I would probably prefer a different dried fruit but raisins are what I had :) I thought about using chocolate chips but there’s a certain element of oatmeal raisin cookie to them that I quite like. I followed the recipe exactly and did have to add a bit more PB and maple syrup to make them sticky enough. When I make more I’ll play around with the flavors — there are a lot of possibilities!
So good! Can’t wait to use these as my pre-workout this week. I’ve never used chia seeds or flaxseed meal and I considered just making these without them to save money, but I sprung for them and I’m glad I did. The chia seeds add a nice texture and neither of them affect the taste in any negative way. Definitely worth it for the protein boost. Question: Is it sufficient to store these in a tupperware container in the refrigerator?
Hi Emily! Yep – you can store them in a well-sealed container in the refrigerator for 1 week or in the freezer up to 1 month (or more) ..that is, if they make it to the freezer ;) Trust us, they’re GOOD! Happy No-Baking!
I made this with honey instead of maple syrup and they turned out delicious!
I didn’t have protein powder or wheat germ, but made them without those. I used dried cherries and added a handful of chocolate chips at the request of my son. We loved them! These are so much better than buying granola or protein bars! Thanks for another great recipe.
Oops I meant flax seed not wheat germ!
I’ve been enjoying these with my tea every afternoon at work-if I only bring one, I can’t over indulge! These are fabulous, love your recipes.
Just made them!!! DELICIOUS!!!! Cant stop eating :)
I love all your recipes! Thank you so much for sharing <3
Hi this recipe was fantastic! I added mashed banana and some dairy free chocolate chips and wow we all left it thanks so much for sharing!
I love this recipe! Only problem is I want to eat them all. What kind of peanut butter do you use? Yours came out smoother than mine, I’m curious what other brands to try.
Thank you soooo much for creating a recipe using the Vanilla Protein Powder! My plan is to make these PB and J Energy Bites this weekend for my “sugar-free” days next week! Okay, dried fruit and protein powder are technically sweet… but a step in the right direction! So glad you created this recipe using your chosen protein powder!
Hi Dana
Love your recipes! I don’t have flax seed meal could I subs chia instead? Or any Other options?
Thank you
Hi! Substituting the flax seed meal with more chia seeds should work! I haven’t tried it but if you do, let me know how it goes!
These were excellent! FYI – I used date syrup in place of maple syrup (exact same amount) and it worked perfectly.
Should I add salt if I am using unsalted peanutbutter?
I loved this recipe! I made it and everyone at home and at work really enjoyed it. It’s easy to make (it doesn’t get any easier than that, really!!), it’s quick, simple and healthy ingredients and it’s tasty!!
These bites look so delicious! Gotta get the almond butter instead of peanut butter! Thanks for the inspiration! :)
Fantastic as usual! Thank you Dana.
These are blowing my mind right now. I’ve ate 2 and want more…
I used almond butter and golden raisins.
Yaaaaaay! You made me an official recipe. I will definitely try this the next time I make energy bites. Thank you!
I made these bad boys last night, super easy and quick to throw together. I’m excited to give some other add on ingredients a try! Used Vanilla Vega Sport Performance protein powder and everything blended together very well. Another hit Dana!
Kids and adults will love this. This recipe is very easy and can be done by anybody. You will sure get your energy back with this small bites.
Just wanted to say I tried these out whilst out mountain biking and not only are they delish they do seem to sustain your energy as well.
Thanks
Just made these, love energy bites! I left out the dried fruit and used Vega One Chocolate, so they were more chocolate pb bites….delicious ?
My grandson managed to delete my detox guide after I signed up to receive emails. I unsubscribed in order to subscribe again, but nothing is happening. Could you please add me to your email list again and send me another detox guide? I use your everyday cooking book and love the recipes, thank you!
Hello, these look awesome! I was wondering if you have any Weight Watchers
with points, recipes.
Thank you,
Linda
I don’t currently. Sorry, Linda!
Very delicious, I love your recipe. It is easy to make and affordable.
– gustavo woltmann
My 3 year old couldn’t stop eating these ? But neither could I! ?
Excellent “problem.” :D
Thank you, Dana! We have been trying to eat down our pantry and this was perfect! My roommates and I recently merged homes, so we have like 3 jars of peanut butter with 1/4 cup left in 2 of them.
I served them as an evening snack with some leftover jellies, such as traditional grape. But blueberry was tasty as well as raspberry. Could almost roll these into balls then do the thumbprint which leaves a perfect place for a dollop of jelly to serve (idea cred to my roommate, d’A)
I also used vanilla flavored protein powder so it was super rich with the maple powder. Next time I will try to change the protein powder (or incorporate maca root powder?) or just add more peanut butter to tone down the sweetness.
We used golden raisins, so delicious!
I’m thinking next time I will try some chopped nuts of some sort .. almonds? Sunflower? Crunchy peanut butter would be great way to add texture too!
Was wondering if these are bake-able?
Cheers!
All of those subs sound awesome! Let me know how it goes. Not sure on baking them. They might just end up getting dry. But if you try it let me know!
Just whipped these up, delicious guilt free treat. Love all of your recipes ?
WOW these look absolutely awesome!
Made this with my 5 year old niece and she suggested adding sliced almonds and some
raisins and it was great! So easy – thank you!
Just made them they are healthy tasty and very delicious treats. I used maca powder and dried goji berries. It’s a super healthy treat packed with goodness.
Thanks for the recipe Dana.
Smart! I’ll have to try that next time!
Hi! I’m new to the site and love all of your recipes but for some reason when I go to print them they appear blank. I am a little technology challenged so any help would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.
Hmm, try refreshing the page. Also, it may depend on the browser you’re using. Try safari or chrome!
My little girls loved these like they were cookies ? So simple and healthy. I also made your curry lentil & potato soup the other day. My family loved both. So happy I found your site, I’ve recommended friends visit too.
Thank you!
These are absolutely amazing and very easy to make. Anyone to bakes/cooks often will have all of these ingredients in the cabinets! Perfect Vegan snack to add into my diet!
Read this and was instantly back in the kitchen. Delicious!
Looks so yummy!!
I’m about to sounds like a registered dietitian know-it-all, so I apologize in advance, ha ha!…
I think there might be a typo in the Nutrition Information with the grams of fat. Peanut butter + flax seeds + chia seeds will probably add up to more than 1.1g per 1 of 14 balls. I’m guessing a number got left out when you were typing the numbers into the recipe, that’s all! :)
Just wanted to help you make sure things are correct for all your other readers! :)
Now brb, gotta go make some balls.
I’ll double check, thanks!
I immediately thought the same thing… probably is supposed to say 11
Yummy! I added a teaspoon of flax, since I wasn’t too sure if I’d like the flavor. Next time I’ll add more. I have a lot of protein powder (SunWarrior: Vanilla) that I don’t regularly use, but with these protein balls I’ll definitely be using it now! I can’t wait to use it all up, and someday buy the Bob’s from your review!
Thanks for sharing, Katie!
Yum! Used pb2 powdered peanut butter and these turned out fantastic.
thanks for sharing your substitutions!
I forgot to rate it…5 stars definitely and so many variations possible. Is great for kids.
I cheated and through all of it in the food processor and then rolled in flax and hemp seeds. So good! The only problem is it’s hard to just eat 1:-)
Thanks Dana!
Ha! Agreed. Thanks for sharing, Pauline!
Just moments after I read this recipe, I was up at the cupboard, pulling out ingredients and pulling these together. Subbed hemp seed hearts for the flax meal, Vega greens, and the last of the raisins. Easy, awesome, and everything you could want in a treat. Well done, Dana!
So great! Thanks for sharing!
Just made half a batch with GF oats, dates, and chopped figs. SO YUMMY. tastes like pb cookie dough with figgy magic and Chia. thanks for the great snow day recipe!
Have no dried fruit on hand would be good with dates?
oh yeah!! chop them pretty fine and you’re good to go!
Im excited!! Thanks!!!