Oat and Nut Energy Bites (No-Bake)

Oat and Nut Energy Bites No-Bake are healthy, nutty, sweet, crunchy, and perfect for a quick snack. After making these energy balls, there is no need to buy store-bought energy bars. These energy bites are full of oats, walnuts, dates, and they are sugar-free.

Jump to:

• About Oat and Nut Energy Bites
• Ingredients
• For the Hard or Dry Dates
• Step by Step Directions
• Variations
• More Healthy Recipes
• Recipe Card

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About Oat and Nut Energy Bites

I like to make different types of energy balls or bars at home. They are easy and quick to make, and we can totally control what goes into the recipe. Homemade energy bites instantly provide energy and satisfy those mid-day hunger pangs.

And because they are sweet, I love to have them for my sweet craving. Whenever I feel like eating chocolate, I would instead grab one of these bites, and I will not think of chocolate again. My hubby, too, often craves something sweet, and this type of energy bites are his favorite too.

Flavor: No-Bake Oat and Nut Energy Bites are sweet with dates and maple syrup. They are also nutty and full of earthy flavors with oats and walnuts.

Texture: They are soft, tender, and have some crunch because of coarsely ground oats and walnuts. 

Straightforward: Making these energy bites is very easy and quick. With few ingredients, we can make something very healthy, sugar-free, and preservative-free. To make energy balls or bites or bars, all we need is a food processor. If you don’t own a food processor, no worries, a blender can do the work.

Ingredients

1. Oats: I have used old-fashioned rolled oats for this recipe. They are my personal favorite. But if you prefer quick oats or you have them in your pantry, go with quick oats. Roasting oats will give a nice crunch to the energy bites, and I will recommend not to skip this step.
2. Walnuts: I love the way walnuts taste with dates, and it enhances the earthy flavor with oats. But you can also use another choice of nuts, like pecans or hazelnuts. Or use mixed nuts as I have used in this energy ball recipe, Date Energy Balls / Healthy Date Energy Bites. Roasting nuts make them crisp and intensify the flavor of nuts. So lightly dry roasting walnuts will make a nice difference in the taste. But if you prefer raw walnuts, skip the step of dry roasting.
3. Dates: I have used Medjool dates to make these energy bites. They are more naturally sweetened than other varieties. And they are large, juicy, and very soft. But you can use your favorite variety of dates.
4. Cocoa Powder: I like a hint of chocolate in my energy balls. Two tablespoon of cocoa powder only provides mild chocolate flavor. But if you want them very chocolatey, add more cocoa powder.
5. Maple Syrup: Maple syrup adds sweetness and a pleasant earthy flavor. However, if you are okay with mildly sweet oat and nut energy bites, you can skip adding maple syrup. On the contrary, if you prefer them very sweet, add more maple syrup. Or add another natural sweetener like honey or agave syrup.
6. Hemp Seeds: Hemp seeds are very nutritious and rich in healthy fat, protein, and various minerals. I love including them in my smoothies and energy bars. If you don’t have them, skip, or use other seeds of choice.

For the Hard or Dry Dates

• If your dates are hard or dry, that’s okay. But do not use them as it is.
• Soak hard or dry dates in warm water for at least 15-20 minutes.
• After soaking them, completely drain the water, and then use them in the recipe.

Step by Step Directions

• Heat a frying pan, add oats, and dry roast them on medium heat for 5-7 minutes. 
• Remove from the pan and set aside to cool.

• In the same pan, add walnuts and dry roast them on medium heat for 4-5 minutes.
• Remove from the pan and set aside to cool.

• Once oats and walnuts are cooled, add them into a food processor attached with an S-shaped blade.

• Grind the oats and walnuts until they are coarsely ground.
• If you like smooth energy balls without crunch, grind the oats and nuts until they turn into almost like a powder consistency.

• To this add dates, cocoa powder, maple syrup, hemp hearts, and sea salt.

• Process until everything is well combined, stick together, and becomes almost like a dough.
• If it is not coming together or is a little dry, add one or two tablespoon of water.

• Scoop the dough with your hand, a tablespoon or a small ice cream scoop, and form it into small balls using your hands.
• If it is too sticky and hard to form balls, lightly grease your palm with coconut oil or any other neutral oil.
• Roll each ball into crushed walnuts (optional) for extra crunch.
• Enjoy the date energy balls right away or store them into an airtight container and place them in the fridge for up to two weeks and in the freezer for up to a month.

Variations

The advantage of making energy balls at home is that we can make them as per our preferences and availability of ingredients. You can add more elements or exclude some from the recipe. You can bring variations to this recipe as following:

• Instead of walnuts, we can use other nuts like pecans or hazelnuts. Or add 1 cup of mixed nuts, like almonds, cashews, and walnuts.
• Use honey or agave syrup instead of maple syrup, or if you are okay with mildly sweet energy balls, skip adding any sweetener.
• You can also add more seeds like chia seeds, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds, along with hemp hearts. 
• Instead of cocoa powder, adding chocolate chips is a good alternative,  and for a healthier option, add cacao nibs.
• Add unsweetened shredded coconut into the mixture, or just roll the balls into desiccated coconut.

So I hope you will like this recipe and if you make it, please leave your comment. You can also easily rate the recipe in the recipe card below.

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