These Almond Butter Energy Balls, or Almond Butter Energy Bites are the easiest and tastiest healthy snacks to throw together – just a handful of pantry staples, a few minutes of stirring, and zero oven time.
These no bake energy balls are made with good, healthy ingredients like old-fashioned oats, chia seeds, and creamy almond butter, and these bite-sized oat energy balls will actually keep you full for a while, unlike some snacks that just give you a sugar rush!
Don’t have almond butter on hand? No problem at all. Swap it for peanut butter and you’ve got yourself Peanut Butter Energy Bites instead! Same easy method, same great texture, just a different nut butter.
Why This Almond Butter Energy Bites recipe Works
With summer coming to a close, kids are heading back to school, summer vacations are wrapping up, and life is getting busier. Which means the meal-prepping life is coming back in full force.
Besides meal prepping, I also like to prep ahead healthy snacks like these Almond Butter Energy Bites, because they come in handy when you need a quick-grab-and-go to fill your tummies before meal time.
These bite-sized almond butter energy balls are so convenient that I make a big batch and keep them in the fridge, or drop them into little baggies for my husband to bring to work. They’re also perfect for kids’ lunch boxes.
I’ve made these no bake energy bites for many years and so it’s been tested by time, and lots of trial and errors. Here’s why this recipe works:
- They hold together well – with the right amount of almond butter and honey, these no bake energy balls stay together.
- They require no cooking and just a few simple ingredients, so they come together really easily.
- They’re made with good ingredients like almond butter, raisins, and chia seeds, which is nutrient dense, keep you full, and actually make you feel good about eating it!
- They’re delicious – we don’t settle for anything less than delicious around here. 😉
- They’re so convenient! Bite-sized, so they store well in the fridge or freezer, and they make the best grab-and-go snack.
Kitchen Tools
- Mixing bowl: Large enough to comfortably stir all the ingredients together without spilling.
- Spatula or sturdy spoon: For mixing the oats, nut butter, and honey until everything is evenly combined.
- Tablespoon or small cookie scoop: For portioning the mixture into even-sized balls.
- Airtight container or zip-top bag: For storing the finished energy balls in the fridge or freezer.
Ingredients
- Old-fashioned oats: The base of the recipe. They give these oat energy balls their chewy texture and hold everything together. Use certified gluten-free oats if needed. Other types of oats like rolled oats work too. Avoid using instant oats.
- Almond butter (or peanut butter): Binds the mixture and adds protein and creaminess. Use a well-stirred, creamy nut butter rather than one that’s separated or oily.
- Honey: A natural sweetener that also adds stickiness to help everything hold its shape.
- Raisins: Naturally sweet and chewy. Any dried fruit works here if you’d rather swap it out.
- Chia seeds: Add fiber, a little crunch, and a nutrition boost. Ground flaxseed is a good substitute.
- Vanilla extract: Rounds out the flavor and keeps the mixture from tasting flat.
How to Make Almond Butter Energy Bites
Step 1: Combine the mixture
In a large mixing bowl, combine your old-fashioned oats, almond butter (or peanut butter), honey, raisins, chia seeds, and vanilla extract.
Use a spatula or sturdy spoon to mix everything together until no dry oats remain and the mixture looks evenly combined.
Step 2: Chill
Cover the bowl and pop it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. This isn’t a step you want to skip – chilling firms up the mixture so it’s much easier to roll and holds its shape better once formed.
Step 3: Roll into balls
Once chilled, scoop out about a tablespoon of mixture at a time and roll it between your palms into a 1.5-inch ball. Repeat until the mixture is gone – you should end up with about two dozen no-bake energy balls.
Step 4: Store
Serve right away, or transfer the balls to an airtight container and store them in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to snack.
And that’s it! One of my favorite homemade snacks that is so easy to make!
I love prepping ahead and having good-quality snacks such as these almond butter energy bites in the fridge, actually knowing what are the ingredients that make up these munchies, and being able to actually enjoy my munchies because they taste so dang good.
Variations and Substitutions
Make these almond butter energy bites your own! Here are other ingredients you can add or use in place of the ingredients listed:
- Peanut butter, cashew butter or other nut butter: Swap 1-for-1 for almond butter for classic peanut butter energy bites.
- Sunflower seed butter: A great nut-free option if you’re avoiding tree nuts and peanuts.
- Maple syrup: Use instead of honey for a vegan-friendly version.
- Gluten-free oats: Use certified gluten-free old-fashioned oats to keep this recipe gluten-free.
- Ground flaxseed: Use instead of chia seeds for a similar texture and nutrition boost.
- Dried fruit: Swap raisins for dried cranberries, cherries, blueberries, or chopped dates.
- Chocolate chips: Fold in mini chocolate chips for a sweeter, kid-favorite version.
- Coconut flakes: Add unsweetened coconut flakes for extra texture and flavor.
- Spices and seasoning: Stir spices such as ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, cocoa powder, sea salt for some extra flavoring.
Make Ahead and Storage
Make ahead: These almond butter energy balls are an ideal make-ahead snack – the mixture takes minutes to stir together and can be rolled and stored well ahead of when you actually need them.
Refrigerator: Store rolled energy balls in an airtight container or zip-top bag in the fridge for up to 1-2 weeks. Keeping them cold helps them hold their shape – avoid overcrowding or crushing them in the container.
Freezer: These freeze beautifully. Store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months, and let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes before eating.
Tips and Tricks
Almond butter energy balls are about as low-effort as snacks get, but a few small tweaks make them come out perfectly every time – here’s what I’ve learned from making batch after batch.
- Chill before rolling: Don’t skip the refrigeration step – it firms up the mixture so it’s much easier to shape and holds together better.
- Use a tablespoon scoop: Keeps every ball roughly the same size, so a batch bakes… er, chills evenly and looks tidy.
- Wet your hands slightly: Prevents the sticky mixture from clinging to your palms while rolling.
- Adjust if it’s too dry: Add another small spoonful of almond butter or honey and mix again until it holds together.
- Adjust if it’s too sticky: Add a tablespoon or two more oats until the texture firms up.
- Warm stubborn nut butter: If your almond or peanut butter is thick and hard to stir in, microwave it for about 10-15 seconds first.
- Press in mix-ins: Feel free to press on chocolate chips or coconut flakes as mix-in’s into the outside of each ball after rolling.
- Store cold right away: These no bake energy bites lose their shape and get soggy at room temperature, so refrigerate immediately if you’re not eating them right away.
- Double the batch: Since almond butter energy balls freeze so well, it’s worth mixing up a double batch and freezing half for later.
Frequently Asked Questions
They can be. Oats are naturally gluten-free, but they’re often processed in facilities that also handle wheat, so use certified gluten-free oats if you need this recipe to be gluten-free.
Nope, that’s the best part. This is a completely no-bake energy bites recipe – no oven required, just mix, chill, and roll.
Yes, they freeze really well. Store them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months and let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes before eating.
This usually means it needs a little more moisture. Add another small spoonful of almond butter or honey and mix again until it holds together.
Add a few more oats, a tablespoon at a time, until the texture firms up. Chilling the mixture longer also helps.
Yes, you can leave them out or swap in ground flaxseed instead – both add nutrition, but neither is essential to the recipe holding together.
About a tablespoon of mixture per ball, rolled to roughly 1.5 inches in diameter, works well – this recipe yields about two dozen at that size. However, you can roll it smaller or larger based on your preferences.
Definitely. They’re bite-sized, not too sweet, and hold up well in a lunch box or bag for a few hours without refrigeration.
ENJOYED THIS RECIPE? Tell us what you think by leaving a rating and review below! 🤍
More Fun Snacks!
If you love no-bake energy balls as much as I do, don’t stop here. Try one of these next:
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola
- Everything Bagel Pigs in the Blanket
- Sausage and Cheese Puff Pastry Pockets
- Rosemary Cashews (by Kathleen at The Fresh Cooky!)
No Bake Almond Butter Energy Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup almond butter or peanut butter
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 cup raisins or dates
- 2 tbsp chia seeds or flex seeds
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients above in a large bowl. Using a spatula, mix everything up.
- Cover bowl with saran wrap and leave in refrigerator for up to an hour.
- Remove bowl from refrigerator (mixture should have harden slightly). Using a spoon, scoop ~ 1 tbsp of mixture and use hand to form it into a ~1.5inch diameter round ball shape. Repeat untill mixture is gone – should yield about 2 dozen energy balls.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container or ziplock bag in fridge or freezer for later. Enjoy!
What a delicious way to pack some energy into your day!
It is yummy indeed!!! 😀
These energy bars are absolutely delicious. I doubled the recipe using raisins in one and dates in the other and in one I put honey, and the other maple syrup. Mixed them all together to make one batch and it was a big hit. I get low blood sugar, and just having one of these helps immensely. Sooooooooo goooooood
Yum!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
How many are for a serving size?
1 ball per serving size.
Delicious!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed this recipe 🙂
I love this recipe. I used dark chocolate morsel instead of raisins. Delicious 😋
Thank you so much, Renee! Glad to hear that!
Me and my family loved it except for my brother cuz he doesn’t like or try anything I make cuz he’s a hater but this is the best thing of sweetness I’ve ever made or eaten thank you
I’m glad you and your family enjoyed the recipe!