These No-Bake Energy Bites take under 15 minutes, need just 4 ingredients, and taste like cookie dough—minus the sugar and butter.

Next time, try a variation like Oatmeal Energy Balls, Chocolate Energy Bites, or Chocolate Protein Balls.

No-Bake Energy Bites

No-Bake Energy Bites

I’m a huge proponent of having nutritious snacks around the house, and especially snacks that taste indulgent like a dessert!

These simple and healthful No-Bake Energy bites are just the thing — they take mere minutes to whip together and they’re packed with protein and healthy fats (which will keep you fuller for longer). Additionally, these bites of goodness are naturally sweetened with dates. They’re soft, chewy, and speckled with chocolate chips throughout.

Process shots-- blending the cashews and dates

Ingredients

Since there are only four ingredients in these bundles of tastiness, the ingredients you use really matter to the overall flavor of these bites.

  • Cashews: Roasted and salted add the best flavor—no extra work.
  • Dates: I use Deglet Noor by Sunsweet®. They sweeten and bind the bites. Leftovers? Try them in Granola Bars or Zucchini Muffins.
  • Vanilla: For that cookie dough flavor. Start small and adjust. Use pure vanilla, not imitation.
  • Mini chocolate chips: Dark chocolate adds richness and antioxidants.

Quick Tip

Only have raw cashews? Toast them on a lined sheet pan at 350°F for 8–10 minutes, stirring halfway, until fragrant (not burned). No salted cashews? Add a pinch of salt. The flavor of your cashews really makes or breaks these bites!

Process shots-- mixing the chocolate chips into the dough

No-Bake Energy Bite Tips

  • Check for pits. Even if the bag says “no pits,” double-check so you don’t break your machine.
  • Use soft dates. Hard ones won’t blend. Let them sit in hot water for 10–30 minutes, then dry them off.
  • Use a strong blender or chopper. This mix is thick and takes a little time to blend up.
  • Blend really well. Keep going until it’s smooth—no one wants hard pieces of cashew.
  • Add salt. If your cashews aren’t already salted, toss in a pinch or two. Even salted ones might need a little extra for big flavor.
  • Let it cool before adding chocolate chips. Blending warms up the mix. If it’s hot, the chips will melt. If you want melty bites, add them while it’s still warm!
No-Bake Energy Bites

No-Bake Energy Bite Storage

I like to snack on a few as I make them, then store some in the fridge and freeze any extras (if there are leftovers!).

  • To freeze: Place energy bites on a lined tray in the freezer. Once firm (1–2 hours), transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll keep for up to 6 months.
  • To thaw: Let sit at room temp for 15–30 minutes or microwave for 10–15 seconds.

More nutritious snacks

5 from 2 votes

No-Bake Energy Bites

No-Bake Energy Bites are a 4-ingredient, 15-minute treat that tastes like indulgent cookie dough but is packed with wholesome, nutritious goodness—no oven or microwave needed!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 10 small bites

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cashews dry roasted and salted (with sea salt), see note 1
  • 7 pitted Deglet Noor dates 1/3 cup, I like Sunsweet brand; you can find these in a grocery store by dried fruit, see note 2
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt optional

Instructions 

  • Add cashews to a very high-powered food processor or blender (you’ll need a miniature blender; I use the “twister jar” and my Blendtec) and pulse until crumbly, but not powdered.
  • Add all the dates and pulse until the mixture begins to turn into a thick dough. Add vanilla (if desired, add the pinch of salt here too) and pulse again until combined into a very thick and smooth mixture. (Take time to thoroughly blend to avoid unpleasant sharp chunks of cashews.)
  • Remove from blender or food processor and transfer to a bowl. Allow dough to slightly cool—it usually heats up quite a bit from being blended. Once cooled, gently stir in the chocolate chips.
  • Tightly kneading the mixture, roll into small bite-sized pieces—I get about 10–12 balls from this mixture.

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: I highly recommend roasted and salted cashews in these balls. If using raw cashews, the energy bites are lacking in flavor.
Note 2: The dates should be soft (old and hard dates won’t blend correctly). If they aren’t soft, soak them in water for 30 minutes, then thoroughly dry.
Storage: Transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge. To freeze, space the No-Bake Energy Bites on a lined plate or tray in the freezer. Once firm (about 1–2 hours), transfer to an airtight bag or freezer container. They last up to 6 months in the freezer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 164kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 161mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 13IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Meet Chelsea


Hello, and welcome to Chelseaโ€™s Messy Apron! Iโ€™m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. Iโ€™m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping byโ€”I hope you find something delicious to make!

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5 from 2 votes

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3 Comments

  1. Lowanda J says:

    5 stars
    I love the low prep for this healthy and tasty snack.

  2. Krystle says:

    5 stars
    Healthy cookie balls? Yes please. These look amazing!

    1. chelseamessyapron says:

      Thank you Krystle!