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
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.
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!
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 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
- Healthy Brownies with an optional chocolate frosting topping
- Granola Bars with dark chocolate and pistachios
- Immune Boosting Smoothie with ginger
- Soft-Baked Oatmeal Breakfast Bars with dark chocolate chunks
- Healthy Banana Muffins naturally sweetened with honey
No-Bake Energy Bites
Equipment
- Small blender or food processor
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
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I love the low prep for this healthy and tasty snack.
Healthy cookie balls? Yes please. These look amazing!
Thank you Krystle!