Easy & Healthy No-bake Peanut Butter Snack Bites
As we head toward the new year, like many of you, I’m looking at ways to make family meals healthier. I love to bake for my little crew, and most of the time I do pretty well at using whole, natural ingredients, but there are busy weeks when that gets especially difficult, and we end up with store-bought granola bars and cookies in the house. I’m re-committing to moving away from that, and these no-bake snack bites are a great start. They’re rich in protein, fiber, antioxidants and omega-3s, and just sweet enough to satisfy a sweet tooth. They’re also gluten free and dairy free, and if you have a peanut allergy in the house, you can swap the peanut butter for almond butter. So they’re totally versatile.
The original recipe came from my dear friend Sarah, and I’ve been making them ever since. I’ve tweaked them just a bit to make them even healthier with raw honey or pure maple syrup, chocolate that’s 70% cacao and organic nut butter, but the basic flavor and ingredient list remains the same.
Even though I’m about to start posting Christmas cooking and baking recipes, I figured these were worth some attention. I don’t know about you, but I try to keep my sweet tooth at bay during the holidays, and these are a perfect way to do that.
These take literally five minutes in the mixer, 10 minutes to scoop and roll, and 30 minutes in the refrigerator to firm up. They’re totally portable, too, and it’s easy to grab a few to take along when you’re on the go.
No-bake Peanut Butter Snack Bites
1 cup whole oats (gluten free if needed)
1/2 cup organic peanut butter or almond butter
1/3 cup raw honey or pure maple syrup (if the honey is solid, warm it a little to soften it)
1/4 cup shelled sunflower seeds or chopped nuts (almond, pecans, or walnuts)
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (70% cacao) or coarsely chopped dark chocolate
Place all ingredients except the chocolate in the bowl of a stand mixer, and mix on medium-low until thoroughly combined.
Add the chocolate chips and mix again, just briefly, until fully incorporated.
Use a small cookie scoop or a spoon to scoop out 1-inch balls of the mixture.
Roll between your palms to make the spheres firm and solid. Refrigerate 30 minutes to firm up.
Will keep in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks, sealed in an airtight container. Can also be frozen.
Makes about two dozen bites.
Here’s the printable recipe. Happy snacking!
