Oat Almond and Date Energy Bites

What you’ll need to make these oat almond energy bites

Energy bites are forgiving. You can mix and match ingredients with ease, but to stay true to this recipe, you’ll need the following:

• Oats — Are a great source of protein and fiber for this easy snack.
• Almonds — Add richness, but any other nut can be used.
• Medjool dates — These add natural sweetness to the energy bites and help them stick together.
• Unsweetened coconut flakes — Contribute added texture and taste.
• Chia seeds — Add more fiber and omega-3 healthy fats to the bites.
• Pepitas — Incorporate some healthy fats.
• Cinnamon — Adds flavor and can be augmented with other sweet baking spices.
• Salt — A pinch of sea salt helps the flavors pop.
• Maple syrup — Helps to bind the bites together and adds a touch of additional sweetness. Honey can be swapped if preferred.
• Chocolate chips — Optional, but makes these energy bites a bit more like dessert!

The result is a nicely balanced snack that’s rolled into bite-sized pieces for easy snacking.

How to make oat date and almond energy bites

Add all the ingredients to a food processor except the maple syrup. Pulse until finely chopped and starting to stick together.

With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the maple syrup. The mixture should start to clump and form a ball. If you try to pinch it between your fingers, it will stick together easily. If not, add a touch more maple syrup until it does.

Remove the blade from the bowl of the food processor and transfer the mixture to a bowl. If using chocolate chips, add them to the bowl and fold in until incorporated. Roll into balls using your hands.

What if the dates are hard?

If your Medjool dates have been sitting around in the pantry for some time, there’s a good chance they may have hardened. Don’t throw them out! 

Simply add the dates to a small bowl with some warm water. Let them soak for 5-10 minutes until softened. They should be soft and pliable.

How to store energy bites

The bites are best stored in an air-tight container and kept in the fridge for up to a week. For anything longer than that, keep them in the freezer. They will defrost quickly at room temperature, so you’re able to snack on them any time.

They’re a great lunch box addition for kids. Pop them into their lunch in the morning from the freezer, and they’ll be ready for them by lunchtime.

Other variations

The different ways in which you can make energy bites like these are practically endless. From making small changes like adding vanilla extract or another dried fruit to a complete revamp by using chickpeas as the base for a cookie dough bite, there’s an energy bite for every palate.

Kids love these peanut butter chocolate chip balls or copycat Butterfinger dough balls. Chocolate lovers will gravitate towards no-bake brownie fudge balls, and I’m personally partial to the cherry chocolate combination in these balls.

The basic science of a good energy bite is a binding base such as oats, a bunch of add-ins such as nuts and seeds and then some sweetness and flavor from a dried fruit. 

Play around and make them your own, but when you’re looking for something simple with ingredients you know you have on hand, you can’t beat these oat and almond bites made with dates.