5-Minute Protein Peanut Butter Energy Bites (with 7g of protein!)
With four hungry kiddos at home, I have to make sure our house is always fully stocked with snacks. You never know when you’re going to hear “mama, I’m hungry!”
Between the 4 of them, it seems like it’s every 30 minutes.
That’s why I like to stock our freezer with easy, no bake peanut butter energy bites. Not only do they take just 5 minutes to make and pack 7g of protein, but they also taste JUST like peanut butter cookie dough. They’ve been my go-to for over a decade, and I know you’re going to love them.
Ingredients in peanut butter energy bites
These wonderful energy balls are loaded with some of my favorite things. They take 5 minutes tops and you have yourself a nutritious, homemade snack with healthy fats, omega-3s, and over 5g protein per serving!
- Peanut butter: I recommend using an all natural drippy creamy peanut butter with only peanuts + salt as the ingredients.
- Oats: be sure to use old-fashioned rolled oats, and if you’re gluten-free, be sure to use certified gluten-free rolled oats.
- Sweetener: a little honey gives them the perfect sweetness and that peanut butter cookie flavor.
- Nutritional boosters: we’re mixing in flaxseed meal, chia seeds, and protein powder to add healthy fats, fiber, protein, and vitamins. This makes them a great snack for nursing mamas and helps hold the bites together.
- Flavor boosters: a dash of cinnamon helps these taste like Teddy Grahams, I swear, and a little vanilla extract brings out their sweetness.
- Mini chocolate chips: because who doesn’t love a little chocolate in their life? Feel free to use vegan/dairy free chocolate chips if you’d like.
- Optional: I personally love to add unsweetened shredded coconut because I’m a coconut addict, but it’s definitely not necessary.
Optional ingredient swaps
- For the peanut butter: feel free to use almond butter or cashew butter. You can also keep them nut-free by using sunflower seed butter, which makes them a great snack for kiddos’ lunch boxes.
- For the honey: good news, you can also use maple syrup, coconut palm syrup, or date syrup in these energy bites! These sweeteners will also make the bites vegan.
- For the protein powder: use any type or brand that you like! I like to use collagen peptides.
Can I make them without protein powder?
Sure! These peanut butter protein balls should be just fine without protein powder. You may just need to add more oats if the mixture feels too wet.
Peanut butter energy bites in 3 easy steps
- Make the dough. Add all of the ingredients (besides the chocolate chips) to the bowl of a food processor, and pulse until well combined.
- Add the mix-ins. Add in the chocolate chips (and coconut if using) and pulse a few more times.
- Scoop & roll. Use a medium cookie scoop or your hands to grab dough and roll into balls. Enjoy soft as-is, or pop them in the fridge or freezer and enjoy chilled!
Can I make them without a food processor?
Absolutely! Here’s how:
- Add wet ingredients to a medium bowl, and mix to combine.
- Add in dry ingredients and mix together until combined. I usually have to use my hands to mix and work with the dough.
- At this point, you should be able to form balls that stick together. You may need to add a bit more nut butter and/or sweetener to help them stick together.
Want to make bars instead?
Instead of rolling the mixture into balls, press the energy bite “dough” into an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch loaf pan before placing it in the refrigerator. Cut into bars and enjoy!
Storing tips
- To store: these peanut butter energy bites will last for 1 week in an airtight container in the fridge.
- To freeze: feel free to add them to a freezer-safe bag or container and store them for up to 1 month. I prefer these energy bites straight from the freezer, and I’d recommend letting them soften up for about 5-10 minutes in the fridge or at room temp before eating them.
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I hope you love these protein peanut butter energy bites! If you make them, be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked them. Enjoy, xo!
The
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
5-Minute Protein Peanut Butter Energy Bites
by
No bake protein-packed peanut butter energy bites that taste like peanut butter cookie dough with an amazing chewy texture. These healthy peanut butter energy bites are loaded with nutritious ingredients like flaxseed, chia, and oats for the perfect snack to keep on hand!
Ingredients
- ½ cup (128 grams) natural drippy peanut butter (or sub almond butter)
- ¼ cup (84 grams) honey (or date syrup or coconut syrup)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup (27 grams) protein powder of choice*
- ⅓ cup (40 grams) flaxseed meal
- ½ cup (48 grams) rolled oats (gluten-free, if desired)
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips (vegan, if desired)
- Optional
- ¼ cup (21 grams) unsweetened shredded coconut
Instructions
-
In the bowl of a food processor, add in the peanut butter, honey, vanilla, protein powder, flaxseed meal, oats, cinnamon and chia seeds. Pulse together until well combined. Add in chocolate chips (and coconut if using) and pulse a few more times. Use a medium cookie scoop or your hands to grab dough and roll into 10 balls, place in an airtight container.
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To make without food processor: add wet ingredients to a medium bowl, mix to combine. Add in dry ingredients and mix together until combined. I usually have to use my hands to mix and work with the dough. At this point you should be able to form balls that stick together. Because all peanut butter/nut butter consistencies are different and depending on what protein powder you use, you may need to add in more nut butter or sweetener to help the balls stick together.
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Store in the fridge for up to 1 week, or the freezer for up to 2 months. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
To make nut-free: use sunflower seed butter.
See the full post for easy ways to customize these energy bites and even how to make them into bars!
Nutrition
Serving: 1energy biteCalories: 150calCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 7gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gFiber: 3gSugar: 8g
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on February 17th, 2016, republished on December 30th, 2019, republished on April 18th, 2023, and republished on August 25th, 2026.
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