no-bake PB oat energy bites

These no-bake treats are perfect for after-school snacks, post workout pick-me-ups, or team snacks. They're loaded with healthy ingredients and delicious to boot. Just don't eat too many - they pack around 125 calories each.

We made ours in a stand mixer (naturally), which allows you to easily combine tough-to-mix ingredients and double your recipe without wearing out your mixing elbow. The entire measuring and mixing process took less than 10 minutes. After a 30 minute cooling period, the balls came together in about 5 minutes.

Pictured are our selected combinations, based on what we had on hand. Almond butter-chia-almond-golden-raisin; almond butter-chia-coconut-mini chocolate chip; and almond butter-cranberry-white chocolate.

You can substitute your favorites and develop your own combinations using whichever ingredients you find in your pantry. These are gluten-free if you used an oat brand certified as such (Bob's Red Mill makes one) and can also be nut-free with a butter substitution.
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ingredients

• 3/4 cup rolled, old-fashioned oats
• 1/2-3/4  cup quick oats
• 2 tablespoons “healthy mix-ins” (chia seeds, ground flax seeds or hemp seeds) or additional rolled oats
• 1/2 cup nut butter of choice (we used almond butter)
• 1/3 cup sticky liquid sweetener of choice (honey or maple syrup)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• rounded 1/2 cup mix-ins (see below for some options)

SUGGESTED RECIPE COMBINATIONS

• Any nut butter, honey, 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• Peanut butter, honey, 3 tablespoons chocolate chips, 3 tablespoons chopped peanuts, 2 tablespoons raisins

• Almond or cashew butter, honey, 1/4 cup dried cranberries, 1/4 cup white chocolate chips

• Replace 1/2 cup of the oatmeal with 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes, almond butter, any sweetener, 1/4 cup chocolate chips, 1/4 cup chopped almonds

• Any nut butter, any sweetener, 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, ADD 2 tablespoons cocoa powder

• Almond or cashew butter, maple syrup, 1/2 cup raisins, ADD 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

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directions

1. In your mixer bowl, combine all ingredients except for the add-ins (chips, fruit) and mix on low speed until combined. Finished dough will be slightly sticky and should easily form into a ball. If the mixture seems too loose/soft, add up to 1/4 cup of quick oats to firm the dough. If it is too dry, add a little more nut butter.
2. Add mix-ins on low speed until combined.
3. Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes to allow moisture to soften ingredients like chia seeds and make it easier to ball.
4. Using a smaller cookie scoop (we used a 1.5 Tablespoon scoop), portion out dough and roll into 1-inch balls. Roll in extra add-ins to make prettier, if desired.
5. Refrigerate in a sealed container up to 2 weeks or freeze up to 3 months.

For nut allergies: In place of the almond or peanut butter, try sunflower seed butter.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: One ball = one serving. For the chocolate chip peanut butter version: Calories: 123, Total Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 27mg, Carbohydrates: 16g, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 9g, Protein: 3g. 
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