Energy Bites Make Ahead Mix
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One of the healthier homemade snacks I’ve been making a lot more lately are those little balls known as “energy bites”. Whether they truly give me any more energy I really don’t know, but what I do know is that I like having an alternative to satisfy a snack craving that doesn’t have any processed sugar in it and instead uses simple ingredients like oats, honey, and peanut butter.
Because I’ve been making energy bites more often, I found myself wishing for a shortcut to make the process go a little faster. I thought about making some more of the gift size jars for energy bites that I’ve made before, but I wanted something even a little faster than that. It was time for a larger sized make-ahead mix!
How To Make and Use The Energy Bites Mix Recipe
The recipe I created to make my own energy bites mix uses three simple dry ingredients:
4 cups of Quick Oats
1½ cups of Milled Flax Seed
2½ cups of Unsweeted Coconut Flakes
This makes enough to create four batches of energy bites and will fill two quart size mason jars. Ever since I discovered plastic storage caps for my mason jars, I use them all the time for storage of dry goods.
When it comes time to make a batch of energy bites, I mix it together by first combining:
1/2 cup Peanut Butter
1/3 cup Honey
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
and to that mixture I add in 1-3/4 cups of the dry mix
Then it’s time to customize!
I complete the process by choosing which of three different versions I want to make.
For a chocolate version I add in 1/4 cup of cocoa powder
For a chip version, I add in 1/3 cup of mini chips
For a dried fruit version, I add in 1/3 cup of golden raisins
The mixture then gets rolled into little balls to enjoy for snacking. Each batch yields about 20 energy bite balls.
There are probably more ways you could customize too. For instance:
~ I prefer to use the Enjoy Life brand of mini chips, but other types of small chips or candy pieces could be used.
~ I prefer golden raisins in my fruit version, but other dried fruits such as cranberries or blueberries could be used.
~ The chocolate version could be made into double chocolate if you add some mini chips to the mix too.
~ Sometimes I add a 1/4 teaspoon of almond extract to my dried fruit version.
~ Other nut butters could be used too such as almond butter or cashew butter.
~ I often use natural peanut butter and raw honey for more wholesome goodness.
And I’m sure you could come up with more ideas if you keep thinking too!
So far my make-ahead energy bites mix has indeed been a time saver. It may not seem like much to just have three ingredients mixed together ahead of time, but it truly can make a difference to at least have that part of the process done for you ahead of time. It can be just the little shortcut you need to feel like you have the time to stir up a healthy homemade alternative for snacking.
Make Ahead Mix For Energy Bites
Ingredients:
- 4 cups Quick Oats
- 1-1/2 cups Milled Flax Seed
- 2-1/2 cups Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
To make a batch of energy bites you will use the following:
- 1/2 cup Peanut Butter
- 1/3 cup Honey
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1-3/4 cups Energy Bite Mix
Three different flavor options by using one of the following add-ins:
- 1/4 cup Cocoa Powder for a chocolate version
- 1/3 cup Mini Chips for a chip version
- 1/3 cup Golden Raisins for a dried fruit version
Instructions:
- Combine the oats, flax seed, and coconut flakes in a large mixing bowl.
- Store the mixture in a covered container until ready to use. (I store mine in two quart size mason jars)
- To make a batch of energy bites combine the peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl and then stir in the 1-3/4 cups of the dry mix.
- Decide which flavor of energy bites you would like to make (chocolate version, chip version, or dried fruit version) by stirring in one of the flavor add-ins.
- Then roll the mixture in small balls. Each batch should make about 20 energy bites.
You might also like to try:
You can also use Sesame butter like Sunbutter for those allergic to nuts like I am.
Yes, that’s definitely a substitution you can make. Thanks for sharing that info for those that have nut allergies!