This recipe is as easy as it gets. No baking or cooking required. Just mix, form into balls and freeze. Energy bites make the perfect sweet and nutritious snack and are incredibly satisfying. They are loaded with whole grains, fiber and plant-based protein.
Here is a brief video showing you how easy these are to make:
Here is a breakdown of the health benefits in the three main ingredients:
- Quinoa offers plant-based protein and important minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, copper, zinc and iron. For a complete guide on quinoa, see my post on Quinoa Benefits for Vegans (+ Recipes).
- Oats are higher in protein and healthful fats and lower in carbohydrates than most other whole grains. They provide dietary fiber and help you feel fuller longer, which helps control your weight and can help lower blood pressure and LDL “bad” cholesterol. Their soluble fiber also helps control blood sugar.
- Sunflower seed butter provides plant-based protein and heart healthy dietary fiber. It is an excellent source of vitamin E, folate, copper, magnesium, phosphorus and selenium. It is also a good source of vitamin B6, iron and zinc.
The energy bites are flavored with a touch of maple syrup, vanilla and cinnamon. Everyone can enjoy these energy bites because they are nut-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free and vegan.
I store these in the freezer and grab one or two when I need a pick me up. They definitely satisfy my sweet tooth too and could be used as an after dinner treat. They never last long in my household and my three year old loves to make these with me.
I hope you enjoy these energy bites as much as we do! If you give them a try please comment below or tag me in a pic on social media (@eatingbyelaine) so I can see your energy bites.
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No-Bake Quinoa Energy Bites
- Total Time: 10 mins
- Yield: 12 1x
Description
Quinoa, oats and sunflower seed butter combine to create yummy and nutritious energy bites to power you through any "hangry" moment. They are gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, soy-free and nut-free.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked white quinoa (completely cooled or refrigerated) - see my post on How to Make Perfectly Cooked Quinoa
- 1 cup quick cooking oats (gluten-free if desired)
- ¼ cup sunflower seed butter (refrigerated)*
- ⅓ cup mini vegan chocolate chips
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Line a small baking sheet with wax or parchment paper and set aside.
- Combine all ingredients in a medium sized mixing bowl. Stir until well incorporated.
- Using your hands, roll the mixture into individual small balls. The recipe makes about 12 energy bites that are approximately 1.5 inches in diameter. But any size will do.
- Place the small balls onto the lined baking sheet and place in the freezer for 4 hours or overnight. Enjoy straight out of the freezer. I sometimes wait a minute or two to let them thaw out a bit so they are not too hard. But don't leave them out too too long or they will start to get mushy. Still delicious though!
Notes
* I used Once Again organic sunflower seed butter which is slightly sweetened with organic sugar cane and flavored with a touch of salt. It is gluten-free certified, non GMO verified, certified organic, vegan, kosher and paleo. Once Again sunflower seed butter is also Fair Trade and uses sustainable standards for their farm-partners, supplier and prices.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Category: Snack
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