Energy Bites with SunButter and Agave Nectar

In honor of the New Year, I am sharing a healthy recipe for energy bites that is a staple in our house.  Bite-sized balls made with sunflower seed butter (SunButter) and an assortment of healthy ingredients. By using Enjoy Life chocolate chips and SunButter, the snack is peanut, soy and dairy free.  And, chocolate is involved. Bonus for me: there is no cooking involved. So, everyone is happy.

Don’t they look moist and yummy? You’d never guess that these energy bites are packed with so many healthy ingredients.

We always have the ingredients on hand. Hiding behind the SunButter jar is Agave Nectar. This ingredient is a recent introduction to the recipe. I’m trying to use more of this sweetener. (It is one of my New Year’s resolutions.)  I am introducing it slowly to the rest of the family. Instead of using 1/3 cup of honey, I used a 1/3 measuring cup and filled it about half full of honey and about half full of Agave Nectar. So far, this change has gone undetected.

Add all the dry ingredients to a bowl and mix. Then, add all the wet ingredients and mix. Now, put the bowl in the refrigerator so the dough will stiffen up a bit. And, as is the case with so many good things, wait…for about 30 minutes. Yay! I got to lick the spoon this time.

When the timer goes off, you are ready to make the bite-sized treat. Pictured  is my favorite tool for this job, a little 1 teaspoon scoop. You can make them any size. But, I find this size works nicely.

By the way, the recipe should yield about 40 balls, which for those counting points works out to be about 2 points on Weight Watchers. Lest you wonder how I could spend 2 whole points on such a small treat, let me tell you that they are very satisfying. But, I do generally have a small piece of fruit as well and quickly put the others away.

The finished product will look like this. Disclaimer: It takes a bit of work to make all the little bite-sized pieces. So, I’m always very grateful when my sweet daughter does this for me. I’m also told she makes them more compact. (Confession: you can leave the unrolled dough in the refrigerator for days and make them up as you need them.)

The batch of energy bites pictured won’t last long in our house!

Print

Energy Bites with SunButter and Agave Nectar

Prep Time

10 mins

Total Time

10 mins

 

These bite-sized, no bake treats pack a punch with a cast of healthy ingredients. Vegan and peanut, soy, egg and dairy free!

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Servings: 40 teaspoon-sized balls

Calories: 59 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 cup Oatmeal regular, not instant
• 1/2 cup Flax Seed ground
• 1/2 cup Mini Chocolate Chips
• 1/3 cup Coconut Flakes sweetened
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1/2 cup SunButter
• 1/3 cup honey and/or Agave Nectar light

Instructions

1. Add first 4 ingredients to a bowl and combine.
2. Add last 3 ingredients to bowl with dry ingredients and combine.
3. Refrigerator dough for 30 minutes.
4. Roll dough into small bite-sized balls.

Recipe Notes

Store energy bites in the refrigerator.
Wheat germ can be used in place of flax seed.
Dried fruit can be added to the mix too!

 

 

Nutrition Facts

Energy Bites with SunButter and Agave Nectar

Amount Per Serving

Calories 59 Calories from Fat 27

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 3g 5%

Sodium 2mg 0%

Potassium 28mg 1%

Total Carbohydrates 6g 2%

Sugars 3g

Protein 1g 2%

Vitamin A 0.1%

Vitamin C 0.1%

Calcium 1.2%

Iron 2.2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.