These oat and nut butter energy bites are the protein snack recipe my family and clients request again and again. Not too sweet, endlessly customizable, and ready in minutes.

Plate of oat and nut butter energy bites with chocolate chips on top – no-bake protein snack recipe made with oats, nut butter, and honey.

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Let’s Make it!

Long Lives This Protein Snack Recipe

I first met energy bites when Tiffany submitted her recipe for my Sunday meal prep class and series I led back in my gym food-writing days. At first, I thought of these bite-sized peanut butter balls only as my pre- or post-workout snack. But then my kids found them, and suddenly I was making rules on how many one could eat in a day so we’d still have some left by Tuesday.

That’s when I realized two things: one, I can make a double batch easily. Two, this no-bake recipe is a great one to teach my older kids to make—both for life skills (yes, one child made this recipe in college) and also, I look for ways we as a family can share the cooking load.

Since then, these bites have built their own fan club. Postpartum clients request double batches. Protein lovers ask for them weekly. Peanut butter people (with or without chocolate chips) never say no. Need a little something before you drink your first cup of coffee? This. Somehow, they always fit the need.

No matter how many versions I try, this is the protein snack recipe I keep coming back to. Give it a try and tell me if it sticks for you, too.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Peanut butter – Santa Cruz no-stir creamy is the best!
Honey + vanilla + chocolate chips
Unsweetened coconut flakes – shreds work too!
Gluten-free old-fashioned oats – not instant
Ground flaxseed meal – we make sure it’s GF (Celiac here!)
Unflavored collagen peptides – my preference over protein powder!

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Hands shaping oat and nut butter energy bites from a mixing bowl with oats and chocolate chips – step-by-step protein snack recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Protein Snack Recipe

QUICK, KID-FRIENDLY, AND NO BAKE – You can make these in one bowl and in less than 30 minutes. Everyone I know loves them!
EASY TO DOUBLE OR TRIPLE – Make them once and decide how far they go for you or yours.
CUSTOMIZABLE – Don’t love peanut butter as much as me? Try any nut butter. With less honey than most recipes, they are not too sweet to me. But if you want to go easy on the chocolate chips, you can top them with one or skip them altogether.

Oat and nut butter energy bite with a chocolate chip on top, held with tongs – no-bake protein snack recipe

Prep Time15

Rolling10

Total Time25

Servings: 18

Ingredients

2 cups gluten-free old-fashioned oats
1 1/3 cups unsweetened coconut flakes – We use these coconut flakes or shreds.
1/3 cup honey You can use maple syrup if you'd like a vegan option.
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup organic creamy peanut butter – We love Santa Cruz peanut butter. Stir before you measure unless you get Santa Cruz No Stir Peanut Butter.
1/3 cup organic ground flaxseed – We use Bob's Red Mill Organic Gluten-Free Ground Flaxseed Meal.
4 scoops collagen peptides (or 1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons) – We use plain and unsweetened collagen peptides such as Vital Proteins, or I often buy Thrive Market's peptides for a great price. (Peptides are also called collagen protein powder or hydrolysate.)
1 tablespoon water, more as needed 1 teaspoons at a time
1/3 – 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips These are my favorite gluten-free chocolate chips!

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine all oats, collagen, and flaxseed with a large spoon. Then add honey, vanilla, and peanut butter.
Combine the peanut butter and honey with the dry ingredients until everything is mixed well. (We either use really clean hands or food-safe gloves!) Mix in chocolate chips last.
Alternatively, you can combine all ingredients in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. (A whisk attachment will be too weak to mix the sticky and thick ingredients.)
Mix until everything is just combined. If the mixture seems too dry, add another splash of water.
Pull a golf ball-sized amount from the energy bite mixture, about 1 1/2 tablespoons. Then press and roll into a ball. They can be as big as you like, but I usually make them a little over an inch in diameter.
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Equipment

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Notes

Do you want to add nuts, dried fruit, or seeds instead of chocolate chips? You can either mix them in before rolling or press them into the top when finished. For example, sometimes I like just one or two chocolate chips on top instead of mixed in.

Nutrition

Servings :

Author: Heather Bursch

Keywords: energy bites, gluten-free, no-bake, protein balls, protein snack

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These oat + nut butter energy bites are just one of 10 fan-favorite stress-free meal preps I share inside my Make It Easy mini course. From dinners to snacks, you’ll get my meal preps that turn into meal options, save time, and keep real food doable week after week.

Batch of oat and nut butter energy bites topped with chocolate chips on a cutting board – protein snack recipe for meal prep.

Energy Bite FAQs

You can. I prefer collagen peptides because this powder is tasteless, has no added sugars or flavors, and makes me feel good. You can use whey (dairy) protein powder or any vegan protein powder, but I would suggest you find an unfavored version, or the overall taste will be altered.

While you can leave these unrefrigerated if you pack them in your lunch or go on a hike, I keep them in the fridge so they stay firm and fresh for longer.

I haven’t tested freezing, as they stay fresh for at least a week in my refrigerator. It should work to freeze and thaw quite quickly. These energy bites never last longer than a week at my house!

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Last Updated on August 24, 2025 by Heather Bursch

Oat and Nut Butter Energy Bites: My Go-To Protein Snack Recipe

Pin this favorite snack for your next meal prep!