No Bake Healthy Cacao Energy Bites

I am happy to share these No Bake Peanut Butter Cacao Protein Bites, because they are a family and friend favorite! They are the perfect thing to make with toddlers or big kids. These energy bites freeze and thaw well and are perfectly paired with a good cup of coffee too. I made a YouTube Video walking you through this recipe and don’t forget your printable recipe card at the end.

I have often been told that these bites require a bit of self-control, because they are so yummy! It makes me feel good though knowing they are made with real food ingredients that nourish and taste great. And consider doubling or tripling this recipe since they freeze so well.

Chocolate Chips vs Cacao Chips

You can use chocolate chips for this recipe, but I switched to cacao chips or nibs when I learned how they are a powerful antioxidant that can help slow down inflammation in the body. They are definitely a bit bitter on their own, but paired with the peanut butter and the honey no one seems to notice that the chocolate taste isn’t chocolate chips. Trader Joes has some great cacao chips that I am currently loving!

Ground Flax Seed Tips

When it comes to the flax seed, make sure to get some that is already ground up. Unless you have a mill they are super hard to grind. It may also be a good idea to store left over opened ground flax seed in fridge, since the oil in from flax seed can go bad in the pantry.

Why Unsweetened Coconut Flakes?

The coconut flakes are truly best unsweetened and cut as finely as possible. There is no need for extra calories or sugar from sweetened coconut flakes, because the peanut butter and honey offer plenty of sweetness. Also, some coconut flakes come in long strands (like they sometimes do at Trader Joe’s). If you end up with these, no worries, just grab a pair of kitchen scissors and snip away. That way you don’t get a protein bite that feels like it has a pokey stand of coconut sticking out.

Best Protein Powder to Add to Energy Bites

This is the cleanest top of the line protein powder that I have found. With 24g of protein per serving and made from the whey of grassfed cows, you can’t beat the quality for the price. I add this Vanilla Bean Protein Powder to the energy bites and the protein keeps the energy bites from spiking my blood sugar.

Mixing Tips

I think best practices are to mix all the dry ingredients first and then mix all the wet ingredients. An inexpensive, but unnecessary tool is this adjustable measuring cup. Just slide the bottom down to the fill-line and fill it up with peanut butter and push the bottom up-boom! It all comes out without a huge mess. And the same goes with the honey. If you still have no idea what I am talking about check out the YouTube Video where I walk you through all the steps.

Mix all the ingredients well by hand. You will find some dry ingredients still at the bottom, so try to keep getting the liquid ingredients to the bottom of the bowl. When everything is mixed well, cover the bowl and stick in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, roll out the protein bites into little inch bites. There will undoubtedly be some extra crumbles at the bottom-save these for your oatmeal the next morning. The energy bite crumbles are divine heated up on oatmeal and you may even start making this recipes just for oatmeal topping it is so good!

Freezer Tips

If you are planning to freeze this recipe, set the protein balls/bites on a cookie sheet with at least 1 inch separation and put in the freezer for at least 1 hour. You can then bag up the bites into a gallon size freezer bag to put back in the freezer for up to 6 months. I like to pull a couple out for the freezer for a treat for our family. I even like to grab a bag out of the freezer to take to a new momma or a sick family.

Want more REAL Food Recipes? Here are some favorites on the blog:

Einkorn Protein Pancakes

How to Make Chicken Broth

How to Make Bone Broth