Oatmeal raisin energy bites are a healthy, family-friendly snack that taste like oatmeal cookie dough (but better for you!). They make a great snack to satisfy an afternoon sweet tooth, but without a pesky sugar crash!
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Why these oatmeal raisin energy bites are so good:
Because it's like eating oatmeal cookie dough - but safely! They're chewy, sweet, and a delicious snack that everyone in the family enjoys!
They're also pretty good for you, with complex carbohydrates for energy, minimal added sugar, and fiber, protein, and healthy fats to help keep your blood sugar and energy levels more stable. Oatmeal raisin energy bites make a great snack to help carry you over to your next meal AND satisfy that afternoon sweet tooth!
Key Ingredients Needed:
- Old-fashioned oats (be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if you require gluten-free foods!)
- Shredded unsweetened coconut
- Almond butter (I prefer raw or roasted with no added sugar - look for the ingredients to be either just almonds or almonds and salt)
- Maple syrup (the real stuff!)
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
- Raisins
Kitchen Tools & Equipment Needed:
It's a simple recipe so there is no fancy equipment required! Just a bowl, spoon, measuring cups and spoons, and clean hands!
How to Make Oatmeal Raisin Energy Bites:
This energy bite recipe couldn't be easier! Just combine all the ingredients in a bowl, roll into 18 balls, and then refrigerate for an hour until set!
If your almond butter is cold or thicker, it may be helpful to microwave it 10-20 seconds until it's more easily stirred.
Also - if you prefer not to roll the energy bites into balls, you can press them into a square pan, refrigerate, and then cut into small bars.
Recipe FAQs
How do you store energy bites?
- Store in a covered, airtight container in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze energy bites?
- Yes! Energy bites can be frozen in an airtight, freezer-safe container or bag for up to three months.
How long do these oatmeal raisin energy bites stay good?
- They'll stay good in the refrigerator up to one week and freezer up to three months (if they last that long!) 😉
What if I don't like raisins?
- Use something else! We've also made them with variations of dried cranberries, dried cherries, mini chocolate chips, and almond slivers!
Are raw oats safe to eat?
- Raw oats are indeed safe to consume. Digestibility will be improved after soaking oats, but in a recipe like this, the amount of oats you eat in one or two bites is not a large amount. As with any foods high in fiber, be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day and with these bites to keep things moving with your digestion!
More Healthy Snack Recipes You'll Love
- Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
- Chocolate Yogurt
- Banana Bread Cookies
- PB&J Energy Bites
- No Bake Peanut Butter Energy Balls
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Oatmeal Raisin Energy Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup old fashioned oats gluten-free if needed
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- ½ cup almond butter
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup raisins
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together until an even consistency forms.
- Using clean hands, roll dough into 18 energy balls.
- Refrigerate for one hour to help the energy balls better set.
- Enjoy! Energy bites can be stored in the refrigerator (up to one week) or the freezer (up to three months) in an airtight container.
Kacie Mangus says
Do you have any suggestion on eating raw versus cooked oats? Research suggests that raw oats do not digest well and also do not provide as much nutrition (starch) as oats that are soaked in water for at least 30 minutes.
Lindsey Janeiro says
Hi Kacie! Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I haven't done a significant amount of research into this topic, but the research I have done indicates the potential digestive concerns you mention may just be because of the amount of fiber that is found in oats. It's going to require liquid to keep things moving! I'm not super concerned about that in this recipe, because the amount of oats you get when consuming a couple of these energy balls is relatively minor - you'd get far more oats when consuming them un-soaked in the form of something like granola. Additionally, they do absorb some moisture from the almond butter and maple syrup. And hopefully everyone is drinking water throughout the day. 😉 Another potential concern (which overall needs more research), is that not soaking the oats may lead to a higher amount of phytates which may impact absorption of some minerals. But oats will contain phytates whether they are soaked or unsoaked, and again - the amount ingested in a couple energy balls here is relatively insignificant. Thank you again for expressing your concern! I'm going to continue my research on this topic and will get back to you if I learn anything new! Have a great day! 🙂
Amy Peterson says
Hey Lindsey. These energy balls are awesome! So easy to make and they hit the spot for those pesky cravings. I can’t wait to try them with peanut butter or other variations.
Lindsey Janeiro, RDN, CLT says
Thank you so much, Amy! Sorry I'm just now seeing this comment, but I appreciate it! Let me know what other variations you try!
Jackie says
The nutritional value does not indicate any sugar whether using raisins or mini chocolate chips? Is this correct?
Lindsey Janeiro, RDN, CLT says
Hey Jackie - good eye! I just added a plugin for nutrition labels to my recipes and I've been working my way through all of my old posts to update and edit the information (as they don't always generate correctly, as was the case here). I just edited the nutrition information so it's all correct now! Thank you so much for bringing this to my attention!