These chocolate chip oatmeal energy bites are perfect for a quick snack or breakfast! They’re no-bake, tasty, and delicious, plus, they’re free of the top 8 allergens. This is a great snack to pack in school lunches or enjoy after a workout.
Isn’t everything just more fun when it’s in miniature? Miniature poodles, doll houses, miniature golf…and even miniature food. Little bite-sized snacks and treats are just more fun, aren’t they?
And if you have kids, you might be searching for a new snack for them to try after school, or to pack in their lunchboxes.
These chocolate chip oatmeal energy bites are just the thing to try! They have oats, chocolate chips, and sunflower seed butter for a delicious combination of protein, carbohydrates, and fat that will keep you full.
These no-bake treats are fun to make, and we like to try different varieties like chocolate coconut or these hemp seed bites.
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Ingredient Notes
- Gluten Free Oats – If you are gluten free, please make sure you buy certified gluten free oats. Oats are naturally gluten free, but they are often cross contaminated with wheat. If they are certified gluten free, they are considered safe for those who are gluten free.
- Cheerios – I like the taste and texture that Cheerios add to this recipe, but you can use a different cereal if you prefer.
- Sunbutter – We love sunbutter, but you could also use Wowbutter or pumpkin seed butter.
- Maple Syrup – Maple syrup provides sweetness and helps the dough stick together. You could also use honey. I don’t recommend a dry sweetener like sugar for this recipe.
Substitutions
- You can use any seed or nut butter that works for your specific dietary needs. The sunbutter helps hold the energy balls together, so any variety of seed butter that is thick will work. Try pumpkin seed butter – you can even make your own with a combination of seeds!
- If you can’t eat Cheerios, you can leave them out! Just use more oats, or even a different cereal if that works for you.
- If you don’t want to use maple syrup, you can use honey or even date syrup instead.
Optional Additions
Feel free to add some ground flax seed, chia seeds, or hemp seeds to this recipe. You could also add dried cranberries or raisins if you like. If you add more things to the mixture, be aware that you may have to increase the amount of sunbutter before rolling the mixture into balls.
Step by Step Instructions
- Place the oats and Cheerios in a bowl, and process until a coarse flour forms.
- Add the maple syrup and sunbutter, and pulse until the mixture comes together.
- Add the mini chocolate chips and pulse a couple of times to mix them in.
- Roll the dough into balls and store in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
Storage
Store leftover bites in the refrigerator. These should stay fresh for up to a week.
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Recipe
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Energy Bites (Nut Free).
Ingredients
- 1 cup certified gluten free old fashioned oats
- ¾ cup gluten free Cheerios
- ⅜ cup maple syrup
- ⅝ cup creamy sunbutter ½ cup plus 2 Tablespoons
- ½ cup dairy free chocolate chips
Instructions
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Place the oats and Cheerios into a food processor and pulse until they are coarsely ground up.
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Add the maple syrup and sunbutter, and pulse until a thick dough forms.
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Stop the food processor and add the chocolate chips. Pulse a couple of times to incorporate them.
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Use your hands to roll the dough into balls, and place them in a container with a lid.
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Store in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition facts are for one bite.
Store energy bites in the refrigerator. They should stay fresh for about one week.
You can leave out the Cheerios and use more oats if you like.
If you want to add some dried fruit instead of chocolate chips, you can do that. You can also add ground flax seed, hemp seeds, or chia seeds to the mixture. Add a little more sunbutter if necessary if the mixture gets too dry with extra ingredients.
Jodi
My kids and I love these! I add raisins and ground flax seed and the bites still taste great. Thanks for the recipe!
10
alex
Jumana
Can I do this without the butter? Or can I use anything oher than butter?
Kelly Roenicke
You can use sunbutter or nut butter if you like!
Victoria
WOW these are soooo delicious! We used a mix of chocolate chips and raisins and my 3 and 5 year old enjoyed making these with me. We are always looking for new snack and breakfast ideas so this is perfect. Thank you, we enjoy so many of your recipes!
LaMassia
Can we do this without cheerios?LaMassia
Kelly Roenicke
Sure, just add more oats or some sunflower seeds or something to make up the difference.
Cam
These were tasty☺️ and easy! We had trouble getting the chocolate chips to stick (we used Enjoy Life mini chips), but other than that, my kids and I enjoyed making these🙂
Kelly Roenicke
So glad you enjoyed these!
Em
What would be best to use instead of cheerios? Perhaps just gf cornflakes?
Kelly Roenicke
Yes, that would work!
Em
What would be best to use intesd of cheerios? Perhaps just gf cornflakes?
Jennie Bowhay-Sweet
I’m going to try Sunbutter because I really dislike the taste of peanut butter. But can regular sweet cream butter be used?
Helen
Butter instead of what? There isn’t anything in this recipe I would sub butter in for. Use any nut butter though.
Helen
My 6-year-old told me I got a blue ribbon for this one :) I use strawberry cheerios since they were on hand. Will be making this over and over!
Kelly Roenicke
Yay, so glad they were a hit! :)
Jen Friday
Can sunbutter be replaced with almond butter for your chocolate chip oatmeal bites?
Kelly Roenicke
Yes, that will work!
K L
I’m not a huge fan of sunbutter. Do you think it would work with wow butter?
Kelly Roenicke
Yes, I do!
Elizabeth
These look so easy to make! I HAVE to try them! I bet my little man would love them! Thanks for sharing. :)
Kelly
You’re welcome, I hope you love them!
Julia Mueller
Totally agree – mini things are the BEST! I love that you incorporate gf cheerios and sunbutter in these beauties! I can taste the flavor now!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
Love the combination of chocolate and oatmleal, Kelly! I think I would devour these ALL in no time!