Simple No-Bake Oat Bites

Are you tired of half-eaten boxes of granola and/or energy bars crowding your pantry shelves?

I know I am. I was thrilled when I made these no-bake beauties yesterday, and my kids gobbled them up for an after school snack. They are somewhere between a healthy cookie and a granola bar, and surprisingly sweet and satisfying. They are also a perfect and portable breakfast on-the-go, snack, or even dessert.

The best part of this recipe is how flexible it is, so you can adapt it according to what your family likes.

Feel free to swap in almond butter or even chocolate hazelnut spread for the peanut butter. Dried fruit, toasted chopped nuts, white chocolate or butterscotch chips can replace the chocolate chips. Ground oat bran or wheat germ can stand in for the flax seed. Coconut can replace the crisped rice cereal. It’s all good.

Oh, and did I mention no baking required? This recipe keeps getting better and better.

Let’s get to it!

Combine all your ingredients at once in a medium bowl. I think this already looks delicious.

Mix until thoroughly combined. You have to try it to make sure it’s OK at this point. Go ahead, it’s required. Adjust the flavors as needed.

Roll into balls. I used a 2-tablespoon sized scoop which made 16 balls. You can definitely make them smaller.

Store in the fridge for up to a week – if they last that long!

No-Bake Oat Bites

Makes 16 large or 32 small balls

Ingredients:

1 cup dry old-fashioned oats (not quick-cooking)

2/3 cup crisped rice cereal

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup ground flax seed

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1/3 cup honey

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix until thoroughly combined.

2. Roll into small balls and store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Looking for more healthy snacks? Here you go!

- Homemade Honey Graham Crackers

- Banana Oatmeal Squares

- Healthy Squash Bread