Cookies and Cream Energy Bites! Begin by creating nutritious “Oreo” crumbs and mix them into energy balls for a delicious snack that everyone will love!
Cookies and Cream Energy Bites
If you look up Cookies and Cream Energy Bites, you’ll often find recipes that use crushed Oreos. But I wanted to make a version without the actual cookies, something a bit more nutritious!
So, I made my own “Oreo” crumbs that taste just like the real cookies but without all the extra stuff. They’re even naturally gluten-free!
Quick Tip
For gluten-free Cookies and Cream Energy Balls: Even though the ingredients are naturally gluten-free, make sure to double-check the labels to ensure they weren’t made in a place with gluten.
Energy Bites Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need for the energy bites portion of this recipe:
- Old-fashioned oats: Use rolled oats not quick or steel-cut oats.
- Cashew or peanut butter: Choose a tasty, dry-roasted, and lightly salted version. If it’s natural, stir well before measuring.
- Salt: Adjust based on the saltiness of your nut butter.
- Chocolate chips: Use dark chocolate chips for extra flavor and health benefits, but any type works.
- Coconut: Use unsweetened shredded coconut, unless you prefer a sweeter treat, then use sweetened.
- Vanilla extract: Adds a nice cookies and cream flavor.
- Maple syrup or honey: Use pure maple syrup, which is natural and less refined, or honey.
Homemade “Oreo” Cookie Crumbs Ingredients
Here’s what you need for the “Oreo” crumbles:
- Oat Flour: Make it in seconds from old-fashioned oats you already have. (More below!)
- Dutch-Process Cocoa Powder: This gives the Oreo flavor. Hershey’s “Special Dark”® is an easy-to-find option.
- Sugar: Use light brown sugar to cut the cocoa’s acidity, or coconut sugar for a natural option.
- Coconut Oil: Keep it solid, not melted, to mix well.
- Salt: Just a pinch brings out all the flavors.
Cookies and Cream Energy Bite Tips
These energy bites are very flexible, and you can easily adapt them to your taste:
- Experiment with Nut Butters: Feel free to swap the nut butter for other kinds. If the mix is too dry or crumbly, add more nut butter one tablespoon at a time until it sticks together nicely.
- Let the Mixture Settle: If the mix seems too moist at first, let it rest so the oats can absorb the liquid and then the mixture will firm up. If it’s too dry, add a bit more nut butter and a drizzle of sweetener until you’ve got the perfect consistency.
Storage
Storage
Enjoy some energy bites fresh, then store the rest in the fridge for the week or freeze any extras.
To Freeze:
- Place the bites on a lined tray in the freezer.
- Once firm (1-2 hours), move them to an airtight bag or container. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.
To Thaw:
- Take a bite out and let it sit for 15-30 minutes or microwave for 10-15 seconds. They’re very hard when fully frozen, but you don’t need to thaw them completely before eating—they’re tasty even when slightly frozen!
More snack ball recipes
- S’mores Energy Bites with mini marshmallows and chocolate chips
- Oatmeal Energy Balls with peanut butter and honey
- Chocolate Energy Bites with chocolate protein powder
- No-Bake Energy Bites only four ingredients
- Chocolate Protein Balls with almond butter
Cookies and Cream Energy Bites
Equipment
- Small blender
- Food Processor 12-cup
Ingredients
"Oreo" Crumbles
- 3 tablespoons oats blended, see note 1
- 2 tablespoons Dutch-process cocoa powder see note 2
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 4 teaspoons coconut oil measured when solid
Energy Bites
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
- 3/4 cup peanut butter or cashew butter, see note 3
- 1/2 cup maple syrup or honey, see note 4
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt see note 5
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- To make the Oreo crumbles, mix blended oats, cocoa powder, light brown sugar, salt, and coconut oil, in a medium bowl with a fork, then knead by hand until small crumbs form. It will seem like it's not coming together, but keep working at it! Adjust with more blended oats if too wet or more oil if too dry. Set aside.
- In a large (12-cup) food processor, pulse the old-fashioned oats and coconut until they're a fine consistency, about 30 seconds to a minute. Add peanut butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract, salt, and chocolate chips and pulse again until well combined and finely chopped.
- Adjust with additional nut butter and sweetener if the mixture is too dry, or add more oats if itโs too wet. (Remember, oats will continue to absorb liquid as they sit.)
- Transfer to a large bowl, add the Oreo crumbles, and mix well.
- Scoop with a tablespoon or small cookie scoop, compress tightly, and roll into balls. Chill in the fridge for about 1 hour to firm up, then take out and enjoy!
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can you leave out the coconut pieces if you don’t like them?
Sorry this recipe won’t work the same without the coconut!
made these and they were so good! next time I’ll add the chocolate chips last and chop them up myself to have some crunch. thank you for the recipe!
Yay! So happy you liked these — you are welcome! ๐