These Super Seed Energy Bites are loaded with nutrients and make the perfect healthy snack, all while tasting like a chocolate treat! This easy-to-make recipe comes together in just 20 minutes and is vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of O3 Superfoods. The opinions, text, and recipe are my own creation. Thank you so much for creating the ultimate flax butter and for the support!

I have a confession to make. Before creating this recipe, I had never tried energy bites. Maybe this is because I grew up with a concoction that my mom fondly named “Peanut” which was a cover for emptying random old pantry items into a bowl, mixing them with peanut butter, and forming them into balls. Everyone in the house loved them, which was always a curiosity to me. Now that I’m older, (much older) I see what a fantastic and convenient idea it is to combine nutrient-dense pantry staples with nut or seed butter, and then roll them into tasty bite-sized balls. Hello energy bites!

Energy bites taste like a fudgy dessert but are full of healthy fats and protein making them perfect for snack attacks! They are also super filling and portable. I’ll often make a double batch and stash them in the freezer, then pull a few out in the morning to look forward to between meals or after a run.

What’s in Super Seed Energy Bites?

Seeds

Seeds are some of nature’s best superfoods and they’re so cute! These ‘lil nutritional powerhouses add a fun crunch to the bites and make them really filling. This recipe has hemp hearts and sesame seeds, but you can add chia seeds or raw pumpkin seeds too. Rolling the balls in sesame seeds also makes them less sticky to handle and beautiful at the same time.

Seed butter

Flax butter is a new to me superfood that has been used by ancient cultures as part of their training regimen and as a snack food. A little goes a long way so you only need 1 tablespoon for the whole batch of energy bites. If you are using flax butter, swap out 1 tablespoon of tahini for 1 tablespoon of flax butter. This is a totally optional ingredient. Click here to learn more about flax butter!

Tahini, which is ground-up toasted sesame seeds that have been blended into butter, has a creamy, silky consistency that helps the bites stick together.

Dates and rolled oats

Sweet sticky dates hold all those lovely seeds and oats together. They are naturally very sweet without tasting like some crazy dessert. If your dates feel dry and firm, pop them in the microwave for 5-10 seconds (they burn quickly!) to soften them.

Raw cacao powder

Raw cacao powder makes the bites taste rich and fudgy and I love finding ways to tuck this superfood into recipes. For a different flavor profile, you can swap out the cacao powder for 2 teaspoons of cinnamon.

Can I mix in other ingredients?

Yes! Adding chia seeds, raw pumpkin seeds, chopped nuts, or cacao nibs will bump up the nutrient level of the bites and give them an extra crunch. You can add up to ¼ cup of additional ingredients and the balls will still stick together.

I should definitely thank my mother for introducing my young self to “Peanut” and planting the seed for this fun and versatile recipe!

Did you know that you can turn the crust of my Vegan Chocolate Ganache Tart into energy bites? Yup! Just make the dough and roll it into bite-sized balls for a healthy chocolate treat!

Keep scrolling for step-by-step instructions and photos!

Ingredients

¾ cup (110 grams) of medjool dates, pitted (about 6 large dates)
½ cup (45 grams) of rolled oats
4 tablespoons of tahini
2 tablespoons of maple syrup
2 tablespoons of raw cacao powder
2 tablespoons of hemp hearts
1 teaspoon of vanilla
¼ teaspoon of fine sea salt
2 tablespoons of sesame seeds (for rolling the bites in)

Makes 14 (1) tablespoon sized energy bites

How to make this recipe

Steps 1-2:

1. First, give your dates a squeeze. You want them to be nice and soft. If they feel stiff, pop them in the microwave for 5-10 seconds until soft and almost sticky.
2. Add the dates and the rest of the ingredients to a food processor (not a blender). Using the pulse setting, process the mixture until it begins to look like coarse sand. Continue to process until a tablespoon of the dough can be rolled into a smooth ball. You may have to stop a time or two and scrape the sides of the container.

Step 3:

3. Scoop out 14 tablespoon-sized balls and roll them between your palms until smooth.

Steps 4-5:

4. Pour the sesame seeds into a small dish and roll the energy bites around in the seeds so they are coated all over. Press the seeds into the bites by rolling them between your palms.
5. Store in the refrigerator for firm energy bites or in the pantry for “fudgy” energy bites. They also freeze really well.

Enjoy anytime you need a tasty pick-me-up. Energy bites also make great travel snacks!

Craving healthy snacks? Check out these yummy vegan recipes!

Chocolate Covered Chickpea Clusters

Tangy Tofu Yogurt

Oven Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Crispy Cheesy Kale Chips

Super Seed Energy Bites

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Yield: 14 (1) Tablespoon sized bites

Author: Carol Clayton