Meet your new snack-time sidekick: chocolatey, peanut-buttery energy bites made with wholesome pantry staples and zero oven time. They’re chewy little treats you can stash in the fridge that are ready whenever a craving strikes!

A stack of Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites sits on a white marble board, with more bites and scattered oats around. A small bowl of mini chocolate chips and blurred ingredients are in the background.
Round Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites arranged on a white marble surface, with a bowl of oats and a bowl of chocolate chips visible in the background. Some loose oats and chips are scattered nearby.

Featured Review

These are my new go-to afternoon snack! My kids and I gobble them down in the car pool line.

Patty
(5 stars) 2 ratings
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These Chocolate PB Energy Bites are rich, fudgy, and just sweet enough to feel like a treat—without turning your day into a whole production. They’re made with old-fashioned oats, cocoa powder, ground flaxseed, chia seeds, nut butter, maple syrup, and a splash of vanilla, then rolled into poppable little rounds.  

As a dietitian, I love when a snack brings both joy and staying power. The oats offer fiber-rich satisfaction, flax and chia add omega 3s for a nourishing lift, and peanut butter (or almond butter) helps bind everything together. Use certified gluten-free oats if you follow a gluten-free diet, and you’ve got a simple no-bake recipe that fits beautifully into any meal-prep routine.

A visual guide making yummy energy bites

A white bowl with oats, cocoa powder, chia seeds, ground flaxseed, and salt arranged separately—perfect for making Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites. Surrounding it are bowls with chocolate chips, nut butter, and a wooden spoon.
A glass bowl with almond butter and maple syrup on a marble counter, surrounded by bowls of oats, chia seeds, chocolate chips, and a measuring cup with oats—everything you need to make Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites. A spatula and green towel are nearby.
A glass bowl holds a thick brown batter for Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites. Nearby are small bowls of chia seeds, oats, and chocolate chips, with a spatula and a green cloth on the marble surface.
A white bowl filled with oats and peanut butter being mixed for Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites. Surrounding the bowl are small bowls of chia seeds, chocolate chips, and a measuring cup of oats on a wooden board.
A white bowl with a mixture for Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites—oats, chocolate chips, and chia seeds—sits on a marble countertop. Nearby are small bowls of chia seeds and chocolate chips, oats on a wooden board, and a spatula with some mixture.
A white bowl filled with a mixture of oats, chocolate chips, and chia seeds sits on a marble counter—perfect ingredients for Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites. Nearby are a wooden board with oats, chia seeds, and chocolate chips.
A marble surface displays Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites arranged in rows, with bowls of oats, chia seeds, and chocolate chips, plus a wooden cutting board, all laid out for healthy snack preparation.
A marble platter with 15 Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites, surrounded by bowls of chia seeds, chocolate chips, oats, and a green napkin on a white marble surface.

And yessss, this recipe lives right in my chocolate-peanut-butter happy place alongside Chocolate PB Cups, Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Cups, Chocolate PB Crispy Bites, Chocolate Peanut Butter Dates, and Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Cakes. Clearly, I have a very specific love language, lol. You can count on many more creations down the line!

I started making versions of these years ago to push through those 3 pm slump moments, and they quickly became a fridge staple. I’d roll a batch, tuck them into a container, and somehow they’d vanish between after-school grabs, workday nibbling, and one very innocent-looking family member who always claimed to have taken “just one.” (yeah, right, ha)

Below, I’ve included the nutrition for just one bite, so you can easily do the math depending on how many you enjoy. If you’re looking for serving-size guidance, I’d recommend 3 to 4 bites for an energizing snack.

Several Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites are arranged on a white marble surface, with one partially eaten in the front. Scattered oats and chocolate chips are visible around the bites.
Four Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites are stacked in a pyramid on a round marble board, with extra bites, chocolate chips, and cocoa powder scattered around. Blurred kitchen items are visible in the background.

For an extra kick, try my Espresso Energy Bites!

A stack of Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites sits on a white marble board, with more bites and scattered oats around. A small bowl of mini chocolate chips and blurred ingredients are in the background.
(5 stars) 2 ratings

Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites

These no-bake bites are chewy, chocolatey, and made with a slew of wholesome ingredients that make them perfect for meal prep, snack time, or anytime you’re looking for a tasty pick-me-up!
Yield: 20 bites
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Refrigerate Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
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Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats*, not quick-cooking oats
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds, also called flaxseed meal
  • 2 teaspoons chia seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Pinch of cinnamon, optional
  • ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons peanut butter or almond butter**
  • 1 tablespoon hot water
  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons mini semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips, optional
Ingredient Details to Know
*If you’re gluten-free use certified gluten-free oats.
**If some of the oil has separated to the top of your nut butter jar, be sure to mix it back into the nut butter before measuring. Also, if your nut butter is stiff (versus soft and mushy), microwave it for ~20 seconds before adding to the oat mixture. I like to mist my measuring cups/spoons with nonstick oil spray before adding the nut butter, so it glides out seamlessly and doesn’t stick.

Instructions
 

  • In a mixing bowl, add the oats, cocoa powder, ground flaxseeds, chia seeds, salt and cinnamon, if using. Whisk to combine.
  • In a separate mixing bowl, stir together the nut butter, hot water, maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
  • Add the dry “oat mixture” into the wet “nut butter mixture” bowl, and using a rubber spatula, mix until well combined (it will form into a batter that resembles stiff cookie dough). Gently mix in chocolate chips, if using, so they’re well distributed throughout the batter.
  • Shape into 20 to 25 (1-inch) balls. It’s about 1 tablespoon worth, a bit smaller than golf ball size.

Notes

• I’ve provided nutrition for one bite. You can do the math based on the amount you eat. If you’re looking for serving size guidance, I’d recommend 3 to 4 bites for an energizing snack. 
Storage Tips:
Keep your bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Or, stash them in the freezer for up to 2 months—they’re yummy frozen, too! You can eat them straight from the freezer for a firmer, more ice cream-like treat, or let them thaw at room temperature (or overnight in the fridge) if you prefer them soft and chewy, like the original version.
Author: Joy Bauer, MS, RDN, CDN

Nutrition Information per serving

Serving Size: 1 biteCalories: 60Carbohydrates: 5gProtein: 2gTotal Fat: 4g— Unsaturated Fat: 3.5g— Saturated Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 10mgFiber: 1gTotal Sugar: 2g— Natural Sugar: 1g— Added Sugar: 1g
Nutrition information is calculated using a leading industry software. That being said, brands can vary, and there may be slight fluctuations in the numbers.
I’m hoping you loved this recipe! If you made it and want to share feedback, I’d be so grateful to hear from you. Please leave a review below or tag @joybauer on Instagram!