Many of the store-bought allergy-friendly bars or granola bites don’t get a glowing review from my kids. However, these are loved by all, regardless of their allergy status! I usually need to triple the recipe because my kids love them so much.

My oldest daughter has a peanut and tree nut allergy, so I’m always looking for nut-free snacks that are filling and include protein, fat, and carbohydrates and that the kids enjoy!

A ceramic bowl filled with homemade no-bake energy bites placed on a wooden surface. The energy bites are round and packed with visible oats and chocolate chips. One energy bite sits outside the bowl on the surface.

I started making these energy balls a few years ago and adapted them to be nut-free. I love making a big batch and putting them in the freezer in little baggies so that kids can grab them and go.

This is a great recipe to make with your kids! My older children, who are teens, enjoy making them on their own, and my younger child loves to help me dump the ingredients in the bowl, mix them, and form the small balls.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Because they’re nut-free, these no-bake energy balls are school-safe and work well as part of a packed lunch or snacks.
They make a perfect grab-and-go snack. They’re easy to store. Just put a few of the Sunbutter energy balls in snack-size baggies in the freezer, and kids can help themselves.

Ingredients to make Sunbutter energy balls all sitting on a dark countertop.

Ingredients & Substitutions for No-Bake Energy Balls

Old-fashioned rolled oats – Be sure to use rolled oats, not quick or instant.
Shredded unsweetened coconut – Omit from the recipe if your loved one has a coconut allergy.
Sunflower seed butter – You can substitute soybean butter. The flavor will be different.
Ground flaxseed– You can also use hemp seeds if you prefer. Just know that the flavor and texture will be different.
Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips-Regular-sized is fine, but the minis work better. If you can’t find mini-chocolate chips, you can chop the regular-sized ones.
Honey – Maple syrup works well as a substitute for honey
Vanilla extract – Any brand works fine as long as it’s not vanilla flavoring, which tends to have an overly strong taste.

How to Make SunButter Energy Balls

A clear glass mixing bowl containing unmixed ingredients for Sunbutter energy balls, including chocolate chips, shredded coconut, Sunbutter and oats. The bowl is set on a dark countertop.

Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl that’s large enough to hold the ingredients while you combine them.

A kitchen scene showing a large glass bowl filled with a mixture of oats and other to make Sunbutter energy bites. A scoop has been used to form portions placed on a baking sheet in the background. The setup is on a dark counter next to a stainless steel sink.

Once the ingredients are combined, use a 1 Tablespoon cookie scoop and form the dough into about 2-inch balls. You may need to use your hands to finish forming them into the balls to help the dough stick together.

A bowl filled with round, Sunbutter energy bites placed on a wooden surface. Three energy balls are scattered beside the bowl.

Snack Tips From a Registered Dietitian

Aim to offer snacks with protein and carbohydrate.
Snacks are a good time to offer new foods.
Keep it simple!

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A top-down view of a bowl filled with homemade no-bake energy bites made with oats, chocolate chips, and other ingredients. Three additional energy bites are placed on the wooden surface beside the bowl. The energy bites have a slightly rough texture.

No-Bake SunButter Energy Bites

Elizabeth Davenport & Anna Lutz No-Bake SunButter Energy Bites

These nut-free energy balls are a kid-friendly snack, that's easy to store and fun for kids to help make.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Servings energy balls

Ingredients

▢ 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
▢ 2/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
▢ 1/2 cup *sunflower seed butter
▢ 1/2 cup **ground flaxseed
▢ 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
▢ 1/3 cup honey
▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl large enough to easily stir the ingredients together.
Stir all the ingredients with a mixing spoon or rubber spatula until the dough comes together.
Chill in the refrigerator for about 1 hour to make scooping and forming the no-bake energy balls easier.
Use a 1 tablespoon size cookie scoop to form the energy balls and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. You might want to use your hand to finish forming the balls after you remove them from the cookie scoop.
Once you formed all the energy balls, place them in the freezer on the cookie sheet.
After a few hours, remove them from the cookie sheet and place them in one large freezer safe container or place a few in snack size zip-top baggies and place them back in the freezer. Store in either the refrigerator or freezer.