Skip to main content

Sonoma Family Life Magazine

A Snack So Easy Kids Can Make It

By America’s Test Kitchen

These sweet, crunchy, chewy bites are perfect for a quick snack on-the-go. They pack a lot of power into a tiny package: The nuts and nut butter provide protein and fat, the dried fruit adds some sugar, and the oats bring complex carbohydrates. The sugar gives you a fast-acting (but short-lived) energy boost, while the complex carbs, protein, and fat help keep you feeling full for longer.

Up Your Game

You can customize your energy bites by swapping in your favorite nuts and dried fruit. Try chopped pistachios, cashews, almonds, or walnuts in place of the pecans. Dried cranberries, dried blueberries, or raisins can be substituted for the dried cherries. You can also use white chocolate chips instead of semisweet. 

Chocolate-Cherry Energy Bites

Before you begin: You can add 1 tablespoon of chia seeds or ground flaxseeds to the oat mixture in step 1, if desired.

Prepare Ingredients

3/4 cup (2 ¼ ounces) old-fashioned rolled oats

1/3 cup (2 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

1/3 cup pecans, chopped

1/3 cup dried cherries, chopped

1/3 cup creamy peanut, almond, or sunflower butter

2 tablespoons honey

1/8 teaspoon salt

Start Cooking!

1. Add all ingredients to large bowl. Use rubber spatula to stir until well combined.

2. Use your wet hands to roll mixture into 16 balls (about 1 tablespoon each). Place balls on large plate and cover with plastic wrap.

3. Place in refrigerator and chill until bites are firm, at least 30 minutes or up to 3 days. Serve. (Bites can be refrigerated in airtight container for up to 3 days.)

Makes 16 bites

Reprinted, with permission, from the Complete Cookbook for Teen Chefs by America’s Test Kitchen (Penguin Random House, 2022), americastestkitchen.com.