This is a variation of our energy bites base recipe. Chef V’s 5-year-old son, Enzo, loves blueberries and energy bites, so he wanted to combine the two to make this tasty snack! Blueberry vanilla energy bites are a great snack any time of day. Pack a few in your backpack, diaper bag, or gym bag so that you can have a delicious, nutritious snack wherever you go!
Three Must-Know Cooking Skills
For recipe success, learn how to:
Culinary Tips for the Best Blueberry Energy Bites
Soaking the oats in hot water first makes each energy ball taste like a little bite of oatmeal! This also creates a different taste and texture than other energy bite recipes that use nut butter as the primary binding agent. Using water as the binding agent also makes this a lower calorie oat ball recipe compared to other recipes.
Almond butter too hard to mix in? Microwave for 30 seconds to make it easier to stir.
If the mixture is too sticky, add more oats 2 Tablespoons at a time. If the mixture is too dry, add more hot water, 1 Tablespoon at a time.
Don’t worry about overmixing the “dough”; it won’t affect the final texture!
Got kids? No-bake blueberry bites are very kid-friendly! Have them help you measure, mix, and roll. The ingredients in this recipe can be eaten while cooking (because we all know that kids love to “taste test”), rolling is a great way to practice fine motor skills, and kids love getting their hands dirty!
Short on time or patience? Turn this into a super quick energy bites recipe by skipping refrigeration. It will be slightly stickier, so be prepared to wash your hands a few more times.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Cinnamon: substitute pumpkin pie or apple pie spice.
- Vanilla Extract: substitute almond extract.
- Oats: use old-fashioned or quick oats. Quick oats create a squishier texture and will be stickier when rolling. Do not use steel cut oats.
- Almond Butter: substitute any nut butter. Choose natural varieties whenever possible. Got a nut allergy? Use a seed butter such as sunflower butter.
- Maple Syrup: substitute agave nectar or honey.
- Dried Blueberries: substitute all or some for dried cranberries, cherries, or raisins. We don’t recommend using fresh blueberries, as they will not mix or hold their texture well.
We love buying our spices from The Spice House. Click on the picture below to view & try out hundreds of flavorful spices and herbs!
Recipe Variations
Feel free to add other mix-ins of your choosing.
Chia seeds and/or ground flax seeds will turn these into blueberry protein balls, and coconut flakes make for a delicious blueberry coconut flavor!
Adding more ingredients will change the texture of the recipe, so you may have to add more water or nut butter to help the ingredients stick together.
Make lemon blueberry energy bites by adding ½ teaspoon lemon zest to the mixture.
Need some energy bites recipe inspiration?
Use our base recipe as a guide to make it your own, or check out some of our favorite energy ball variations!
Equipment Recommendations for Blueberry Energy Balls
Use these kitchen tools for this simple recipe!
Blueberry Oat Balls are an Easy, Healthy Snack
A healthy, balanced snack should contain some fiber, protein, and healthy fat. Oats, almond butter, and dried blueberries are the key ingredients that make these blueberry vanilla energy bites a perfect snack.
Oats
Whole grains such as oats are rich in disease-fighting phytochemicals, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Oats of any variety are a good source of fiber and complex carbohydrates. Fiber is important for digestion, satiety, stable blood sugar, good cholesterol, and healthy gut bacteria. Carbohydrates are important for energy and focus.
Almond Butter
Almond butter contains plant-based protein and monounsaturated fats which are good for heart health. These nutrients also help you feel satisfied until your next meal.
Dried Blueberries
Blueberries are rich in nutrients and phytochemicals that may promote cardiovascular health, decrease cancer risk, and improve cognitive function. (1, 2, 3) Including them as part of a balanced diet is a good step to take towards health.
Because most dried blueberries contain added sugar, we reduced the amount of maple syrup in the recipe as compared to our base recipe.
Serving Suggestions
Blueberry energy bites are great any time of day – breakfast, lunch, snack, or dessert! Pair with a filling smoothie for an easy on-the-go breakfast, or eat a few after a workout to help refuel your muscles.
How to Store Blueberry Almond Energy Balls
Oatmeal energy bites are a great on-the-go snack because they do not have to be cold to eat. However, for food safety reasons, avoid leaving them in your bag or purse all day (4 hours hours max).
For optimal freshness, store vanilla blueberry energy bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. You can also store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Do you love blueberries as much as we do?
Check out these other healthy and delicious blueberry recipes!
Baked Oatmeal Cups with Fresh Blueberries
Blueberry Vanilla Energy Bites
Ingredients
- ½ cup hot water
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Dash salt
- 1 ½ cups old fashioned oats
- ¼ cup almond butter
- ¼ cup finely chopped, toasted almonds
- ¼ cup dried blueberries
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
Instructions
- Mix hot water, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt in a medium bowl. Add oats to the mixture. Mix until all the water is absorbed.
- Add the almond butter, chopped almonds, dried blueberries, and maple syrup and mix until well incorporated.
- Cover and refrigerate mixture for 30 minutes so they are easier to roll.
- Divide mixture into 1-inch balls (~2 Tablespoons) using a spoon or small portion scoop. Roll into balls.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Enjoy!
