Based on one of my most popular blog recipes, these pretzel peanut butter energy bites are an easy, sweet-and-salty snack with just six ingredients!
One of the earliest posts that took off on my blog was my four-ingredient peanut butter energy bites. I first published that simple recipe during my freshman year of college, and unexpectedly it started getting a huge amount of traffic from Facebook. On the second day of that post going “viral” my new blog saw about 15,000 views in one day — a huge jump that I excitedly shared with my roommate. The Facebook surge faded after a few weeks, but the recipe has continued to perform well via Google and Pinterest ever since.
Those original energy bites are still one of the most-read recipes on the site and one I make often. They’re perfect for snacks or a quick dessert, and the flavor really does remind me of cookie dough.
To keep the recipe fresh, I developed this pretzel peanut butter version inspired by Ben & Jerry’s Chubby Hubby. I added chopped peanuts and crushed pretzels for salty crunch and reduced the oats slightly to balance the extra mix-ins. And yes — I kept the chocolate chips. The peanut butter + chocolate combo is a big part of what makes these bites irresistible.
Like the original, these pretzel peanut butter energy bites are great to make ahead for weekday snacks or to package as a thoughtful homemade gift.
If you try these pretzel peanut butter energy bites, leave a comment or tag me on Instagram @livbane — I’d love to see photos!
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Pretzel Peanut Butter Energy Bites
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup all-natural creamy or chunky peanut butter
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup well crushed pretzels, mostly very small pieces and crumbs
- 2 Tbsp. finely chopped salted peanuts (omit if using chunky peanut butter)
- 1/3 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips (I used mini, but you could also roughly chop your regular-size chips)
- Optional: 1/4 cup wheat bran, hemp seeds, flaxseeds, chia seeds, or hemp seeds
Instructions
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Measure the peanut butter. If your natural peanut butter has thickened in the fridge, warm the measured amount in the microwave for about 15 seconds to loosen it.
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In a mixing bowl combine peanut butter, oats, and honey. Stir for several minutes until the mixture is well combined. If the mixture seems too dry or won’t hold together, add an extra tablespoon of peanut butter or honey as needed.
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Stir in the crushed pretzels, chopped peanuts, chocolate chips, and any optional add-ins such as wheat bran, hemp, flax, or chia seeds.
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Roll the mixture into approximately 24 tablespoon-sized balls. Place the bites into a gallon-size bag or airtight container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or freeze until firm. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or freeze for up to three months.
Nutrition
Nutrition info per 1 energy bite: 97 calories, 12 g carbs, 5 g fat, 3 g protein, 6 g sugar.