Quick No-Bake Peanut Butter and Jelly Energy Bites

Peanut Butter and Jelly No-Bake Snack Bites: A Guest Post by Two Healthy Kitchens

We are absolutely delighted to welcome the incredible duo, Shelley and Gretchen from Two Healthy Kitchens, to our space today! They are here to share a recipe that perfectly embodies their philosophy: nutritious, delicious food for busy individuals and families. Two Healthy Kitchens is renowned for making cooking enjoyable and accessible, especially with their fantastic kid-friendly recipes. You might recognize their genius from delights like the Healthy Sugared-Vanilla Yogurt Fruit Dip, the decadent Peanut Butter Silk Pie Dip with Greek Yogurt, or the wonderfully refreshing No-Bake Fruit Pizzas. We encourage you to head over to their site to explore their unique and wholesome collection of recipes, ideal for every member of the family, especially the little ones!

Here at A Cedar Spoon, we’ve recently become huge fans of snack bites, experimenting with countless combinations of these convenient treats. They are truly a lifesaver in our household! I always prepare a generous batch, keeping some on hand for immediate enjoyment and freezing the rest for later. Believe me, these irresistible bites disappear fast, so be prepared to save this recipe and keep it at the ready! My toddler, in particular, adores these little “treats,” and they’ve become a delightful staple in his day. So, without further ado, a very warm welcome to Shelley and Gretchen!

Peanut Butter and Jelly No-Bake Snack Bites
Delicious and healthy Peanut Butter and Jelly No-Bake Snack Bites.

A Special Welcome and the Inspiration Behind These Bites

Hello, A Cedar Spoon readers! We’re Gretchen and Shelley from Two Healthy Kitchens, and we are absolutely thrilled to be guest posting for Julia today! We’ve long admired Julia’s innovative recipes and stunning photography, and it was a true honor when she extended this wonderful invitation. But amidst our excitement to be here, our greatest joy is for Julia herself! Her beautiful baby Andrew is simply perfect, and we send our warmest wishes as she embraces this incredible new chapter of motherhood. Welcome to the world, little guy!

At Two Healthy Kitchens, our mission revolves around creating quick, healthy, and family-friendly recipes designed to simplify life for busy households. So, when Julia asked us to contribute, we immediately knew what we wanted to share: an incredibly easy, genuinely lifesaver recipe that helps avert mealtime (or snack-time) meltdowns for busy moms – especially those like Julia, navigating life with tiny kiddos!

Peanut Butter and Jelly No-Bake Snack Bites close-up
Close-up view of the wholesome Peanut Butter and Jelly Snack Bites.

We vividly remember those whirlwind days when our lives revolved around nap schedules and feeding times. The constant juggle of packing the diaper bag, changing diapers (and often an outfit too!), all while hoping to keep everyone content just long enough to grab a few essentials at the grocery store. You’re finally making progress through the produce aisle, feeling a sense of accomplishment, and then it happens. The inevitable rumble. Someone is hungry. It might be you, needing a quick pick-me-up. Or perhaps it’s your energetic three-year-old “shopping helper” whose patience has just run out. Either way, a snack is needed, and it’s needed now.

What’s a busy mom to do in such moments of impending hunger crises? You become the hero of the day, of course! You’re perfectly prepared with a wholesome, healthy, and satisfying snack that saves the day and keeps everyone happy!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Snack Bites, ready for any adventure.

Why You’ll Love These Peanut Butter and Jelly No-Bake Snack Bites

These Peanut Butter and Jelly No-Bake Snack Bites are more than just a treat; they’re a powerhouse of nutrition designed to keep you and your family full, energized, and ready for anything. Each bite is loaded with protein and whole grains, making them the ultimate healthy snack to tuck into your bag, ready to fend off any impending hunger meltdowns, whether they’re your own or your little one’s!

The Perfect Companion for Every Occasion

Their versatility is truly remarkable. We’ve taken these delicious snack bites on countless adventures: long walks in the park, extended car rides, and to seemingly endless soccer games. They’ve been our trusty pre-workout fuel, keeping us going strong. We send them with our kids as a much-anticipated after-school snack, and even our husbands grab them as a last-minute, nutritious breakfast on hectic mornings. Seriously, these are the quintessential “wake-me-up,” “keep-me-going,” “get-me-through-the-workout,” and “fill-me-up-with-nutritious-goodies” snack all rolled into one!

Kid-Friendly Flavor, Parent-Approved Convenience

What makes these bites truly stand out? They feature the universally beloved, ultimate kid-friendly flavor combination: peanut butter and jelly! Imagine all the deliciousness of a classic PB&J sandwich, but in a far less messy, perfectly portable, and easy-to-eat bite. It’s the ideal blend of flavors that delights both children and adults alike, ensuring no sticky fingers or crumbs left behind.

Effortless Preparation and Smart Storage

Beyond their incredible taste and nutritional value, these snack bites boast another major advantage: they’re completely no-bake and an absolute snap to make! You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can whip up a batch. And for an added bonus, they freeze beautifully! This means you can easily stockpile a supply of these healthy morsels, ensuring you’re always prepared for grab-and-go emergencies, unexpected hunger pangs, or simply when you need a quick, wholesome treat.

Peanut Butter and Jelly No-Bake Snack Bites close-up on plate
Enjoy these tasty and nutritious no-bake bites any time of day.

Peanut Butter and Jelly No-Bake Snack Bites

By Julia Jolliff (Recipe contribution from Two Healthy Kitchens)

In just 10 minutes, with a few simple ingredients, you can create these delicious and wholesome Peanut Butter and Jelly No-Bake Snack Bites.

Peanut Butter and Jelly No-Bake Snack Bites finished product

Prep Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 10 mins

Yields: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cups quick oats
  • 1/2 cup natural, creamy peanut butter
  • 6 tablespoons strawberry jelly (or jam, 100% fruit recommended)
  • 1/3 cup shredded coconut
  • 1/4 cup ground flaxseed meal
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3/4 cup dried cranberries (cherry-flavored for best results)

Instructions

  1. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine all ingredients EXCEPT the dried cranberries.
  2. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated and form a cohesive mixture.
  3. Add the dried cranberries to the mixture and stir gently, just until they are evenly distributed. Overmixing after adding cranberries is not necessary.
  4. Using your hands, firmly press and roll the mixture into one-inch balls.
  5. Place the finished snack bites in an air-tight container and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

  • We’ve experimented with various dried fruits for these snack bites, including plain dried cranberries, cherry-flavored cranberries, and dried strawberries. While all options work well, we found that cherry-flavored cranberries provided an excellent flavor profile. They are also relatively cost-effective and readily available in most grocery stores.
  • If your chosen brand of natural peanut butter requires refrigeration, then your prepared snack bites will also need to be refrigerated. Regardless of the type of peanut butter you use, storing these bites in the refrigerator will significantly prolong their freshness and maintain their texture.
  • These snack bites are incredibly freezer-friendly! Feel free to make a double or even triple batch and store them in the freezer for future convenience. When taken out of the freezer, these delightful bites will thaw to a perfect consistency in approximately 20 minutes, making them an ideal grab-and-go option.

Nutrition Information (Approximate Per Serving)

Calories: 315 kcal | Carbohydrates: 61 g | Protein: 6 g | Fat: 7 g | Saturated Fat: 2 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g | Sodium: 15 mg | Potassium: 247 mg | Fiber: 7 g | Sugar: 31 g | Vitamin A: 20 IU | Vitamin C: 4 mg | Calcium: 88 mg | Iron: 3 mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.

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More About Snack Bites from Two Healthy Kitchens

We have a special history with snack bites at Two Healthy Kitchens. Our very first blog post, way back when we started, was a recipe for our original Snack Bites, and they quickly became a sensation! To this day, our families, friends, and loyal THK readers are absolutely crazy about them. We’re not exaggerating when we say our families get genuinely upset if we ever run out – imagine tears and whining, sometimes even from our husbands! To keep up with the high demand and ever-growing fan base, we’ve continually developed and shared several new and exciting flavors.

If you find yourself craving more delicious and healthy snack bite options, we warmly invite you to explore our dedicated Snack Bites page on Two Healthy Kitchens. You’ll find a wide array of flavors to satisfy every palate and occasion.

We’ve truly enjoyed our time guest posting here at A Cedar Spoon today, and we sincerely hope that you’ll love these Peanut Butter and Jelly No-Bake Snack Bites just as much as we and our families do!