Banana Bread Energy bites are a healthy and delicious energy balls recipe that requires no baking! The perfect use for leftover bananas, these banana energy bites are completely vegan, gluten free, and paleo!
We love our energy balls and bites recipes around here. Our favorites include protein energy balls, chocolate coconut balls, and these delicious banana bread energy bites.
Leftover bananas are something I snack on ALL the time, so why not enjoy them in energy bite form?
Now, these banana energy bites are a little bit different. They are made with no refined sugar and no dairy, but you’d never tell. They also are made without dates. Instead, we use a combination of coconut flour, syrup and peanut butter to give these energy balls their soft and doughy texture.
The taste has all the best bits of banana bread- banana flavor with bits of chocolate chips throughout!
Not only are these a fantastic vegan gluten free banana energy balls recipe, but they are also made without grains, so completely paleo!
How to make banana energy bites
The Ingredients
- Coconut Flour– Coconut flour is a low carb and grain free flour, that is super absorbent. When mixed with other ingredients, it gives these banana protein balls a cake-like texture!
- Salt– Brings out the sweetness!
- Cinnamon– Gives a lovely, light cinnamon flavor.
- Granulated sweetener of choice– You can use any granulated sweetener of choice.
- Banana– The riper the banana, the sweeter your banana bites will be.
- Peanut Butter– Smooth and drippy peanut butter. Try to use peanut butter with no added sugar or salt. If you have a peanut allergy or need to keep this paleo, use almond butter, cashew butter, or a nut free alternative, like sunflower seed butter.
- Maple syrup– Not only does it add sweetness, if gives the banana bread bites the soft and doughy texture. You can also use agave nectar or honey if you aren’t strictly vegan.
- Milk of choice– I used unsweetened coconut milk, but any milk will work.
- Chocolate Chips– Optional, but highly recommended. Use a mix of mini chocolate chips and standard chocolate chips for some added texture.
The Instructions
In a high-speed blender or food processor, or mixing bowl, add your banana and process it until it is smooth. Add the rest of your ingredients, except for your chocolate chips, and blend until a thick batter remains. If the batter is too thick, add a little extra milk. If the batter is too thin, add more coconut flour. Fold through the chocolate chips. Finally, using your hands, form small balls of dough and place on a lined plate or tray. Refrigerate the banana energy balls until firm.
Can I use oatmeal instead of coconut flour?
If you don’t have coconut flour or prefer not to use it, you can use oatmeal or oat flour. You will need to add more than the recommended amount of coconut flour, so start with 1.5 times the amount, and add more as needed.
Can I add protein powder?
Give these banana protein balls by adding protein powder to it. Add 1-2 scoops of your favorite vanilla protein powder, and adjust the amount of milk you add, as needed.
NOTE: Avoid using whey protein powder, as it will make the banana protein balls difficult to form.
Storing and Freezing Energy Balls
- To store: Leftover banana bread energy balls should be stored in the refrigerator, in a sealed container. They will keep well for at least 2 weeks.
- To freeze: Banana bread bites are freezer friendly. Place leftover energy bites in a ziplock bag and keep in the freezer for up to 6 months.
More healthy recipes using leftover bananas
- Best banana bread
- Banana Muffins
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
- Flourless Banana Bread
- Flourless Double Chocolate Banana Bread
Watch the step-by-step video Below
Banana Energy Bites
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut flour sifted
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1/4 cup granulated sweetener of choice * See notes
- 1 medium banana about 1/4 cup mashed
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/4 cup peanut butter can use any nut or seed butter
- 1/4 cup milk of choice ** See notes
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips of choice optional
Instructions
- In a high speed blender, food processor or mixing bowl, blend your banana until smooth. Add the rest of your ingredients, except for the chocolate chips. If your batter is too thick, add a little extra milk. If too thin, add more coconut flour. Fold through your chocolate chips.
- Using your hands, form into bite sized balls and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to firm up.
Notes
** Adjust milk accordingly- Depending on the flour or protein powder combination, you may need more- Especially with coconut flour. Feel free to add protein powder to amp up the protein content. 1-2 scoops should suffice.
Nutrition
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.
Can’t get enough of the no bake snacks and treats! I’m team vanilla for the most part although I can be pretty easily talked into chocolate 🙂
Thanks Michele 🙂 I hope you’ll like a recipe coming soon then- Vanilla Fudge haha!
I love chocolate but for some things, I prefer vanilla. I do use the oven in the summer but sometimes try to cook on the stove top or use my toaster oven (which is a convection oven too) instead of the main oven when I can.
I hope you have a raging AC on too 😉
I love the no bake recipe even though I still use the oven all the time in the summer. They make great on the go snacks! My favorite quick breads are banana and pumpkin, but u love zuchinni bread in the summer!
Thanks heaps, Catherine! 🙂
I way prefer no bake snacks to baked ones anyways! Baking is 50% more work which means I’m 50% less likely to make them. 😛
Hahaha right? Thanks Chelsea!
Dude! Banana bread is one of my favorite comfort foods ever!! But let’s be real, I can’t go a week without turning on my oven. I just love to bake too much. Maybe I do rotate out to the grill a good bit in the summer, but I still have to have my homemade breads. Yum! And and definitely Team Vanilla. No question there. I actually tried tasting vanilla extract by itself the other day. Umm, don’t do that.
WHAT! Fun(ish) Fact- In some supermarkets in Australia, they ID you when you buy vanilla extract because of the alcohol content!
Rock on with your no-bake self! Especially in the summer! who wants to bake snacks all the time!?
Right? Thank you Kaila!
i never even thought of using a liquid. But the cashew milk — HOLY MOLY YES! Brilliant mr no bake man! I’d go with vanilla
So good- Thanks Linds!
I have a couple of overripe bananas sitting on my counter. Now I know exactly what I am going to use them for! 🙂
Thanks, Alison- Enjoy! 🙂
um… can I be on both teams? if I HAD to choose, OH DANG I just cannot.
my favorite sweet bread is probably pumpkin, though. which could go well with chocolate or vanilla equally, so… still no answer, I am going to need both team jerseys.
YES. YES YES YES.
Team #nofuss
Team chocolate!! As for bread that is SUPER tough….I’d eat pumpkin, banana and carrot zucchini in a heartbeat! Anyways, that “anonymous” has no idea what he/she is talking about LOL! I hate bake recipes because I get so impatient! These look amazing! Sounds weird but I’d make these, put them in a bowl and have them with almond milk like cereal XD
That sounds delicious, Cassie!
These look awesome! Love that they are NO BAKE too!!
Thanks so much, Kelley! 🙂
is peanut butter a nut butter?
Technically it’s a legume but you can use it any recipe which asks for a nut butter 🙂
HAHAHAHA i am so obsessed with you i cant even take it. the beyonce meme might be one of my favorite ever. and the fact that my oven is so hot it makes the fire alarm go off is quite sad. or the fact that i can’t put on make up and then cook something unless i want to melt into the wicked witch of the west.
i have a scary obsession with banana bread and chocolate chips and the fact (there’s alot of facts in this comment) that I also have chocolate chip banana bread nut butter is just saying DONT PUT THE DAH IN DUMB MERE and hop on this recipe now.
i would like to thank anonymous, because it fuels the no bake… fire? is than an oxymoron?
Hahahahah you are beyond amazing. I have a banana bread recipe to share which I think you’ll enjoy 😉
I haven’t made any no bake bites YET – anything that is quick and easy has got to be good. So I’m watching my bowl of bananas for a real ripe one and I will give it a go, although I have had some serious FAILS with coconut flour! I have been following your blog for a while and watching with interest how it is evolving. Enjoy your Aussieisms cause I’m one – but seriously, as a newish blogger – your on a winner. Keep up the good work and the humour.
Thanks so much, Roz- Great to see a fellow Aussie on here!
I think I threw my oven out…TEAM VANILLA! (…with sprinkles)
Oh no that’s no good!