These Kid-Approved Coconut Cinnamon Energy Bites are  a no-bake, gluten-free,  healthy treat for kids' lunchboxes and a great snack for the whole family. 

Kid-Approved Coconut Cinnamon Energy Bites

Coconut Cinnamon Energy Bites, or as I have cleverly presented them to my children. . .cookies. Sometimes you have to bend the truth a little to get your kids to eat things other than cookies, candy, and pastries.

It is the beginning of a new year and I am committed to decreasing the amount of junk my kids eat. It seems that from Halloween through Christmas it has been one temptation after another, and not just for us adults but for our kids too. I don't feel guilty or bad about the deliciousness we enjoyed during the holidays, but now that they are over I want to provide my family with more wholesome, healthy foods.

So I am passing these energy bites off as cookies to get my kids on that train too, even if they don't know it. Truthfully these are like little cookies, but with much healthier ingredients that don't require baking.

The added bonus, my kids and my husband love them! They are easy to whip up, making them a perfect snack and a welcome treat in my daughter's lunchbox now that she's back at school.

Looking for another easy, homemade snack that's great for the whole family? Click here for Healthy Apricot Almond Bars (Homemade Larabars).

I also love these flax seed and peanut butter energy bars from The Healthy Toast.

Now let's get to it!

How to Make Kid-Approved Coconut Cinnamon Energy Bites

To begin, add ¾ cup of gluten-free rolled oats, ½ cup of coconut flour, ¼ cup of honey, ¼ cup of flax meal, and ¼ cup of nut butter to a food processor. I have used both peanut butter and almond butter to make these and they are both delicious choices.

Blend the ingredients together until everything is well blended and a dough forms.

If the result is too crumbly and doesn't stick together it is due to your nut butter. Certain nut butters will have more liquid than others. In my case the brand of almond butter I use is much more runny than my peanut butter. Therefore, when I make these using that peanut butter I add a teaspoon of water to help the dough stick together, but leave it out in the almond butter version.

If the nut butter you are using is more solid, add one teaspoon of water at a time to the food processor until the ingredients stick together to form a dough.

Using clean hands, roll the dough into ½" to 1" balls. In order to keep the cookie story alive for my kids, I also shape some of the dough into 1" medallions so they resemble cookies. They taste the same no matter the shape but trust me it makes a difference to my kids.

Finally, mix ½ teaspoon of cinnamon with 3 teaspoons of coconut sugar in a bowl. Roll or sprinkle the energy bites with the mixture until they are covered all around with a light layer of cinnamon-sugar.

You can serve these Kid-Approved Coconut Cinnamon Energy Bits immediately or store them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Storing them in the refrigerator will also make them firmer and less crumbly.

I hope you and your kids enjoy!

Recipe

Kid-Approved Coconut Cinnamon Energy Bites

by Gemma Aguayo-Murphy

These Kid-Approved Coconut Cinnamon Energy Bites are a no-bake, gluten-free, healthy treat for kids’ lunchboxes and a great snack for the whole family. 

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Snack

Servings 12 servings

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ¾ cup gluten-free rolled oats
• ½ cup coconut flour
• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ cup flax meal
• ¼ cup nut butter of your choice (see notes)
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 teaspoon coconut sugar

Instructions

 

• Add the rolled oats, coconut flour, honey, flax meal, and the nut butter to a food processor.
• Blend the ingredients together until everything is well blended and a dough forms.
• If the result is too crumbly and doesn’t stick together it is due to your nut butter. Add a teaspoon of water at a time to the food processor until the ingredients stick together to form a dough. See notes for more info.
• Using clean hands, roll the dough into ½″to 1″ balls or 1" flattened cookies-shapes.
• Mix the cinnamon and coconut sugar in a bowl. Roll or sprinkle the energy bites with the mixture until covered all around with a light layer of cinnamon-sugar.
• Serve them immediately or store them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Storing them in the refrigerator will also make them firmer and less crumbly.

Notes

• Certain nut butters will have more liquid than others. In my case the almond butter I use is much more runny than my peanut butter. Therefore, when I make these using the peanut butter I add about a teaspoon of water to help the dough stick together, but leave it out in the almond butter version.

Did you try this recipe?Leave me a comment and star rating below or mention @everydaylatina on Instagram!