These no-bake Strawberries and Cream Energy Bites are made with creamy cashew butter. An easy, delicious snack you can prepare in minutes!
Strawberries and Cream Energy Bites
This recipe appears in the author’s new cookbook and is shared here with permission. These bites are a convenient, flavorful snack you can make ahead and enjoy throughout the week.
These strawberries and cream energy bites combine creamy cashew butter, oats, roasted salted cashews, and vanilla protein powder for a satisfying, nutrient-dense treat. They are naturally no-bake and come together quickly — about 20 minutes of hands-on time plus chilling.
Each bite provides a boost of protein and healthy fats, making them ideal for a snack between meals or a quick pre- or post-workout nibble.
The full recipe is provided below. Read the notes and tips for best results and ingredient substitutions.
Ingredients & Notes
These energy bites are simple to make and have concentrated strawberry flavor from freeze-dried fruit. The ingredients below are chosen for texture and balance; follow the notes for small adjustments.
- Natural creamy cashew butter: look for a short-ingredient label listing only cashews, oil, and salt.
- Roasted salted cashews: chopped for crunch and texture.
- Rolled oats: use old-fashioned oats for best texture.
- Honey: acts as the binder and sweetener.
- Vanilla protein powder: adds protein and vanilla flavor.
- Vanilla extract
- Freeze-dried strawberries: ground into a powder for true strawberry flavor without moisture.
- Salt: adjust depending on whether your cashew butter already contains salt.
- White chocolate chips & coconut oil: melted together for a simple drizzle to finish the bites.
How to make strawberries and cream energy bites
Step one: Add the roasted salted cashews to a food processor and pulse until broken into small pieces. Transfer the chopped cashews to a mixing bowl and set aside.
Step two: Place the freeze-dried strawberries in the food processor and grind to a fine powder. Reserve about 1 teaspoon of this strawberry dust for topping the finished bites; add the remainder to the mixing bowl.
Step three: Add the cashew butter, rolled oats, honey, vanilla protein powder, vanilla extract, and salt to the mixing bowl with the chopped cashews and strawberry powder. Use a rubber spatula to stir until a thick, cohesive batter forms. If the mixture feels too dry, add a small drizzle of extra cashew butter or a teaspoon of honey; if too sticky, add a tablespoon of oats.
Step four: Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Using a mini cookie scoop or a tablespoon, portion the batter into uniform balls. Roll each portion between your palms to form smooth rounds.
Step five: Combine the white chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in short bursts of 10–15 seconds, stirring between intervals, until the chocolate is fully melted and glossy.
Step six: Drizzle the melted white chocolate over the energy bites and immediately sprinkle the reserved strawberry dust across the tops so it adheres before the chocolate sets.
Step seven: Chill the baking sheet in the refrigerator for about 1 hour, or until the bites are firm. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator or freezer.
Joy’s Tip
The author prefers a 1.5 tablespoon mini cookie scoop for these energy bites; it creates a satisfying, snackable size and speeds up the rolling process. Using a scoop also makes cleanup easier.
How to store
Store the energy bites in an airtight container. They keep for 5–7 days in the refrigerator and up to 2–3 months in the freezer. To enjoy from frozen, let them sit at room temperature for about 5 minutes to soften slightly before eating.
Cashew Butter Note
This recipe uses natural cashew butter, which tends to be runny. Stir the jar well before measuring to incorporate any separated oil. Natural cashew butter should list only cashews, oil, and salt on the label. If your nut butter contains added sweeteners or stabilizers, the texture of the batter may change, so adjust liquid or dry ingredients accordingly.
More Protein Snack Recipes
If you enjoy these no-bake energy bites, try other simple protein-packed snacks such as cashew or chocolate-flavored bars and a variety of energy ball recipes. Many no-bake options use nut butter, oats, and protein powder for quick prep and portable snacks.
Strawberries and Cream Energy Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup natural creamy cashew butter (see notes)
- ½ cup roasted salted cashews
- ¾ cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ cup vanilla protein powder
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ cup freeze-dried strawberries
- ¾ teaspoon salt (adjust per notes)
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Pulse the roasted salted cashews in a food processor until coarsely chopped and transfer them to a mixing bowl.
- Grind the freeze-dried strawberries in the food processor to a fine powder. Reserve 1 teaspoon for topping and add the rest to the mixing bowl.
- Add the cashew butter, oats, honey, protein powder, vanilla extract, and salt to the bowl. Mix thoroughly with a rubber spatula until a thick batter forms.
- Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Use a mini cookie scoop or tablespoon to portion the batter into balls and roll them smooth by hand.
- Melt white chocolate chips and coconut oil in short bursts in the microwave, stirring until smooth. Drizzle over the bites and immediately sprinkle the reserved strawberry dust on top.
- Chill in the refrigerator for about 1 hour until firm. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
Notes
Natural cashew butter does not contain added sweetener. The ideal label lists only cashews, oil, and salt.
If your cashew butter already includes salt, reduce the additional salt to ¼ teaspoon or season to taste.