Disclosure: This post is sponsored by NOW Foods. As always, all opinions are my own.
Bright, citrusy, lemon energy bites are a perfect summertime snack option!
Last weekend was recipe-testing-palooza up in our house. Smoothies, energy balls, pancakes, lasagna…our kitchen was full of food for upcoming blog recipes! The hubby and kiddo definitely weren’t complaining, haha – they love being my testers.
One of my favorite types of recipes to test are energy balls/bites, because I find them incredibly convenient to prep ahead of time for a healthy snack. These lemon energy bites are a nice invigorating option; a fun citrusy change from the other varieties I usually revert to.
They’re sweet but only about 100 calories each, so they’re a perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth without overdoing it. This version actually has no added sugar – all the sugar comes naturally from the lemon juice and golden raisins. (Though if you find yours need a little more moisture or sweetness, you can certainly add a spoonful or two of honey or maple syrup).
A little side note about golden raisins – most energy ball recipes feature dates, which I love. But I’ve gotten some questions from readers about ways to make them without dates. The solution for many recipes is just substituting golden raisins instead. They have a similar sweetness and also provide the necessary stickiness to keep the energy ball together.
So in addition to the lemon and raisins, you’ll use a handful of easy-to-find ingredients for these lemon energy bites. I grabbed all of mine from NOW Foods (I’ve been partnering with them for a while and the quality of their natural food is amazing!):
- Rolled oats – Oats are a good source of soluble fiber, which is helpful for heart and gut health.
- Chia seeds – Ch-ch-ch-chia! These seeds – which yes, are the same thing chia pets were made from – are actually rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and fiber.
- Cashews – Bring on the healthy fats! Cashews also contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Coconut – I love that you can find unsweetened shredded coconut on the market these days! It’s a great way to add richness and flavor to an energy ball.
Once you’ve got all your ingredients, just measure everything out, toss it in a food processor, and boom – delish lemon coconut balls!
You can use these as a convenient grab-and-go snack option when you want a punch of citrusy sweetness, and they’re great for the kiddos too. And for anyone with dietary limitations, these are vegan and can be made gluten-free as long as you specifically seek out certified gluten-free oats.
I hope you’ll give ‘em a whirl soon!
PS – Looking for more energy bite recipes? Be sure to check out these peanut butter apple energy balls, these chocolate cherry energy bites, or these Hungarian cookie energy balls.
Bright, citrusy, and nutritious - that's what makes these lemon energy bites a perfect snack option anyone!
- 3 tbsp lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)
- 2 tbsp lemon zest (about 1 large lemon)
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 cup cashews
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (if gluten free, look for certified gluten free)
- 1/3 cup golden raisins
- 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
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Place all ingredients in a food processor. Turn on for about 10-20 seconds, or until the ingredients look well combined.
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Roll mixture in your hand to form 10 energy balls. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Notes: If your energy balls seem a bit dry, you can add 1-2 tbsp of maple syrup or honey. Nutrition analysis: 96 calories, 5.5 g fat, 2 g sat fat, 10 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 4 g sugar, 2.5 g protein, Vitamin A: 0%, Vitamin C: 6%, Calcium: 2%, Iron: 3%
This sounds like the perfect little energy booster! The cashews and coconut happen to be favorites of mine, and I think this would be a great snack for after a workout!
Thanks Lisa! I love cashews too – such a rich flavor, right?!
These little energy bites are so big on flavor! So perfect for breakfast or even an afternoon pick me up!
Thanks so much Shashi! 🙂
These look awesome. There are so many yummy things in this recipe that I know these have to be super flavorful!
Yes! The lemon especially really shines through and I love that citrusy pop.
Yes!!!! Love energy bites. Great fle anytime of the day. Pinning these to try soon. Wonderful recipe!!!!
Awesome, hope you love them!
Making homemade energy treats is best. We will be having the grandkids here 2 days a week this summer. I know they would welcome these…and me too….I will need all the energy I can get!
Haha, I’m sure you’ll need energy chasing after the two grandkids!
Made these today. These are just what I was looking for. They’re perfect and delicious! Thanks for a great recipe!
Of course! 🙂 So glad you enjoyed them!