Busy Day Ahead? These No-Bake Chocolate Pecan Peanut Butter Bites Are Packed With Protein and Brain Benefits

“I am constantly on the move, so I need something that’s going to give me fast, quick, and delicious energy,” says baker, personal trainer, and nutrition coach Sashah Handal. That’s why she relies on the tasty no-bake peanut butter clusters she shows us how to make in this episode of Alt-Baking Bootcamp. “The great thing about this recipe is that I expend very little to no energy making it, because it could not be easier,” she says. Sold.

If your experience with no-bake nut butter treats is that they taste good but fall apart and leave crumbs everywhere, rest assured that this recipe is completely different. In fact, Handal has developed a brilliant technique for keeping the bites intact in any situation. “I’ve tried making this recipe before where you just put everything into a bowl and kind of mix it together. And it does have a really yummy, crunchy texture,” Handal says. “But I find that when you process the nuts and the oats first, they tend to bind together a lot easier. Instead of having crumbs falling every time you take a bite when you’re eating on the subway, these actually hold in a nice tight ball and when you take a bite everything is saved either in your mouth or in your hand.” Another game-changing trick: Enlist a silicone spatula so you can get into every nook and cranny of your food processor or blender. Why waste any of that precious homemade nut butter, you know?

BTW, keep in mind that this recipe is super forgiving: If you prefer almond butter to peanut, go for it. No pecans or pistachios on hand? Swap in whatever type of nut you have laying around in your pantry. You truly can’t go wrong.

In addition to being easy to make with whatever you have at home and great for taking on the go, these no-bake peanut butter clusters are loaded with heart- and brain-boosting benefits. For one, oats, flax, peanut butter, pecans, and pistachios are all packed with plant-based protein and gut-friendly fiber, two key nutrients for heart health. You’ll also reap tons of vitamins and minerals from the nice variety of nuts used in this recipe, from vitamin E and K to B vitamins and magnesium. Flaxseed meal is also one of the top food sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which are a key part of maintaining brain health and cardiovascular health as you age.

Press play on the video to get the full recipe, and follow along using the instructions below.

No-bake peanut butter clusters recipe

Ingredients1 cup rolled oats1/2 cup flaxseed meal1/2 cup creamy peanut butter1/4 cup maple syrup1/3 cup pecan pieces1/4 cup pistachios2 tsp vanilla extract1/2 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Combine all of your ingredients except for the chocolate chips in a food processor. (If you don’t have a food processor, you can use a blender instead.)

2. Next, fold in the chocolate chips by hand.

3. Use a medium cookie scoop to create one- to two-inch balls.

4. Freeze for 15 minutes and enjoy any time of day for an energy boost!

Oh hi! You look like someone who loves free workouts, discounts for cutting-edge wellness brands, and exclusive Well+Good content. Sign up for Well+, our online community of wellness insiders, and unlock your rewards instantly.