Recipe - No Bake Energy Bites

This is a mix of health and chocolate goodness that my daughter has started comparing to the Ferrero Rocher brand of chocolates available in the market. Not without good reason coz it looks almost the same but is much healthier and tastier too if you make it right. Plus the recipe is so versatile that it can adapt pretty much anything you wish your child had but doesn't. What’s even better is that these energy balls are perfect for breakfast, snacks or even as my daughter agrees - dessert!

We have tried several variations at home which have been listed after the original recipe:

Ingredients:
1 cup (dry) oatmeal (I used old-fashioned oats)
2/3 cup toasted coconut flakes
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup ground flaxseed or wheat germ
1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)
1/3 cup honey
1 tsp. vanilla (essence)

Method:
Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed. Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour (optional). Once chilled, roll into balls of whatever size you would like. (Mine were about 1″ in diameter.)  Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated. Makes about 20-25 balls.

Our Substitutions & Variations:
This recipe is super flexible and very substitution friendly :-) Here are some we have tried and the rest is upto your imagination and what you have at hand:

• We have tried this with a little desi touch as well so for example, roasted some raisins in ghee, added deseeded dates (you can also try prunes) and cooled to room temperature. The dates become a binding agent along with honey.
• If you don't have coconut flakes or don't prefer the taste, you can skip it altogether and substitute it with more of a different dry ingredient (such as oats or any other cereal you wish to add).
• We have also made a batch including a variety of healthy seeds such as sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, melon seeds, sunflower seeds along with the ever so good flaxseed ofcourse.
• For folks who do not prefer the taste of chocolate, you can substitute it with any nut butter (such as almond or peanut butter) or plain jaggery if you like.
• We have also tried this with a whole lot of crushed unsalted dry fruits such as almonds, cashews, walnuts, figs, etc.
• If you don't have chocolate chips, just take any chocolate bar you have at home and crush it into coarse powder.

These taste far better than the health bars available in the market and since they are homemade, they are free of any preservatives or chemical agents. And they are so easy to make - no baking, microwaving or stove top cooking involved! 

Enjoy!