Nothing beats a snack that’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and EASY to whip up—meet No-bake Nut Butter Bites, the treat your whole family will reach for whether after school, during playtime, or as a great snack or dinner add-on.
These bites are simple, flexible, and kid-approved, using pantry staples like honey, coconut oil, and your favorite nut or sun butter. With an optional boost of unflavored collagen powder, plus a mix of chopped nuts, coconut, or seeds, these are nourishing bites that satisfy without fuss.
My house loves these No-bake Nut Butter Bites for so many reasons. We don’t need an oven, there’s no gluten or dairy to worry about, and kids think they’re practically candy—but you know they’re really good for them.
Plus, people alway ask me how I keep my 5 boys, most of whom are over 6′ tall and athletes, FULL. Well, making sure meals have enough healthy fat and protein makes a huge difference in satiety! These bites are a great add-on to dinner or snack time to make sure that happens.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
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Totally dairy-free and gluten-free: safe for folks avoiding both.
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Simple & easy: just stir together, add mix-ins, shape, freeze—done.
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Kid-approved: My kids can’t keep their hands off these. Plus, they love helping roll the bites.
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Flexible: peanut butter or swap in almond, cashew, or sun butter; use whatever chopped nuts, seeds, or coconut flakes you have.
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A great snack or dinner add-on: adds a protein-rich bite after a meal, or fills up little tummies mid-afternoon.
Ingredients
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Honey – We use 100% pure honey to keep this sweet but no added refined sugar.
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Coconut oil – Helps bind & gives richness. I have not successfully tried any other oil in this recipe, as you need an oil that is SOLID when it’s cold. Olive and avocado oil won’t work.
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Peanut butter or other nut or sun butter (your pick) – Use whatever nut butter or sun butter works for your family. My kids prefer peanut butter and that works for them. My hubby and I prefer almond or cashew butter, keeping in mind all nut butters have a slightly different consistency which will change the amount of add-in chopped nuts needed.
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Unflavored collagen powder (optional, for extra protein) – You can use another protein powder of your liking, but make sure it’s unsweetened.
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Chopped nuts, coconut, or seeds (for texture & crunch) – For the chopped nuts, we use whatever is on hand – usually almond, cashews, walnuts, sometimes pecan, and usually unsweetened coconut flakes. My husband and I also enjoy chopped seeds as well. It’s a great way to clean out your pantry! Use whatever works for your taste, budget, and allergy needs.
How to Make It
Step 1
Combine your peanut or sun butter, honey, optional collagen powder, and melted coconut oil until smooth and well mixed.
Step 2
Stir in chopped nuts, coconut flakes, or seeds until the mixture holds together—more or less depending on how dense or chewy you want your bite.
Step 3
Scoop spoonfuls onto a tray lined with parchment, then freeze until firm.
Step 4
Store in the freezer; these No-bake Nut Butter Bites hold up best cold (they tend to soften at room temp).
Other Snacks You Will Love
- Protein Muddy Buddies – A viral recipe that takes a cult classic and adds 16g of protein per cup with 2 ingredients!
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Paleo Protein Muffins – I have MANY flavors of Paleo protein muffins that my family adores. Great to make ahead and freeze!
- Paleo Acai Bowl
These No-bake Nut Butter Bites are your go-to for when you need something quick, wholesome, and totally family-friendly. We keep them on hand in the freezer. And they aren’t just for kids – my 75 year old dad loves and keeps them on stock too! They freeze well and most importantly, disappear fast!
No-bake Nut Butter Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter use almond or cashew butter for Paleo, sun butter for nut-free
- 1/2 cup honey see notes for keto or plant-based option
- 1/2 cup unflavored collagen powder optional, for extra protein
- 1/4 cup coconut oil melted then measured
- 3-4 cups mixed nuts use mix of nuts, seeds, and coconut flakes of your choice, finely chopped; see notes for nut-free option
Instructions
- Combine peanut butter, honey, collagen (if using), and melted coconut oil in a medium mixing bowl, stirring until smooth.
- Add in chopped nuts/seeds and stir until combined. Start with 3 cups chopped nuts, adding more to desired texture. Using the collagen, for me that's usually 3.5 cups chopped nuts. The more chopped nuts you add, the denser the balls will be. The amount needed will depend on personal preference and type of nut butter used. If you use the full 4 cups, they will be able to roll into balls and will be denser. You will also need more towards the 4 cups if your nut or sun butter is a drippy/thinner consistency If you use 3 cups, they will freeze more flat and be more the texture of like a no-bake cookie.
- Scoop by spoonfuls onto a cooking pan lined with parchment or sprayed with cooking spray. How many it makes depends on size, but for us this makes about 24 balls. Freeze laying flat for 15-20 minutes until solid.
- Eat straight out of the freezer - these will not hold up at room temperature and are meant to be kept in the freezer! I store them in a freezer gallon ziplock bag in the freezer, but these go fast in our house! A great healthy snack or add-on to a meal.
Notes
- Can't have nuts? Use sun butter and old-fashioned oats and seeds and/or coconut flakes instead!
- Need a Keto twist? Use a liquid sweetener like Lakanto syrup to make this keto-friendly!
- Vegan option: Use maple syrup instead of honey. Will take 10 minutes longer to get solid in the freezer.
Nutrition
These are the BEST no bake recipe I’ve ever had!! I love that they are healthier and I feel good about making them for my family! We eat them for on the go breakfasts, snacks or late night snack! I use protein powder in place of the collagen powder, and I’ve also had to substitute some honey for agave syrup (ran out) and they were still so good!! You should make these ASAP!! And keep them stocked in your freezer!
This makes me so happy to read! I love that you’re using them for *everything* — breakfasts, snacks, late-night bites… that’s exactly how they’re meant to be enjoyed. Your swaps sound great too (protein powder + a little agave in a pinch is such real-life cooking), and I’m thrilled they still turned out so well.
Keeping them stocked in the freezer is truly the pro move 🙌 I’m so glad you feel good about making these for your family — that means a lot.
So delicious! Perfect summer snack. 😋
Easy to make and a perfect treat to keep in the freezer!
I made this last week for the first time and they did not last long in my house. I love that you can adjust the type of nuts and the amount of coconut that you want to use for your family.
Yes! They are so flexible and customizable. So glad your family enjoyed them! 😃
Has anyone tried adding coco powder to the liquid mix to make it chocolate-y? My kids love anything chocolate:)
I haven’t, but I bet that could be delicious! Let me know if you try it!
Has anyone tried adding coco powder to the liquid mix??
Great question! I haven’t but will have to play around with it. I bet it could be delicious! Let me know if you try it.
Before I make these …any reason adding dried fruit would not work in these as well?
No, dried fruit could be a delicious add-in! Enjoy!
I love these!!! But I’m so sensitive to sugar even the honey is too intense. Think they’ll work with Maple syrup?
Good question! They won’t get as solid with maple syrup, as maple syrup is thinner, but still enjoyable! Be sure to store in the freezer.
These are so good. My 7 year old is able to make them and LOVES them. The whole family eats them as a treat and a snack and we are now making them weekly.
That’s so awesome these are now on the rotation, thank you!
I am trying hard to cut down on sugar and I think these will be the ticket. I made for the first time and they are a hit! I am going to try to cut back a little on the honey each new batch and see if I can still swing it.
That’s great that you are looking for snacks/treats with less sugar and glad these fit the bill. Thank you!
This looks great! If I substituted vanilla protein powder (because that’s what I have on hand), how do you suggest I adjust the recipe? I understand the honey helps it stick, but it would be too sweet if I keep the full amount.
That’s a great question, but not one with an easy answer. You are right that would make the result probably too sweet but the honey is needed to help it stick together. I think you would need to find an unflavored/unsweetened collagen or protein powder, if you wanted to use that optional protein add-in.
These are so quick and easy to make and I always keep them in my freezer. I brought these to a friends house for a healthy after dinner treat and they all loved them- even the non healthy eaters!! When I’m craving sweets, this is my go to snack.
Yay! I love that these were an easy win for both you and your friend’s family. Thank you!
Love this recipe! Easy to follow and delicious!!
I’m so happy these were an easy, tasty win! Thank you!
My family LOVES these! Great after school snack for the kids. I love that they are filled with good ingredients, not sugar and junk. I love having them on hand for my kids.
These are AMAZING! My sister recommended the recipe, her whole family loves them too. I used pecans, coconut, and almond butter. My husband can’t stop eating them haha.
Awesome, so thrilled you enjoyed this easy one! They are devoured in our house quickly too and we love how versatile they are to what you have on hand. Thank you!